The History Press Ltd

The Little History of Coventry packs into its pages the colour and incident of a thousand years, telling the story of a city that has perhaps been overlooked by mainstream historians but which has often been at the heart of this country’s great events. From testing ground of the saintly Godiva to fourteenth century boom town, from Second World War Blitz victim to the UK City of Culture for 2021, Coventry has always been an inventive place with an unerring ability to bounce back from misfortune and make its mark. This is a truly eye-opening journey through the events and characters that have shaped its story and made Coventry one of England’s hidden jewels.

Did You Know? Before work commenced on the majestic Castletown House in County Kildare in 1722, the owner, William Conolly, instructed that only Irish materials were to be used in every part of the building. The iconic ‘Dark Hedges’ in County Antrim has been used as a filming location for the ‘King’s Road’, in HBO’s epic television series Game of Thrones. Blarney Castle in County Cork is arguably most famous for its ‘stone of eloquence’, better known as the Blarney Stone; kissing it is said to bestow the ‘gift of the gab’. The Little Book of Irish Landmarks is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about some of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks and popular tourist attractions. Here you will find out about the Giant’s Causeway, Bunratty Castle, Blarney Castle, Newgrange, the Cliffs of Moher, GPO Dublin, Tory Island, Skellig Michael, the Hill of Tara and much more. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of the Emerald Isle.

‘I’m in love with May Chalmers and I don’t know what to do about it.’It was a bold, unexpected confession, scribbled in a diary by one of the few female reporters in Fleet Street during the Second World War – and it sent Felicity Goodall on a journey that led to places she could never have imagined. Mea Allan was a star reporter on Britain’s biggest-selling daily paper, the first woman on a Fleet Street news desk and to be permanently accredited to the British Army as a war correspondent, and the only woman to report from newly liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and cover the subsequent trials. She was once so famous that her name was used to advertise Horlicks – and yet she has all but disappeared from history. Seeking Mea Allan interweaves past and present as we travel from London to Glasgow, from Paris to Hamburg and beyond, to answer the questions that still linger: was Mea written out of history because of her sexuality? Or was something more subtle at work?

'Exploring Avebury is really excellent, being quite clearly the best current introduction and guide to the whole monumental complex: up to date, consistently fair-minded and superbly illustrated.'– Prof. Ronald Hutton, historianAvebury in Wiltshire is best known as the world’s largest stone circle, but surrounding it is a wealth of ancient monuments. Captivated by its unique atmosphere, many visitors form a personal, often spiritual, connection to Avebury and its ‘sacred landscape’. What was it that first attracted people to the Avebury area more than 5,000 years ag? eautifully illustrated with over 400 photographs, maps and diagrams, this updated edition of Exploring Avebury includes the latest research and invites us on a journey of discovery. For the first time the importance of water, light and sound is revealed, and we begin to see Avebury through the eyes of those who built it.

‘A serious and scholarly study of the role of the queen consort in medieval English political life.’ – Sunday Telegraph‘A useful collection of sources.’ – Annual Bulletin of Historical Literature‘A good read … shows [the medieval queens] as real people, not as the idealised heroines of romance, nor as faceless nonentities.’ – The RicardianWhile the role and character of England’s medieval and Tudor kings are well documented, surprisingly little attention has been paid to their often powerful and influential consorts. Letters of the Queens of England allows the queens to speak for themselves through their own correspondence, with each letter set in context alongside a general introduction on the role of the queen in medieval and Tudor England. Encompassing virtually every English queen from Matilda of Scotland to Katherine Parr, many of whom have been neglected by historians as faceless consorts, these letters reveal the queens’ character and power. They portray these women as considerable political figures in their own right, and as strong and intelligent members of society. Illustrated throughout and complemented by genealogical and marriage tables, this is an excellent reference source and a fascinating introduction to the foremost women of medieval and Tudor England.

‘I’ll be raiding this Wonder Pantry of a book for years to come … Diverting, delightful and deliciously weird enough to satisfy the most demanding appetite.’ - Christopher Hadley, author of The RoadWhen did we start throwing salt over our shoulder? hy do British people chase cheese down a hil? here can loving couples win a side of baco? hat cake keeps witches from your doo? olklorist Ben Gazur guides you as he rummages through the dark cupboards of British history to uncover how our strange food habits and traditions have been passed down through the generations. Get a taste of what life was like in a time when food was both magical ingredient and sustenance: when an apple kept the doctor away, predicted who you would marry, and entertained children in a game involving burning candles. Hilarious and fascinating, A Feast of Folklore will introduce you to the gloriously eccentric folk who aren’t often noticed by historians. Herein lies a smorgasbord of their dark remedies and deadly delicacies, just waiting to be discovered.

