History 19


69406 CRUSADES: The War for the Holy Land by Thomas Asbridge


One of the foremost authorities on the history of the crusades here sets a new standard for modern scholarship. The best is the participants - pious Godfrey, greedy Baldwin, Saladin, courageous Richard the Lionheart and deceitful Frederick II. Drawing upon painstaking original research, memorable details, battle accounts and an intimate knowledge of the Near East, he uncovers what drove Muslims and Christians alike to embrace the ideals of jihad and crusade, revealing how these holy wars reshaped the medieval world and why they continue to echo in human memory to this day. In the 11th century, a vast Christian army summoned to holy war by the Pope, rampaged through the Muslim world of the eastern Mediterranean, seizing possession of Jerusalem, a city revered by both faiths. Over the 200 years that followed this First Crusade, Islam and the West fought for dominion of the Holy Land, clashing in a succession of chillingly brutal wars, both firm in the belief that they were doing God’s work. This impressive volume tells, for the first time, the story of this epic struggle from the perspective of both Christians and Muslims, reconstructing the experiences and attitudes of those on both sides of the conflict. It exposes the full horror, passion and barbaric grandeur of the crusading era, leading the reader into a world of legendary champions such as Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, across the desert sands of Egypt to the verdant forests of Lebanon and


through the ancient cities of


Constantinople, Cairo and Damascus. 784 pages with plates in colour and b/w, chronology, notes and many maps.


£30 NOW £12.50


69447 RURAL RIDES OF THE


BRISTOL CHURCHGOER by Joseph Leech


In September 1843, the first of the ‘Churchgoer’ articles appeared on the back page of ‘The Bristol Times’ and attracted a considerable following. The first series ended in June 1844, but shortly afterwards began the ‘Rural Rides’ and soon


every incumbent vicar within a 20 mile radius of Bristol was in fear that ‘Churchgoer’ was amongst his congregation, ready to report on the shortcomings of the parish, church, congregation and sermon. ‘Churchgoer’ was in fact Joseph Leech, editor of ‘The Bristol Times’. He took considerable care to conceal his identity purporting ‘Churchgoer’ to be around 55 years old, portly, bald, bespectacled and wearing a snuff-brown coat. Always witty. Woodcut illus, 320pp in large softback.


£14.99 NOW £6.50


35497 THE ART OF WAR and THE BOOK OF LORD SHANG by Sun Tzu


The two political classics in this book are the product of a time of intense turmoil in Chinese history. They are anything but armchair strategy or ivory-tower speculation: they are serious, urgent and practical responses to the desperate situations in which they were written. They have been immensely influential both inside and outside China. ‘The Art of War’ analyses the nature of war and reveals how victory may be ensured. ‘The Book of Lord Shang’ is a political treatise for the instruction of rulers. With a new introduction by Robert Wilkinson to both texts and bound in a Wordsworth Classics of World Literature paperback. 256pp. ONLY £4


67828 LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL


TOWN by Peter Hammond Public life in towns began very early, at dawn with the ringing of the Angelus bell at five or six o’clock. Most shops and small businesses began work at around 6am. At the end of the day, the curfew bell rang at about 9 o’clock when the town gates were closed and no-one allowed in or out.


Townsfolk now felt secure and safe in their beds. They rested until the whole noisy cycle started again in the morning. Covering trade skills, great halls, merchants, houses, the streets, food and shopping, law and order, markets and religious life, here are what the sights, sounds and smells around us would have been in the 1400s. 93 page paperback. £5.99 NOW £3


66672 PIMLICO DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL


CIVILIZATIONS by Arthur Cotterell Embracing the whole of the classical Old World - not just Greece and Rome - but China, Persia and India too, this dictionary begins with the Achaean League, (a rare example of a successful confederation in classical Greece), and finishes with Zoroastrianism, (the classical Iranian belief associated with the prophet Zoroaster.) The entries, which cover such varied subjects as Spartacus, Peloponnesian War, Olympia, Egypt, Confucius, warfare, Thessaly, Caractacus and Britain have informative, lengthy explanations. Softback of 483pp with line illus.


