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Coconuts have been around for longer than Homo sapiens; they have been turned into art, taken part in religious rituals and been a sign of wealth and success. They have saved lives, not only by providing nourishment, but also as part of the charcoal filters in First World War gas masks. It was coconuts that triggered the mutiny on the Bounty, and coconuts that saved the life of the man who went on to become the 35th President of the United States. The coconut has long been the unseen player in the endeavours of industrialists and bomb makers, physicians and silversmiths, smugglers and snake charmers. To this day, coconuts shape the lives of people around the world. At a time when coconut products crowd the shelves of supermarkets, health food shops and beauty salons, Robin Laurance looks beyond the oils and health drinks to uncover the unexpected, roles played by the coconut palm and its nut in past and present.

‘A feast of heraldry and a thoroughly enjoyable book.’ - The Genealogist’s Magazine‘Very readable and lavishly illustrated . . . provides the keys to unlock the mysteries of heraldry and its language.’ - Teaching HistoryUbiquitous in the fabric of our ancient churches, castles and houses, in documents, and on monuments and stained glass, heraldry represents a treasure house of information for both the historian and the genealogist. In The Companion to Heraldry, Stephen Friar, an experienced armorist and historian, provides the reader with the keys to unlock the mysteries of heraldry’s language, conventions and traditions. The origins of heraldry and its significance in the lives of our noble and gentle forebears are considered, as are the interpretation of heraldic devices; the systems of marshalling that record affiliation, marriage and inheritance; cadency, by which the younger members of a family may be identified; and the symbols themselves, which often contain obscure references to a family’s history and its fluctuating relationships with the Crown. The conventions of armory are explained, and there is a useful section on the interpretation of blazon, the language of heraldry, complemented with an illustrated glossary. With over one hundred black-and-white photographs, sixteen pages of colour illustrations and exquisite line-drawings by Andrew Jamieson and John Ferguson, this volume provides a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to heraldry.

The Great Exhibition of 1851 was the world’s first international exposition of manufactured goods, inventions, works of art and artefacts from many cultures. A showcase of British manufacturing supremacy, an educational extravaganza, a lesson to foreigners and a deep source of public fascination, the Exhibition was closely connected with Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert, who put much effort into having it sited in Hyde Park against stiff opposition. Protesters feared the disappearance of the park under tons of bricks and mortar, but when the great structure was eventually chosen and built, it silenced dissenters and became the most famous new building in the world. During its six months, the Exhibition’s 100,000 exhibits were seen by over 6 million people who came to celebrate Britain’s industrial ascendancy and sparked a renewed confidence in the possibilities of peaceful social progress. In The Great Exhibition, John R. Davis explores the organisation and implementation of the event, and delves into its wider significance and the historical debates surrounding it. Complete with insights into the event’s part in the construction of the modern world, this accessible history showcases the pinnacle of Victorian innovation.

In AD 43, the area of south-east England now known as Surrey became part of the Roman Empire. The succeeding 400 years saw the development of settlements, roads, industry and a new administrative structure, with the foundation of London providing anew and lasting focus for the people of Surrey. In this fully revised and updated second edition of Roman Surrey, Dr David Bird combines both historical and the very latest archaeological evidence with topographical studies to build a vivid picture of life at the time, from villas and coinage to the interrelation of the people who lived there, and their beliefs and customs. The changing face of Surrey’s landscape is chartered, alongside an exploration of the theories relating to the development and eventual decline of Roman Surrey.

‘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

‘Private Inquiries is a must-read – a riveting mythbuster, with its revelations of the real histories of women PIs.’ – Val McDermidThe female private detective has been a staple of popular culture for over 150 years, from Victorian lady sleuths to ‘busy-body spinsters’ and gun-toting modern PIs. But what about the real-life women behind these fictional tales? Dismissed as ‘Mrs Sherlock Holmes’ or amateurish Miss Marples, mocked as private dicks or honey trappers, they have been investigating crime since the mid-nineteenth century – everything from theft and fraud to romance scams and murder. In Private Inquiries, Caitlin Davies traces the history of the UK’s female investigators, uncovering the truth about their lives and careers from the 1850s to the present day. Women like Victorian private inquiry agent Antonia Moser, the first woman to open her own agency; Annette Kerner, who ran the Mayfair Detective Agency on Baker Street in the 1940s; and Liverpool sleuth Zena Scott-Archer, who became the first woman president of the World Association of Detectives. Caitlin also follows in the footsteps of her subjects, undertaking a professional qualification to become a Private Investigator, and meeting modern PIs to find out the reality behind the fictional image. Female investigators are on the rise in the UK – and despite the industry’s sleazy reputation, nearly a third of new trainees are women. After a century of undercover work, it’s time to reveal the secrets of their trailblazing forebears.