Were the trenches always mudd? as every minute spent under fir? ow did soldiers get aroun? hat food was eate? nd how did they build them anywa? Short History of First World War Trenches is a subject that perpetually fascinates and brings to the fore questions of what the everyday soldier experienced in times of conflict and rest. Jam-packed with facts, stats and first-hand accounts of the action, all woven together in an accessible way by an expert in the field, this Short History will answer any question you have in a concise, informative way – an invaluable addition to anyone’s bookshelf.

You only need to look at the story of Samson and Delilah to see just how important a man’s hairstyle can be. Thankfully, The Little Book of Mullets is a guide to selecting, growing and maintaining a stylish, comfortable and well-groomed hair helmet. Including manely grooming tips; a breakdown of barnets to try out, such as the Curtain Cut or the Quiff; a perambulation through hirsute history; a rundown of famous hair aficionados, from Albert Einstein to Paul McCartney via Adolf Hitler; hair and hairstyling records (can you beat the Longest Time Hanging by Your Hair record?); and the most ridiculous names for hair salons, this indispensable guide will ensure you never have a hair out of place. The perfect gift for every man, whether he wants to learn how to carefully calm his cowlick or skilfully shine his skinhead.

Did you know? Armagh hosted the first-ever All-Ireland Road Bowls Championship in 1963. Armagh’s Danny McPartland was the winner, beating Derry Kenny of Cork on the final shot by just 11 yards. In July 1926 William McCrea, a farmer from Loughgall, claimed to have reached the grand old age of 107. In 1894 there was concern about a marked increase in the prevalence of lunacy in Armagh. It was suggested that one of the causes was drinking poor-quality tea. Here you will find out about Armagh’s history, its proud sporting heritage, its castles and great houses, and its famous men and women. You will also glimpse a darker side to Armagh’s past through tales of poverty, famine and tragedy. From quaint villages to bustling towns, this book takes you on a journey through the Orchard County and its vibrant past. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this ancient county.

LONGLISTED FOR THE INAUGURAL RICHARD JEFFERIES AWARD FOR NATURE WRITING‘A master of the landscape and a celebration of a life lived with the wild’ – Dan Kieran, author of The Idle Traveller‘[Parr] writes beautifully ... gentle, often elegiac ... There is much pleasure to be taken from this book’ - Tom Fort, Gamefisher‘Yet, sitting here at the beginning of that journey, I realise there is a different path I must follow. This entails not a simple exploration of a single river, or the fish I might catch from it, but an understanding of what it is that makes someone an angler – what it is that makes me an angler. … Although I don’t always need a rod in my hand to feel as if I belong by the riverside, it was angling that helped open my eyes. And as I sit here, I can hear the river calling me, bubbling up from deep underground, sharing its secrets.’From childhood memories of an Exmoor stream and of the Itchen during difficult teenage years, to finding solace on the banks of the Kennet and the catharsis of a storm on the Jurassic Coast, Rivers Run is a love letter from Kevin Parr to the rivers and waterways that shaped him. It is a book about fishing. But it’s also a book about living, surviving the difficult times and remembering to breathe. ‘A moving treatise on the way we deal with the dark things that life throws at us’ - BBC Countryfile magazine‘I very much enjoyed this book ... thoughtful and interesting’ - Mark Avery, author of Inglorious

Mick Hill’s colourful book is packed with his signature artwork, and skilfully showcases the cars, drivers and designers that contributed to the history of Formula 1. Beginning with the flags for hosting countries, it goes on to show every winning car, with details of its designers, drivers and races won, features new cutaways of the Lotus 25,72, Tyrrell P34 and the iconic McLaren MP4/4, and ends with a consideration of the drivers’ helmets, from historic leather caps to modern carbon fibre. A complete reference of the first 75 years of the F1 championship, Grands Prix Winning Colours will appeal to motor-racing fans young and old.