£12.50 NOW £2.50 66684 KNIGHT: Noble Warrior of England


1200-1600 by Christopher Gravett In this lavishly illustrated volume Christopher Gravett describes the armour, weapons, fighting as well as the life, the often short and violent career and times of the knight and how it changed over 400 years, the wars they fought and the evolution of knightly culture and chivalry. Plus their involvement in politics and warfare. The superb depictions in contemporary detailed reconstructions and artworks, modern artists’ like Graham Turner’s historical sketches and prints and photos in colour and b/w. 288pp, 8" × 9¾” with detailed timeline. £20 NOW £6


60587 ANCIENT GREECE: The Dawn of the


Western World by Furio Durando Our understanding of ancient Greece is constantly changing as scholars reinterpret historical sources and archaeologists excavate new sites. This volume sets out to relate the whole extraordinary story, starting with a brief but complete history of Hellas and moving on to an exploration of how the ancient Greeks lived; their homes, their jewellery, the religions they practised, the dramas they performed, the wars they fought and the games they played. It also documents the course of Greek art, from the abstract purity of the Cycladic idols to the perfection of the Classical era and on to the mannerism of the Hellenistic period, as well as its peerless architecture. The book concludes with an archaeological tour through the regions of Greece, visiting the Acropolis in Athens to the Doric temples of Paestum. 292 large pages, 1,000 photos in colour, aerial views, plans. ONLY £8


66686 LORDS OF BATTLE: The World of the


Celtic Warrior by Stephen Allen Covering the period from the first mention of the Celts by Ancient Greek writers to the Roman conquest of Britain, the author looks at the Celtic warrior, his society and place within it, and the conflicts that would eventually destroy his world. The book is beautifully illustrated with many examples of Celtic artefacts and craftsmanship, colour maps, colour photos of what is still to be seen today, aerial views, particularly of forts in Ireland and hill forts in Dorset, artefacts like flagons showing remarkable workmanship or a beautiful drinking horn decorated with bronze and gold to temple friezes, weaponry and beautifully decorated armour. 224 large and elegant pages. £20 NOW £5


66903 WARLORDS OF REPUBLICAN ROME:


Caesar Versus Pompey by Nic Fields The book concentrates on the military side of the struggle for power and gives incisive portraits of other key figures such as Cato and Cicero. The war between Caesar and Pompey was one of the defining moments in Roman history. Nic Fields delves into the often brutal world of Roman politics and reconsiders the men as individuals and politicians and above all as soldiers. The heart of the book is a vivid account of the campaign they fought against each other. Caesar’s daring march on Rome, his failed siege at Dyrrachium, the climactic battle at Pharsalus and Pompey’s murder are described in graphic detail. Victory made Caesar the effective master of the Roman world. 238pp with photos. $32.95 NOW £4.50


67274 FIREBRINGERS: Art, Science and the


Struggle for Liberty in 19th Century Britain by Max Adams


Low-born and largely unschooled, the four Martin brothers in their richly varied lives reflected the upheavals felt in Britain during the Industrial Revolution. William, the oldest, was an eccentric inventor who found it impossible to look at a piece of machinery without trying to improve it; Richard, a courageous and elusive soldier fought in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo; Jonathan, a hell-fire preacher tormented by madness almost burned York Minister to the ground in 1829, and John, the youngest, single-handedly invented, mastered and exhausted an entire genre of painting. Max Adams describes these radicals as the Firebringers or Prometheans. Equally at home describing Humphrey Davy’s miners’ lamp, the scandalous sex life of the Prince Regent, the Peterloo massacre or JMW Turner’s use of colour. 323pp with colour and b/w plates. £20 NOW £5


