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Aircraft and Aviation Stamps: A Collector’s Guide (Transport Philately Series)
The author has combined his two greatest interests: Transport and Stamp Collecting and brought them together in this series of books looking at the way postage stamps have led him to increase his knowledge of our world via his interest in all forms of transport world-wide. Philately (the collecting of stamps) itself is a fascinating hobby looking at the development of postal services in all its forms, designs of stamps that have evolved the Victorian Penny-Black to today’s creations, often artistic but dependant more and more on photography with greater or lesser degrees of digital manipulation. In his quest he has covered many unusual places that have only become more accessible with the advent of cheap air travel but has still found it necessary to use his own contacts, library of related books and more recently the internet to research his subject. Like all books in this series, they been laid out as global tour starting naturally in the UK and then travelling in an easterly direction through every continent – without, it should be added, crossing the International Date Line! Readers will not find every country included but a differing selection in each volume.Read more
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Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind
‘If great books encourage you to look at the world in an entirely new way, then Dominion is a very great book indeed . . . Written with terrific learning, enthusiasm and good humour, Holland’s book is not just supremely provocative, but often very funny’ Sunday Times History Book of the Year
Christianity is the most enduring and influential legacy of the ancient world, and its emergence the single most transformative development in Western history. Even the increasing number in the West today who have abandoned the faith of their forebears, and dismiss all religion as pointless superstition, remain recognisably its heirs. Seen close-up, the division between a sceptic and a believer may seem unbridgeable. Widen the focus, though, and Christianity’s enduring impact upon the West can be seen in the emergence of much that has traditionally been cast as its nemesis: in science, in secularism, and yes, even in atheism.
That is why Dominion will place the story of how we came to be what we are, and how we think the way that we do, in the broadest historical context. Ranging in time from the Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC to the on-going migration crisis in Europe today, and from Nebuchadnezzar to the Beatles, it will explore just what it was that made Christianity so revolutionary and disruptive; how completely it came to saturate the mind-set of Latin Christendom; and why, in a West that has become increasingly doubtful of religion’s claims, so many of its instincts remain irredeemably Christian. The aim is twofold: to make the reader appreciate just how novel and uncanny were Christian teachings when they first appeared in the world; and to make ourselves, and all that we take for granted, appear similarly strange in consequence. We stand at the end-point of an extraordinary transformation in the understanding of what it is to be human: one that can only be fully appreciated by tracing the arc of its parabola over millennia.
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£6.20£12.30Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind
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British Buses Since 1950: Trendsetting Designs (Britain’s Buses Series)
Bus design has certainly evolved in the seven decades since 1950, but it has not been a steady process. Advances in bus design have caused manufacturers to rush back to the drawing board for fear of being left behind. In 1950, the first of the new breed of underfloor-engined single-deckers appeared, and, just six years later, came the first rear-engined double-decker. Buses got longer, and one result in the 1960s was a rash of new rear-engined single-deck models. Efforts to make buses accessible for all passengers led to low-floor models in the 1990s, and then, in the 2000s, concerns about the environment prompted diesel-electric hybrid, gas, electric and hydrogen buses. Covering the designs that led the way with varying degrees of success over the past 70 years, and illustrated with over 170 colour images and period advertisements, this book showcases the good, the bad and the ugly of British bus design.Read more
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Victorian London Scenes: Journey Through The Charming Victorian Of London Coloring Book For Adults
Immerse yourself in the charm and elegance of a bygone era with “Victorian London Scenes : Journey Through The Charming Victorian Of London Coloring Book For Adults,” an exquisitely crafted coloring book that transports you back to the enchanting world of 19th-century England. Step into the bustling streets of Victorian London and experience the rich history, architectural marvels, and bustling life of this iconic city.Each illustration takes you on a journey through time, showcasing iconic landmarks, bustling London Street, serene town, and the Victorian life. As you bring these scenes to life with your artistic touch, you’ll find yourself strolling along cobblestone streets lined with elegant townhouses, ornate lampposts, and majestic cathedrals. Immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the city, as horse-drawn carriages pass by, and finely dressed ladies and gentlemen promenade through the city.
Whether you’re seeking relaxation, a trip through history, or a unique way to explore Victorian London, this coloring book will be your perfect companion. Allow your creativity to flourish and your imagination to wander as you embark on this delightful coloring journey through the enchanting streets of Victorian London. So, pick up your favorite coloring tools and immerse yourself in the romance and elegance of this extraordinary era. Let the enchanting world of “Victorian London Scenes” unfold before your eyes!