For millennia we have looked to the sun to provide us with light, food and warmth. Yet, in our attempts to increase the productivity of each hour, we have skewed our days and stretched them through the use of candles, electricity and LED bulbs, our faces glowing in the unnatural light of screens and electronic devices. Within the pages of this book lies the chance to reconnect with our primal life force through folklore, exploration of ancient cultures, myths, legends and tales of our past. By understanding the power of our ancient star through the wisdom of those who walked this land before us, we can hope to unplug ourselves from the synthetic glow that surrounds our lives and reconnect with the Stories of the Sun.

In 1999 my expedition found George Mallory’s body on Mount Everest. The intense public interest in his tragic fate obscured the other actors in that dramatic story.The pioneers who attempted the first climbs in 1922 and 1924 knew nothing about the mountain other than its height. They had to learn the hard way about the lack of oxygen, the jet-stream winds, the illnesses of altitude, and the vital importance of the Sherpas. They fought cerebral oedema, frostbite, hypothermia and raging thirst in the cold, thin air. They had to find a route, avoid avalanches, and work out what to do when confronted by an insuperable rock climb at extreme altitude. Many of them died.Howard Somervell was Mallory''s closest friend on the mountain in 1922 and 1924. He was an exceptionally gifted man: he had a double first at Cambridge, he was a talented artist and an accomplished musician. He served as a surgeon at the Battle of the Somme during the First World War and was one of the foremost alpinists of the day when he was invited to join the 1922 Mount Everest expedition. After Everest he was awarded an Olympic gold medal for Alpinism in 1924. But in India he will be remembered as a surgeon who dedicated the remainder of his life to healing the sick.Those pioneers showed the way. Somervell took part in the first attempt to climb the mountain, and his oxygen-free height record in 1924 stood for over 50 years. On his descent he sat down alone suffocating from a frost-bitten larynx. He prepared to die, but at the last moment performed a medical manoeuvre which cleared his airway. He survived to struggle back down.Howard Somervell was my cousin, and I am one of the last Everesters left alive to have spoken with a climber from George Mallory’s party.

London’s Heathrow Airport has seen dramatic changes since it opened in 1946, from canvas tents being used as terminal buildings serving converted military piston-engined airliners to the latest Airbus and Boeing jet airliners operating out of five modern, sophisticated terminals. As air travel became more affordable, Heathrow expanded to accommodate the increase in airline traffic. This pictorial timeline records these changes in air transport and infrastructure to capture the interest of aviation enthusiasts, casual visitors or anyone fascinated by nostalgia in an ever-changing world.

‘One of Tudor history’s rising stars.’ - Steven Veerapen, author of The Wisest FoolFIVE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER HER DEATH, MARY BOLEYN DESERVES HER STORY TO BE TOLD CORRECTLYMary Boleyn has long been dismissed as the ‘great and infamous whore’, her story overshadowed by scandal and myth. But what if everything we thought we knew about her was wron? rawing on newly retranslated original sources and rare archival material, Mary Boleyn: The Queen’s Slandered Sister peels away centuries of rumour to reveal the true Mary Boleyn. Far from the reckless wanton of legend, she emerges as a woman of ambition, resilience, and intelligence. Acclaimed historian Sylvia Barbara Soberton challenges outdated narratives, uncovering the real extent of Mary’s relationships with Henry VIII and Francis I, her role in the rise and fall of her younger sister Anne, and her life beyond the royal spotlight. This revelatory biography rewrites Mary Boleyn’s story – a must-read for Tudor history enthusiasts.

In December 1987, UNESCO bestowed its greatest honour on Bath when it declared the city a World Heritage Site for its outstanding cultural heritage – including its natural thermal spa waters – and landscape setting. Bath was one of the first ten sites to be recognised in the United Kingdom and received its award along with Blenheim Palace, Hadrian’s Wall and the Palace of Westminster. Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Bath’s inscription as a World Heritage Site, Water, History & Style is a celebration of Bath’s Outstanding Universal Values. With informative and lively text by Bath scholar Dr Cathryn Spence, Water, History & Style explains the significance of UNESCO’s award in the context of Bath’s economic, social and architectural history. The 25 locations and themes are richly illustrated with a wealth of fascinating historic images representing Bath’s six millennia of human history.