67412 MAPS FOR FAMILY AND LOCAL HISTORY


by Geraldine Beech and Rose Mitchell The Tithe, Valuation Office and National Farm Surveys were comparable to the Domesday Book in their coverage of the years 1836 to 1943. They provide abundant information on dwellings, settlements and landscapes, individual householders and tenants, farmers and industrialists and for family and local historians they are immensely valuable. Here is a guide to researching these records, showing how and why the surveys were made, how to identify and interpret the records and put your ancestors or neighbourhood ‘on the map’. With actual examples photographed and annotated, and list of Valuation Office maps. 116pp, illus, large softback. £14.99 NOW £4.50


67861 LIFE BELOW STAIRS IN THE


TWENTIETH CENTURY by Pamela Horn In the early days of the century there were several routes to service. It could be a family tradition, or young people might answer an advertisement. The two wars radically altered employment patterns, with girls taking men’s jobs and becoming dissatisfied with a life of dependence. Most servants had to be up by six and had very limited time for recreation. Friends of either sex were often discouraged, and meals were frequently taken in silence. Examines the rise of domestic workers’ unions, rates of pay, employment legislation and finally the modern situation with au pairs, nannies and cleaning staff. Photos, cartoons and advertisements. 293pp. Softback.


£16.99 NOW £6.50


68064 A NEW WORLD: England’s First View of


America by Kim Sloan In 1585 John White joined a group of Englishmen despatched by Sir Walter Ralegh to found a colony in “Virginia”, on the coast of what is today North Carolina. His instructions were to faithfully record and draw all the animals and plants,


women and men, apparel and weapons he came across in the New World, and this superb publication reproduces in full the rarely seen collection of watercolours made by this relatively unknown gentleman-artist, currently held by the British Museum. It also tells the story of White’s five voyages to “Virginia” and his role as governor of the “Lost Colony” of Roanoke which preceded the more successful settlement of Jamestown by some 20 years. His unique watercolours bring vividly to life the complex culture of the Carolina Algonquians, the Florida Indians, the Inuit and West Indian flora and fauna, and also reproduced are maps and charts. The artworks are supplemented by the famed Theodor de Bry engravings. 250 illus, mostly colour, 256pp softback, 8¾” × 10¾”. ONLY £8


Bibliophile Books Unit 5 Datapoint, 6 South Crescent, London E16 4TL TEL: 020 74 74 24 74 59692 EDWARD S. CURTIS: NATIVE


AMERICANS by Hans Christian Adam A talented historian, photographer, artist and ethnographer, the goal of Edward Curtis (1868-1952) was to capture ‘the vanishing Indian’. He started on the project in 1900 and, 30 years later, had taken 40,000 photographs and completed a massive 20-volume work, at the cost of a failed marriage, depleted finances and broken health. He shot families, daily life, costumes, rituals and stunning individual portraits, registering the full range of human emotion. Here are Slow Bull, Black Eagle and Iron Breast and hundreds more, staring at the viewer from a world that no longer exists. B/w and sepia images. 14 x 19.5cm, 192 pages. ONLY £5


67868 WARFARE IN PREHISTORIC BRITAIN by Julian Heath


From the arrival of Julius Caesar and the Roman Army in 55BC to the death throes of the Jacobite Rebellion at Culloden Moor on 16th April 1746, warfare has regularly cast its deadly shadow over British history. It is also likely that warfare was present thousands of years before this, in Mesolithic and Late Upper Palaeolithic. Archaeological sources indicate that warfare was a significant feature of life in prehistoric Europe and the number of prehistoric weapons including fortifications is huge and iconographic representations of war and warriors in art and rituals supplement the picture. The book begins in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset where we have perhaps the earliest evidence of the occurrence of warfare in prehistoric Britain at Gough’s Cave. 160pp in large softback, b/w photos, diagrams and line art and 16 pages of colour photos. £18.99 NOW £6