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SAS Survival Guide:The Ultimate guide to surviving anywhere: How to Survive in the Wild, on Land or Sea (Collins Gem)
THE MULTIMILLION COPY BESTSELLER
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SURVIVING ANYWHERE
The Collins Gem SAS Survival Guide is the pocket companion for adventurers everywhere. From making camp and finding food in the wild to security and self-defence in the streets, be prepared on land or sea. SAS legend John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman’s unrivalled guide will teach you:
Preparation – Understanding and assembling latest, most resilient, kit.
Navigation – Skills, technologies and techniques to get you through unfamiliar terrain.
Food and Health – Finding resources in your environment, feeding yourself, healing yourself and avoiding disease.
Safety and Security – Recognising dangerous situations, defending yourself and saving others.
Disaster Survival – Dealing with unstable environmental conditions: what to do in the face of flash flooding or fast-spreading fire.
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Royal Marine 6×9 High Quality Notebook Gift Commando Matte 100 Page Lined Terram
High Quality Royal Marine Notebook, 100 pages of lined white paper each bearing the RM logo.Perfect gift for any serving or ex marine. Ideal gift for him, her or them.
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Royal Marine Commando Funny Slang Notebook 100 Page 6×9 Matte Blank Lined
Royal Marine Commando Lined Notebook 100 page 6×9 featuring funny slang front cover and RM logo/cap badge on the internal pages.Printed on high quality white lined paper.
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GCSE History Edexcel Topic Guide – Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-1991: for the 2024 and 2025 exams (CGP Edexcel GCSE History)
Perfect for achieving the best grades in 2024 and 2025. From CGP ― the GCSE experts!
For Edexcel 9-1 GCSE History exam success don’t miss CGP’s brilliant Topic Guide covering Superpower relations and the Cold War (1941-91). It’s packed with crystal-clear revision notes, heaps of activities and exam-style questions (with answers) for students to test their understanding of the topic and the skills they’ll need for the Period Study section of the exam. Our handy worked answers and advice mean students can walk into the exam feeling confident they know what good answers look like. Plus there are exam tips throughout the book.
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GCSE History Edexcel Topic Guide – Medicine in Britain, c1250-Present: for the 2024 and 2025 exams (CGP Edexcel GCSE History)
Perfect for achieving the best grades in 2024 and 2025. From CGP ― the GCSE experts!
There’s no better way to learn everything for Edexcel 9-1 GCSE History – Medicine in Britain (c1250-present) than with this unbeatable CGP Topic Guide. It’s packed with crystal-clear revision notes and heaps of activities. There are exam-style questions to test students understanding of the topic and the skills they’ll need for the Thematic Study and Historic Environment section of the exam – as well as practice using sources for the Historic Environment section of the exam. Our handy worked answers and advice mean students can walk into the exam feeling confident they know what good answers look like. Plus there are exam tips throughout the book and answers at the back.
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GCSE History AQA Topic Guide – Conflict and Tension Between East and West, 1945-1972: for the 2024 and 2025 exams (CGP AQA GCSE History)
Perfect for achieving the best grades in 2024 and 2025. From CGP ― the GCSE experts!
This excellent CGP AQA 9-1 GCSE History – Conflict and Tension Between East and West (1945-1972) Topic Guide has everything students need for exam success! It’s packed with crystal-clear revision notes, heaps of activities, sources and exam-style questions (with answers) – perfect for helping students test their understanding of the topic and master the skills they’ll need for the exam. Our handy worked answers and exam advice mean students can walk into the exam feeling confident that they’re fully prepared.
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The Vietnam War: 1956–75 (Essential Histories)
In this fully illustrated introduction, leading Vietnam War historian Dr Andrew Wiest provides a concise overview of America’s most divisive war.America entered the Vietnam War certain of its Cold War doctrines and convinced of its moral mission to save the world from the advance of communism. However, the war was not at all what the United States expected. Dr Andrew Wiest examines how, outnumbered and outgunned, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces resorted to a guerrilla war based on the theories of Mao Zedong of China, while the US responded with firepower and overwhelming force. Drawing on the latest research for this new edition, Wiest examines the brutal and prolonged resultant conflict, and how its consequences would change America forever, leaving the country battered and unsure as it sought to face the challenges of the final acts of the Cold War. As for Vietnam, the conflict would continue long after the US had exited its military adventure in Southeast Asia.