'Told with charm and humour. Anyone who has ever fought with a project in a shed will recognise this tale of wonder and woe!' – Danny Hopkins, editor of Practical Classics magazineHarry’s life had been stuck in neutral until he discovered Peggy lying in a field. It then promptly went into reverse. Is Peggy the romantic interest of this story or two tons of automotive scrap meta? arry’s subsequent restoration project takes us on a journey through a life that has more bumps than the A12 and a cast of eccentric characters who are caught up in the joy of attempting the impossible, just for the sheer love of it. This is the story of one man’s attempt to restore an Austin 1100. Along the way it also becomes the story of one man’s attempt to restore himself; and as anyone who’s ever tried their hand at restoration knows, you can’t rebuild something without taking it apart first. When Harry Met Peggy is for anyone who wants to follow their dream but has forgotten to take out breakdown insurance for it.

Gerald Gliddon’s classic survey of the Somme battlefield in 1916, first published in 1987 to great acclaim, has been greatly expanded and updated to include the latest research and analysis. Supported by a wide selection of archive photographs and drawing on the testimony of those who took part, this new edition covers the famous battle sites, such as High Wood and Mametz Wood, as well as the lesser-known villages on the outlying flanks. It includes a day-by-day account of the British build-up on the Somme and the ensuing struggle; British and German orders of battle; and a full history of the cemeteries and memorials, both ‘lost’ and current, that sprang up in the years following the First World War. Gliddon also provides thumbnail biographies of all the senior officers to fall, the winners of the Victoria Cross and those who were ‘shot at dawn’, as well as Somme ‘personalities’ such as George Butterworth. Somme 1916 honours the sacrifices made by the people who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War.

‘A fascinating book that covers the history and development of something that is unique to the Middle Ages – the castle.’ - Medieval HistoryOver 1,000 castles were built in the century following the Norman Conquest. Most were constructed in the wake of the Conquest itself by the Norman lords and their allies as they took possession of their lands. These conquerors in a hostile land numbered only a few thousand and their castles became both symbols of subjugation and bastions of paranoia. Nevertheless, contrary to the popular perception, medieval castles were more often lived in than fought over. A castle was a fortified feudal residence, a symbol of a lord’s power and authority and the instrument of regional domination: administrative, judicial and military. Very few castles remain unaltered from when they were first built and none fits neatly into any particular category. Many have succumbed to the ravages of siege warfare, abandonment and despoliation, especially in the aftermath of the English Civil War. Some have been entirely rebuilt and most have been remodelled many times, according to the current military, domestic and architectural fashion. For several there is evidence of continuous occupation from the twelfth century to the present day. Stephen Friar has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all aspects of castles as well as the ability to place issues within a historical context and explain them succinctly and clearly for the non-specialist. From quadrangular castles to shell keeps, garderobes and gargoyles to tournaments, and anarchy to zig-zag moulding, this detailed A–Z reference book, with its lavish illustrations, is essential reading for anyone interested in medieval castles. ‘A fascinating book … as well as providing a history of British castles, the book also offers advice on how to get the most enjoyment and fulfilment out of your visits.’ - The Journal

Mother Nature’s more aesthetically challenged children have been neglected for too long. The plight of the panda is known the world over because of its teddy-like good looks, but most species are not so lucky. This book, however, aims to shine a light on some of the many ignored and unloved wonders of the animal kingdom. Their hideousness hides their incredible biology and means that we may not have noticed that they need our help. It is time to celebrate the Ugly Animals.

THE STORY OF HOW A WILD MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE EVOLVED INTO AN ELITE OLYMPIC SPORT'Why is the best blood of England to waste itself in scaling hitherto inaccessible peaks, in staining the eternal snow, and reaching the unfathomable abyss never to return?’ - The Times, 1865In the 1950s, rock climbing was a wild mountain adventure that was defined by a rebellious, bohemian culture and practised by small groups of amateur enthusiasts. Today, rock-climbing has become a professionalised, high-performance, mass-participation Olympic sport. There are now more than 400 climbing walls and over 500,000 people climb regularly in the UK. Ascent tells the story of this remarkable transformation. Anthony King – a dedicated climber himself – traces the sport’s evolution through decades of rebellion, innovation and achievement to its place today as a vibrant, diverse culture. His own experiences colour the narrative; we discover not just how climbing developed, but what it feels like to climb and be a climber. More than just a history of the sport, through this story we also see how British society itself has changed. Expansive, immediate and deeply engaging, Ascent is both cultural sport history and lived experience.