Ten Transport Pioneers Who Changed the World explores ten defining moments in the history of transport, spanning five centuries – from the age of sailing ships to the dawn of the modern jetliner. Its cast of innovators range from Cornish mining pioneer Richard Trevithick to the French nobleman Marquis Jouffroy d’Abbans, who each played a part in reshaping how we travel. Across land, sea and sky, their breakthroughs charted leaps in development that created lasting change: aqueducts and flights of locks that revolutionised inland waterways; paddle steamers and iron-hulled ships that redefined maritime power; the hot-air balloon and the jet engine that conquered the air; and the internal combustion engine and first electric locomotive that propelled transport forward. These are stories of bold ideas and those who conceived them – pioneers who challenged convention and pushed the boundaries of what seemed possible.

What has the small nation of Wales given to the wide worl? ell, to name but a few examples: the NHS, magical drama, mail order, sleeping bags, the basis of the internet, the ‘Town of Books’, the first powered flight, presidents, prime ministers and Nobel prize-winners. People of Welsh heritage have helped shape the culture and constitution of the United States; they have enriched British culture in innumerable ways through writing, acting, painting, poetry, singing and architecture; they have amassed a fantastic range of sporting achievements; and they made their own unique mark on history. Welsh history deserves to be rewritten in a manner that highlights and celebrates its achievements both past and present. The 100 reasons in this book do just that. They are pathfinders to a confident tomorrow – as the Royal Badge of Wales reads in translation: ‘The Red Dragon points the way’.

BULGARIAN-born oral storyteller, Nana Tomova, carries in her bones old tales of golden maidens and winged serpents, wise women and wild nature stretching back to ancient Thracian times, when the Great Goddess was revered. Spirits of forest and water cure and curse, the Three Fates determine destinies, a girl lets down her hair for a wolf to climb up and vampires roam the dark nights. Discover a realm of imagination and enchantment through this freshly translated collection of traditional stories, featuring Rima Staines’ otherworldly illustrations. 'Told, retold and interpreted with wisdom and joy, elegantly structured to reflect the Earth’s seasons, this collection of folk stories is magical in every sense. Reading these stories is like sipping fine aged wine at candle light inside a dragon’s cave. It transported me to the creative dawn of Thrace, the Balkans and Bulgaria – and to my own psyche.' – Kapka Kassabova

A Notting Hill Carnival city. A rock city. A rave city. A reggae city. A city of deep soul and funky jazz. A city where, from the Rolling Stones to Stormzy, cutting-edge music has constantly been created … London rules the game. London’s Record Shops celebrates the greatest vendors of recorded music in the world's foremost record-shop-city. From Brixton dub shacks and Hackney vinyl boutiques to Camden’s rockabilly ravers and Soho's feted jazz and dance shops, through Rough Trade and Honest Jon's to Sound of the Universe – these brilliant (sometimes eccentric, always engaging) emporiums are documented with striking photographs and incisive interviews. Anyone who loves music and/or London will find this book engaging and informative.

‘Like Rosslyn itself, this book is rather delicious and I would urge anyone with an interest in the Scottish religious sensibility to read it.’ - Gerard CarruthersRosslyn Chapel Revealed offers the reader an increased understanding and respect for one of Europe’s finest pre-Reformation buildings. Rosslyn Chapel, with its foundations in the world of nature, still points bravely to the heavens. That there is mystery at Rosslyn Chapel, there can be no doubt. But it is not the mystery of the esoteric Gnostic variety, available only to the initiated few. Instead, it is knowledge, accessible to all, of the dynamic intertwining of the created world with the impulse towards self-fulfilment. Rosslyn Chapel Revealed shows that the chapel is first and foremost a Christian building, constructed in the traditions of the pre-Reformation Church for the celebration in word, gesture and music of the Divine Office and of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus Christ suffered on his cross for the salvation of the human race. The stunning beauty of the chapel, its unexpected delicacy and the uninhibited humour of its stone carvings, which have drawn visitors in such avid numbers from all over the world, are a tribute to the honesty and validity of the religious experience to be found within its ancient walls, in a breathtaking setting of valley and river that is older than time. ‘This lovely book is a counter to some of the silliness of recent years … an excellent and comprehensive introduction and a super memoir for anyone who has visited.’ - Maria Western, Inspires