Updated and revised, with full-colour maps and new images throughout, this is an accessible introduction to the most important event of the “American Century.”
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Modern Warfare: A Lowy Institute Paper: Penguin Special: Lessons from Ukraine
“More than any other modern war, the fight between Russia and Ukraine has been a tough testing ground for modern weapons and operational concepts. Drawing on extensive research into the conduct of the war during its first year, Sir Lawrence Freedman assesses the contrasting strategies of the two sides. Ukraine has fought along classical lines, seeking victory through battle. Russia has adopted a more total approach, combining conventional battles with attacks on Ukraine’s socio-economic structure. Freedman explains why the apparently superior Russian force has been unable to defeat and subjugate Ukraine.”Read more
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The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: A Facsimile in Full Color (Dover Fine Art, History of Art)
This vivid facsimile of Blake’s romantic and revolutionary publication offers a concise expression of his essential wisdom and philosophy. His distinctive hand-lettered text is accompanied by 27 color plates of his stirring illustrations.Read more
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No Borders: Playing Rugby for Ireland (Behind the Jersey Series)
Winner of Cross Sports Rugby Book of the Year 2016
From Jack Kyle’s immortals to Brian O’Driscoll’s golden generation, this is the story of Irish rugby told in the players’ words. Celebrated rugby writer Tom English embarks on a pilgrimage through the four provinces to reveal the fascinating and illuminating story of playing test rugby in the emerald green of Ireland – all the glory of victory, all the pain of defeat, and all the craic behind the scenes. But this is more than just a nostalgic look back through the years, it is a searing portrait of the effects of politics and religion on Irish sport, a story of great schisms and volatile divisions, but also as story of the profound unity, passionate friendships and the bonds of a brotherhood. With exclusive new interview material with a host of Ireland rugby greats, No Borders unveils the compelling truth of what it means to play for Ireland at Lansdowne Road, Croke Park and around the world. This is the ultimate history of Irish rugby – told, definitively, by the men who have been there and done it.
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The Bus We Loved: London’s Affair With The Routemaster
In December 2005, London lost one its most famous symbols: the Routemaster bus – a bus designed and made in London, by Londoners for Londoners, which was to London what the gondola is to Venice. In terms of postcards, books, films and cheap souvenirs, and in the eyes of the world, the Routemaster represented the city just as much as Big Ben. It was the last bus to be have conductors as well as drivers, the last bus to ring familiar shouts that are at least a century old: ‘Fares please,’ ‘Full up inside but room on top,’ ‘Next stop the British Museum’! The last bus, in other words, to be a proper bus. In this fond history, Travis Elborough tells the story of the Routemaster’s invention, rise and decline, of the people who worked on it and of the enthusiasts who were mad about it. The streets will never be the same again.Read more
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If You Survive (Ivy Books World War II/Nonfiction): From Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge to the End of World War II, One American Officer’s Riveting True Story
“If you survive your first day, I’ll promote you.”So promised George Wilson’s World War II commanding officer in the hedgerows of Normandy — and it was to be a promise dramatically fulfilled. From July, 1944, to the closing days of the war, from the first penetration of the Siegfried Line to the Nazis’ last desperate charge in the Battle of the Bulge, Wilson fought in the thickest of the action, helping take the small towns of northern France and Belgium building by building.
Of all the men and officers who started out in Company F of the 4th Infantry Division with him, Wilson was the only one who finished. In the end, he felt not like a conqueror or a victor, but an exhausted survivor, left with nothing but his life — and his emotions.
If You Survive
One of the great first-person accounts of the making of a combat veteran, in the last, most violent months of World War II.
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Fashion through the centuries coloring book: Renaissance to the 20th century, Victorian, colonial America, baroque, rococo, historical clothing, … women style in time, decades…
Fashion through the centuries coloring book- 50 illustrations of dresses through the centuries. Put color to the inspirational pictures of clothing. Look how clothes looked at the Victorian era, the 20s or why not in renaissance style. Perfect for the history interested, fashion lovers, costume designers, girls, women, mom, friend or cultural historians. Relax and start experimenting with colors.Read more
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Our Best Known World Religions: An Educational Guide to Our 7 Best Known World Faiths
Discover the power of faith and why people follow world religions with Robert M Goldfield’s Our Best Known World Religions. This comprehensive guidebook delves into the history and beliefs of the 7 most popular religions of the world to provide readers with an in-depth understanding of our faiths. From Christianity to Taoism, this book explains why people follow religious paths and uncovers the truth about Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and more. It also explores the attraction of cults and earth-based religions, plus atheism and agnosticism.