67905 MERCHANT KINGS: When Companies


Ruled the World 1600-1900 by Stephen Bown Tells the story of a gallery of larger-than-life merchant adventurers. Six of these great merchant kings from the age of Heroic Commerce were the greatest champions of the first global monopolies - Jan Pieterszoon Coen of the Dutch East India Company, Pieter Stuyvesant of the Dutch West India Company, Robert Clive of the English East India Company, Alexandr Baranov of the Russian American Company, Sir George Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company and Cecil John Rhodes of the British South Africa Company. In their efforts to balance the requirements of their companies with the interest of their countries, these merchant kings influenced global events just as significantly as the most celebrated generals and monarchs. Vast tracts of land from Hudson Bay, Dutch Manhattan and Southern Africa to India, Indonesia and Russian Alaska were theirs. 314pp with maps and illus. £16.99 NOW £4


67932 A BRIEF HISTORY OF


KHUBILAI KHAN by Jonathan Clements Lord of Xanadu, Emperor of China, here is the life and times of the founder of China’s great Yuan Dynasty. His grandfather was the bloodthirsty Mongol leader Genghis Khan, his mother a Christian princess. Groomed for authority from childhood, Khubilai snatched the position of the Great Khan,


becoming overlord of a Mongol federation that stretched from the Balkans to the Korean coast. His armies conquered the Asian kingdom of Dali and brought down the last defenders of Imperial China. Khubilai presided over a glorious Asian Renaissance, attracting emissaries from across the continent and opening his civil service to ‘men with coloured eyes’. 274pp in paperback. £8.99 NOW £4


67933 A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIFE IN


VICTORIAN BRITAIN by Michael Paterson Within the 64 years between 1837 and 1901 spanned by Victoria’s reign, three distinct generations of British people developed into a gentler, more generous, more civilised people than their uncouth Georgian grandfathers. Science was solving medical problems, making childbirth easier, infant mortality lower and life expectancy longer. Education was becoming universal and providing opportunities for self improvement and this was the age of Dr Barnardo and of William Booth’s Salvation Army. Many of the savageries like public executions, animal baiting, the transportation of convicts and the flogging of soldiers and sailors were abolished. By the end of Victoria’s reign, Britain stood at the centre of an empire on which the sun never set. Paterson describes the main figures, key events and popular movements. 358pp in paperback, photos. £7.99 NOW £5


67935 A BRIEF HISTORY OF STONEHENGE by Aubrey Burl


Subtitled ‘A Complete History and Archaeology of the World’s Most Enigmatic Stone Circle.’ Piece by piece Burl comprehensively debunks long-held myths and mystical notions with meticulous research and cutting- edge science. Key revelations concern how the Heel Stone pre-dates the monument itself, how the Welsh bluestones arrived at the site, the true astronomical meaning of the setting of the stones and relationship between the monument and the burial grounds that surround it. At times poetic. 368pp in paperback, illus. £8.99 NOW £4


68000 EGYPT YESTERDAY


AND TODAY by David Roberts


A collection of lithographs produced from the drawings of David Roberts, an artist who visited Egypt in 1838. The coloured plates were first published eight years later, and are shown here together with a photograph of the present-day scene, presenting an intriguing


contrast between modern Egypt, and the way the country appeared to the eyes of a Victorian artist. Roberts’ softly coloured, highly detailed drawings are presented in extra-large format on quality paper. His views range from pyramids, temples and the sphinx to sacred trees, obelisks and Nile boats. Some drawings are a hive of activity, such as that depicting a silk vendor’s bazaar which features turbaned, striped-gowned sellers with their piles of fabrics, sheltering under a shaded section of the street. 14½” x 10½”. 272pp with colour illus.


ONLY £11 e-mail: orders@bibliophilebooks.com The House of Tudor 69490 HOUSE OF TREASON: The Rise and Fall


of A Tudor Dynasty by Robert Hutchinson The Howard family, the Dukes of Norfolk, were the wealthiest and most powerful aristocrats in Tudor England, regarding themselves as the true power behind the throne. Here is a gruesome story of pride, greed and flaunting arrogance, blood and cruelty, cunning and stupidity in a delightful and


intriguing book. Here are the kingmakers, conspirators, criminals, nobles and seducers. Certainly the Howard family were influential with two women marrying Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn and the 15 year old Catherine Howard. But in the treacherous world of the Tudor Court, no faction could afford to rest on its laurels. The Howards consolidated their power with a tremendous web of schemes and conspiracies, but even they could not always hold their enemies at bay. Here is a family whose history is marked by treason, beheadings and incarceration and whose pride and ambition secured only their downfall. 402pp in well illustrated paperback, colour photos. £9.99 NOW £4.50