Benefits of reading this book:
– Gain a deeper understanding of the world’s religions and why people follow them
– Find out the truth about popular faiths, and discover the rituals and beliefs of each religion
– Learn about the history of Christianity, Islam, and other faiths
– Explore atheism and agnosticism and why some people reject faith
– Get insight into the power of earth-based religions and cultsWhat’s included in this book:
– An introduction to the world’s religions
– An educational guide to the most crucial aspects of each faith
– Facts about religious faith and the impact it has on the world
– Insight into why people follow religions
– The history, beliefs, and rituals of each faithUnlock the secrets of our most beloved world faiths and gain a full understanding of the power of faith. Buy your copy of Our Best Known World Religions now before the price changes!
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Royal Navy Basic Training: The diary of a new recruit
Two years ago, I walked through the gates at HMS Raleigh to start my Royal Navy Basic Training. I had no real knowledge of what to expect over those coming weeks and this book relays those challenges and experiences, from when I first passed through the gates until my passing out parade. These are some of the things I learnt from completing the Royal Navy Basic Training: • Do what you are told and don’t question it no matter how much you might disagree.• Help each other; if you help your mates, they will help you. • Try your best. Give 100% all the time, even if you fail at something. • No matter how bad you think it is, it will be worth it in the end. This book is my diary of the 10-week Basic Training at HMS Raleigh, from when I first passed through the gates until my passing out parade.Read more
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The Big Book of History Crosswords: 51 Themed Crossword Puzzles and Fun Facts for History Lovers
Think you know your history? This bumper collection of 51 fun, fiendish crossword puzzles will challenge your knowledge of everything from Ancient Rome to the Arab Spring, from the Aztecs to the internet, from the Stone Age to the Jazz Age, and from Timbuktu to outer space.
Spanning centuries and ranging across continents, each crossword has something for everyone – whether you’re a keen quizzer, fancy yourself as a history expert, or are just fascinated by our shared past. Test yourself on historic battles, ancient cultures, earth-shaking revolutions and amazing inventions; play against the clock, or just against yourself. Open up a whole world of historical discovery. Let’s get puzzling!
- Absorbing puzzles on a large 17×17 grid
- A wide variety of questions across 14 history themes
- Over 860 quiz-style clues
- Clues and crossword grid are conveniently on the same page for each puzzle
- Solutions provided at the back of the book
- Fun facts every 2 puzzles to teach you something interesting you didn’t know before!
- The perfect gift for adult history fans
- All puzzles are in British English
Get 19 FREE bonus crosswords with this book! As a thank you for purchasing this book, we are giving away 19 FREE crosswords in a printable format for you test your history knowledge on hundreds more clues. The download link is provided in the book.
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Spitfire Manual 1940
How to fly the legendary fighter plane in combat using the manuals and instructions supplied by the RAF during the Second World War. An amazing array of leaflets, books and manuals were issued by the War Office during the Second World War to aid pilots in flying the Supermarine Spitfire, here for the first time and using the original 1940s setting, they are collated into a single book. An introduction is supplied by expert aviation historian Dilip Sarkar. Other sections include aircraft recognition, how to act as an RAF officer, bailing out etc.Read more
£6.60£9.50Spitfire Manual 1940
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New GCSE History Edexcel Revision Guide (with Online Edition, Quizzes & Knowledge Organisers): for the 2024 and 2025 exams (CGP Edexcel GCSE History)
We’ve got GCSE Edexcel History covered! This superb Revision Guide clearly explains the most popular Depth Study, Period Study and Thematic Study options, drawn from a range of historical eras in Britain, Europe and the wider world. Perfect for helping students develop their knowledge and understanding of history. There’s also plenty of top advice on the skills needed for each section of the exam, as well as knowledge organisers and online quizzes to help students test their knowledge of different topics. We’ve even thrown in a free online edition of the whole book – don’t say we never spoil you! The topics covered in this Revision Guide are: – Medicine in Britain c. 1250-present – The British Sector of the Western Front 1914-1918 – The American West c. 1835-c.1895 – The Cold War 1941-1991 – Early Elizabethan England 1558-1588 – Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-1936Read more
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Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Religion plays a central role in human experience. Billions of people around the world practice a faith and act in accordance with it. Religion shapes how they enter the world and how they leave it – how they eat, dress, marry, and raise their children. It shapes their assumptions about who they are and who they want to be. Religion also identifies insiders and outsiders, who has power and who doesn’t. It sanctifies injustice and combats it. It draws national borders. It affects law, economy, and government. It destroys and restores the environment. It starts wars and ends them. Whether you notice it or not, religion plays a role in how billions conduct their lives. We are called, then, to understand this important factor in human life today.Beginning with the first signs of religion among ancient humans and concluding with a look at modern citizens and global trends, leading scholar Thomas Tweed examines this powerful and enduring force in human society. Tweed deftly documents religion as it exists around the world, addressing its role in both intensifying and alleviating contemporary political and environmental problems, from armed conflict to climate change. Religion: A Very Short Introduction offers a concise non-partisan overview of religion’s long history and its complicated role in the world today.
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The Abrahamic Religions: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
In the book of Genesis, God bestows a new name upon Abram―Abraham, a father of many nations. With this name and his Covenant, Abraham would become the patriarch of three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Connected by their mutual―if differentiated―veneration of the One God proclaimed by Abraham, these traditions share much beyond their origins in the ancient Israel of the Old Testament. This Very Short Introduction explores the intertwined histories of these monotheistic religions, from the emergence of Christianity and Islam to the violence of the Crusades and the cultural exchanges of al-Andalus.Each religion continues to be shaped by this history but has also reacted to the forces of modernity and politics. Movements such as the Reformation and that led by seventh-century Kharijites have emerged, intentioned to reform or restore traditional religious practice but quite different in their goals and effects. Relationships with states, among them Israel and Saudi Arabia, have also figured importantly in their development. The Abrahamic Religions: A Very Short Introduction brings these traditions together into a common narrative, lending much needed context to the story of Abraham and his descendants.
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Vatican II: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
bVery Short Introductionsb: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring /bThe Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), or Vatican II, is arguably the most significant event in the life of the Catholic Church since the Reformation. The Council initiated, intentionally or not, profound changes not simply within Catholic theology, but in the religious, social, and moral lives of the world’s billion Catholics. It also reconfigured, intellectually and practically, the Church’s engagements with those outside of it – most obviously with regard to other religions.
The sixteen documents formally issued by Vatican II constitute some of the most influential writings of the whole twentieth century. Debates over their correct interpretation and authority are constant, but they remain an indispensable point-of-reference for all areas of Catholic life, from liturgy and sacraments, to the Church’s vast network of charitable and educational endeavours the world over.
In this Very Short Introduction, Shaun Blanchard and Stephen Bullivant present the backstory to this event. Vatican II is explored in light of the wider history of the Catholic Church and placed in the tumultuous context of the 1960s. It distils the research on Vatican II, employing the first-hand accounts of participants and observers, and the official proceedings of the Council to paint a rich picture of one of the most important events of the last century.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringDebates about science and religion are rarely out of the news. Whether it concerns what’s being taught in schools, clashes between religious values and medical recommendations, or questions about how to address our changing global environment, emotions often run high and answers seem intractable. Yet there is much more to science and religion than the clash of extremes.
As Thomas Dixon and Adam Shapiro show in this balanced and thought-provoking Very Short Introduction, a whole range of views, subtle arguments, and fascinating perspectives can be found on this complex and centuries-old subject. They explore the key philosophical questions that underlie the debate, but also highlight the social, political, and ethical contexts that have made the tensions between science and religion such a fraught and interesting topic in the modern world. In this new edition, Dixon and Shapiro connect historical concepts such as evolution, the heliocentric solar system, and the problem of evil to present-day issues including the politicization of science; debates over mind, body, and identity; and the moral necessity of addressing environmental change. Ranging from medical missionaries to congregations adopting new technologies during a pandemic, from Galileo’s astronomy to building the Thirty Meter Telescope, they explore how some of the most complex social issues of our day are rooted in discussions of science and religion.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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War and Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringIs religion a force for war, or a force for peace? Some of the most terrible wars in history have been caused and motivated by religion. Much of the violence that fills our screens today springs from the same source. Yet some of the bravest pacifists have also been deeply religious people, and many of the laws and institutions that work to soften or prevent war have deep religious roots.
This Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the history of religion and war, and a framework for analysing it. Ranging from the warrior gods of Ancient Greece and Rome, and the ethical drama of the Mahabharata, through the Islamic wars of conquest and the Crusades, to present day conflicts in Sri Lanka and the Balkans, it considers the entanglement of war and religion. Yet from Just War theory and the restraints on war-making imposed by Islamic jurisprudence, through the Pax Christi of the middle ages, to the non-violence of Gandhi and Bacha Khan; there is also a story to be told of peace and religion as well. Jolyon Mitchell and Joshua Rey consider both sides of the age long drama of war and religion, challenging assumptions at the most fundamental level. Throughout, they encourage a more sophisticated and well-grounded view on these issues that have had such weight in the past, and continue to shape our present and future.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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Northern Ireland: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
From the Plantation of Ulster in the seventeenth century to the entry into peace talks in the late twentieth century the Northern Irish people have been engaged in conflict – Catholic against Protestant, Republican against Unionist. The traumas of violence in the Northern Ireland Troubles have cast a long shadow. For many years, this appeared to be an intractable conflict with no pathway out. Mass mobilisations of people and dramatic political crises punctuated a seemingly endless succession of bloodshed. When in the 1990s and early 21st century, peace was painfully built, it brought together unlikely rivals, making Northern Ireland a model for conflict resolution internationally.But disagreement about the future of the province remains, and for the first time in decades one can now seriously speak of a democratic end to the Union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain as a foreseeable possibility. The Northern Ireland problem remains a fundamental issue as the United Kingdom recasts its relationship with Europe and the world. In this completely revised edition of his Very Short Introduction Marc Mulholland explores the pivotal moments in Northern Irish history – the rise of republicanism in the 1800s, Home Rule and the civil rights movement, the growth of Sinn Fein and the provisional IRA, and the DUP, before bringing the story up to date, drawing on newly available memoirs by paramilitary militants to offer previously unexplored perspectives, as well as recent work on Nothern Irish gender relations. Mulholland also includes a new chapter on the state of affairs in 21st Century Northern Ireland, considering the question of Irish unity in the light of both Brexit and the approaching anniversary of the 1921 partition, and drawing new lessons for the future.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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The Victorians: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
bVery Short Introductionsb: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring /bThe Victorian period may have come to an end over 120 years ago, but the Victorians continue to be a vital presence in the modern world. Contemporary Britain is still in large part Victorian in its transport networks, sewage systems, streets, and houses. Victorian cultural legacies, especially in art, science, and literature, are still celebrated. The first to have to grapple with many of the challenges of modern urban society, we continue to look to the Victorians for inspiration and solace. And we are increasingly aware of the ways their global actions shaped, often for ill, the world around us. Much mythologised, inexhaustibly controversial, the Victorians are an inescapable reference point for understanding the modern histories not just of Britain and its empire, but of the world.
In The Victorians: A Very Short Introduction Martin Hewitt offers a guide through the thickets of judgement and debate which have grown around the period and its people, to offer a historical overview of the Victorians and their legacies. He seeks to answer five crucial questions. Why have the Victorians continued occupy such a prominent place in the cultures of not just the anglophone world? How far does it make sense to think of a 64-year period arbitrarily given an identity by the longevity of the Queen as an identifiable historical period in a general sense? How justified are the value-laden versions of the Victorians which argue for the existence of a particular world view called ‘Victorianism’? Beyond ideology, what was Victorian Britain actually like – and in particular, what was distinctive about it? Who were the Victorians – not just the eminent few, but the population as a whole? And finally, how far and with what results did the Victorians and their culture spread across the globe?
In answering these questions, Hewitt cautions against some long-held orthodoxies, throws a light on some less well-known aspects of the period, and urges the importance of understanding the Victorians on their own terms if we are to effectively engage with their legacies.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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A WAAF AT WAR: OR BALLOONS TO BLETCHLEY PARK
This is Margaret’s story, an ordinary young woman from the shires who voluntarily joined the war against Germany and the Nazi Party.
It is a story that takes us from a small rural coal mining town to the sheer hard graft of handling highly hazardous barrage balloons, a sojourn at an operational bomber base.
From there we are taken into the almost monastic world of signals intelligence collection at Bletchley Park. Not for her the interminable copying of sacred texts, rather the transcribing of enemy signal traffic.
To this day Margaret will not talk about her work at Bletchley Park in any detail. This has caused frustration amongst historians, including Bletchley Park itself.
Winston Churchill described the young women at Bletchley as ‘the geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled.’
And so it has proved.