69445 SORCERER’S TALE: Faith and Fraud in Tudor


England by Alec Ryrie An Oxford University Press publication which takes us through the cut-throat business of early modern medicine, down to Tudor London’s gangland of fraud and organised crime. Gregory Wisdom’s career is an object lesson into how to conjure up wealth and respectability from


nothing in a turbulent age. An earl’s son, plotting murder by witchcraft, conjuring spirits to find buried treasure, a stolen coat embroidered with pure silver, crooked gaming-houses and brothels, a terrifying new disease and the self-trained surgeon who claims he can treat it - this is the world of Gregory Wisdom, magician, physician and consummate conman at work in 16th century London. From the world of Renaissance magi and Kabbalistic conjurers to street corner wizards, we enter the chaotic, exhilarating religious upheavals of the Reformation in this rather unusual history book. With 15 illustrations. 207pp. £12.99 NOW £5


69491 HOUSE OF TUDOR by Alison Plowden Looks in detail at events during Elizabeth I’s reign surrounding Robert Dudley, Katherine Grey and Mary Queen of Scots. Plowden covers the rise of the Tudors during the 15th century, the religious turmoil of the 1540s and postulates Edward VI was the prime mover in naming Lady Jane Grey as his heir and not Northumberland. In a personal rather than political history, here is


the brief story of five Tudor monarchs as well as lesser known members of the family in this turbulent Tudor period. 302pp in paperback with many photos. £9.99 NOW £5


69470 BASTARD PRINCE:


Henry VIII’s Lost Son by Beverley Murphy After three wives, 28 years and a break with Rome, Henry VIII finally secured a legitimate male heir. Yet he already had a son - the illegitimate Henry Fitzroy. Fitzroy was born in 1519 after the King’s affair with Elizabeth Blount. He was the only illegitimate offspring ever acknowledged by Henry VIII, and Cardinal Wolsey


was even one of his godparents. So just how close did he come to being Henry IX? Writing in April 1538, regarding the arrangements for a proposed marriage between his eldest daughter Mary and Dom Luis of Portugal, Henry VIII advised the Emperor Charles V that he was prepared to ‘assure unto him and her and their posterity as much yearly rent as the late Duke of Richmond, our only bastard son had of our gift within this our realm.’ In a sense it does not matter whether Richmond was the King’s only bastard issue or not. What is important is that he was the only one that Henry was prepared to acknowledge and employ on the wider political stage. Henry’s precise intentions for his long term prospects are of course a very different matter. Another delve into the fascinating Tudor Age. 296pp in illustrated paperback. £9.99 NOW £5


68966 THE HISTORY ENCYCLOPEDIA


by Adams, Brooks, Farndon, Fowler, Ward Beautifully illustrated, this encyclopedia tells the story of human existence from the earliest times until the present. Ice age art shows a sophisticated use of line drawing and also gives clues as to what early people believed about the world. The second section, Ancient Civilisations, surveys the cultures of the ancient world, including the Sumerians, Hittites, the Islamic empire, the Indus Valley culture, Egypt, Mycenae, and the civilisations of Africa, China, Japan, North and South America. World religions follow, from the major religious faiths to Zoroastrianism and tribal religions. Exploration and Discovery deals with the expansion of the known world. Science and Technology is a particularly fascinating section, covering early mathematicians, engineers and astronomers. Air and space travel, radiation, the Hubble Telescope and the Big Bang theory, nuclear power, genetics and the microchip are all summarised with key dates. Medicine, weapons and warfare are the concluding sections. 512pp, softback, timelines, colour illus. ONLY £5.50


HISTORY CONTINUED OVER PAGE www.bibliophilebooks.com


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