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The English Civil War in 100 Facts
The English Civil War pitted Parliament against the Crown following a breakdown in their relationship, ultimately caused by a struggle over power, religion and control. The Civil War split the country and resulted in the execution of Charles I and the exile of his son, and the English monarchy was replaced first by the Commonwealth of England and then the Protectorate. Oliver Cromwell dominated the politics of the new rule and still divides opinion today, with some seeing him as a brutal dictator and others seeing him as a hero of liberty. The English Civil War in 100 Facts examines the twenty years of intermittent warfare, covering the first, second and third wars, from the initial conflict with Charles I to the fight of Charles II’s supporters with the Rump Parliament. Dr Andrew Lacey guides us through some of the key figures and their stories as well as some of the key battles and politics in this period that drastically altered the structure of English rule.Read more
£7.10£8.50The English Civil War in 100 Facts
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Jews Don’t Count: Sunday Times Paperbacks of the Year 2022
How identity politics failed one particular identity.
‘a must read and if you think YOU don’t need to read it, that’s just the clue to know you do.’ SARAH SILVERMAN
‘a masterpiece.’
STEPHEN FRYJews Don’t Count is a book for people on the right side of history. People fighting the good fight against homophobia, disablism, transphobia and, particularly, racism. People, possibly, like you.
It is the comedian and writer David Baddiel’s contention that one type of racism has been left out of this fight. In his unique combination of reasoning, polemic, personal experience and jokes, Baddiel argues that those who think of themselves as on the right side of history have often ignored the history of anti-Semitism. He outlines why and how, in a time of intensely heightened awareness of minorities, Jews don’t count as a real minority.David Baddiel’s book ‘The God Desire’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 17-04-2023.
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£7.15£7.99 -
A Short History of Laos: The land in between (Short History of Asia)
Laos, perhaps the least known country in mainland Southeast Asia, stands at the region’s crossroads. This small ‘land in between’ is surrounded by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma-countries that, in pre-modern times, provided Lao kings with a field for territorial expansion. But more often, Laos has been a bridge between these powerful neighbours, and an arena in which they and their allies have interfered.Here, Grant Evans brings Lao history vividly into focus. From ancient times when the dynastic states of the region waxed and waned, to the 20th century and the turmoil of independence from France and the Vietnam War and its aftermath, Evans traces the compelling story of the emergence of Laos as a modern nation.
A Short History of Laos is an ideal introduction to Laos for travellers, businesspeople and students. For those familiar with Lao history, Evans investigates key events in new ways and presents serious challenges to conventional views about Laos’ intriguing history. country’s past.
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Grimsby in the Great War (Your Towns and Cities in the Great War)
An account of the Home Front experience in Grimsby.Read more
£7.20£9.50 -
Why Do Shepherds Need a Bush?: London’s Underground History of Tube Station Names
Who travelling through Totteridge and Whetstone is aware that the station got its name from the medieval soldiers who sharpened their swords at the whetstone before the bloody Battle of Barnet? Or that Canary Wharf was built for importing fruit from the Canary Islands? Or that Shepherd’s Bush was previously known as Gagglegoose Green? The names of the 300 or so underground stations are part of everyday life for Londoners, but we hardly ever question their meanings or history. This entertaining book delves into their origins, ensuring you never view your journey beneath the city in the same way again.
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£7.30£8.50 -
Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West
The American West, 1860-1890: years of broken promises, disillusionment, war and massacre.
Beginning with the Long Walk of the Navajos and ending with the massacre of Sioux at Wounded Knee, this extraordinary book tells how the American Indians lost their land, lives and liberty to white settlers pushing westward. Woven into a an engrossing saga of cruelty, treachery and violence are the fascinating stories of such legendary figures as Sitting Bull, Cochise, Crazy Horse and Geronimo.
First published in 1970, Dee Brown’s brutal and compelling narrative changed the way people thought about the original inhabitants of America, and focused attention on a national disgrace.
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£7.30£10.40 -
Last Years of the London Titan
Already depleted by withdrawals in the London Buses Ltd era, the Leyland Titan fleet of T class was divided upon privatisation between three new companies; London Central, Stagecoach East London and Stagecoach Selkent. Together with a host of smaller companies operating second-hand acquisitions, the Titans’ declining years between 1998 and 2003 are explored in this pictorial account that encompasses both standard day-to-day routes, emergency deployments and rail replacement services. Only small numbers remained to usher out the type altogether at the end of 2005, when step-entrance double-deckers as a whole were banished from the capital.Read more
£7.30£23.80Last Years of the London Titan
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Burma ’44: The Battle That Turned Britain’s War in the East
‘A thrilling blow-by-blow account’ The Times
‘A first-rate popular history of a fascinating and neglected battle… a veritable page-turner’ BBC HistoryIn February 1944, a rag-tag collection of clerks, drivers, doctors, muleteers, and other base troops, stiffened by a few dogged Yorkshiremen and a handful of tank crews managed to hold out against some of the finest infantry in the Japanese Army, and then defeat them in what was one of the most astonishing battles of the Second World War.
What became know as The Defence of the Admin Box, fought amongst the paddy fields and jungle of Northern Arakan over a fifteen-day period, turned the battle for Burma. Not only was it the first decisive victory for British troops against the Japanese, more significantly, it demonstrated how the Japanese could be defeated. The lessons learned in this tiny and otherwise insignificant corner of the Far East, set up the campaign in Burma that would follow, as General Slim’s Fourteenth Army finally turned defeat into victory.
Burma ’44 is a tale of incredible drama. As gripping as the story of Rorke’s drift, as momentous as the battle for the Ardennes, the Admin Box was a triumph of human grit and heroism and remains one of the most significant yet undervalued conflicts of World War Two.
The new, sweeping World War II book from James Holland, THE SAVAGE STORM, is available for pre-order now.
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A History of War Surgery
Since antiquity, war surgery has been a profession demanding a special kind of human: one able to face seemingly insurmountable problems; one able to keep a lucid mind and steady hands in extraordinary circumstances; one able to shoulder tremendous burdens; and one able to harden himself or herself, time and again, to failure and self-doubt. It is, and always has been, a harrowing business, and only for the brave. Dr John Wright charts the evolution of war surgery from ancient times to the present day, investigating its breakthroughs, its pitfalls, and the people and conflicts that have shaped it. But above all, this is a personal history, calling on the first-hand accounts of the surgeons, soldiers, medics, nurses, stretcher-bearers, and many others who have served in battle and come face-to-face with its most appalling horrors. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is one that searches for and delivers the truth about those who, with unerring skill, courage and determination, endeavour to undo the terrible damage we habitually inflict upon ourselves.Read more
£7.30A History of War Surgery
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Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP
THE IRISH TOP 10 BESTSELLER
A gripping investigation into one of Irish history’s greatest mysteries, Great Hatred reveals the true story behind one of the most significant political assassinations to ever have been committed on British soil.
‘Heart-stopping . . . The book is both forensic and a page-turner, and ultimately deeply tragic, for Ireland as much as for the murder victim.’
MICHAEL PORTILLO‘Gripping from start to finish. McGreevy turns a forensic mind to a political assassination that changed the course of history, uncovering a trove of unseen evidence in the process.’
ANITA ANAND, author of The Patient Assassin‘Invaluable.’ IRISH TIMES
‘Intelligent and insightful.’ IRISH INDEPENDENT
On 22 June 1922, Sir Henry Wilson – the former head of the British army and one of those credited with winning the First World War – was shot and killed by two veterans of that war turned IRA members in what was the most significant political murder to have taken place on British soil for more than a century. His assassins were well-educated and pious men. One had lost a leg during the Battle of Passchendaele. Shocking British society to the core, the shooting caused consternation in the government and almost restarted the conflict between Britain and Ireland that had ended with the Anglo-Irish Treaty just five months earlier. Wilson’s assassination triggered the Irish Civil War, which cast the darkest of shadows over the new Irish State.
Who ordered the killing? Why did two English-born Irish nationalists kill an Irish-born British imperialist? What was Wilson’s role in the Northern Ireland government and the violence which matched the intensity of the Troubles fifty years later? Why would Michael Collins, who risked his life to sign a peace treaty with Great Britain, want one of its most famous soldiers dead, and how did the Wilson assassination lead to Collins’ tragic death in an ambush two months later?
Drawing upon newly released archival material and never-before-seen documentation, Great Hatred is a revelatory work that sheds light on a moment that changed the course of Irish and British history for ever.
‘McGreevy provides more than the anatomy of a political murder; in reconstructing this era of blood, poverty and wartime trauma, he also gives full expression to the terrible forces that WB Yeats once called the “fanatic heart” and the “great hatred”.’
THE TIMES‘Thoughtful and well-researched . . . an important and valuable addition to the library of the Irish Revolution.’
PROFESSOR DIARMAID FERRITER, University College DublinRead more
£7.30£10.40
