History 21 73209 LOST WORLD OF POMPEII


by Colin Amery and Brian Curran Jr On 24th August AD 79, the volcano Vesuvius in central Italy erupted, showering the prosperous city of Pompeii, and the nearby town of Herculaneum, in dense hot ash and rock, killing 20,000 people. Pompeii was completely buried, and lay undisturbed for centuries. When archaeologists began excavations in 1748, they discovered astonishing evidence of a wealthy, vibrant metropolis. The abandoned city slowly re-emerged, with elegant villas, rooms adorned with wall paintings, shops and public buildings, all left intact with a treasury of statuary, art, tools, jewels and household items - vividly pictured and chronicled here in all their glory. The authors discuss the secrets that Pompeii revealed, describing the details of everyday life that were unearthed, and the impact that they had on archaeology, art and interior design. Today, 2,000,000 people visit Pompeii every year - an influx of tourists for which the fragile Roman streets were not designed. Time is running out for the ancient city, and an ongoing and extensive conservation programme is being sponsored by the World Monuments Fund to maintain Pompeii and its extraordinary world for future generations. Meanwhile, in this gorgeous book, the city is preserved, and is a volume to treasure. 192 paperback pages 29cm x 23cm lavishly illustrated in colour and b/w with maps, plans, glossary. £19.99 NOW £7.50


ceremonial courts a door admitted the chosen few to the House of Felicity, which housed 370 women and 127 eunuchs at the time of the Sultan’s fall in 1909. When the girls were dispersed their relatives were invited to take them home, though some of the older women were unclaimed. By 1936 half the palace rooms had been opened to the public, but the author was able to gain access to areas which were still concealed. His account of the topography of the seraglio and the life of the inhabitants includes clothing, rituals, the role of the black and white eunuchs and the dynamics of the harem itself, where there was constant warfare between the sultan’s mother and his favourite women. 277pp, paperback, black and white reproductions. £14.49 NOW £5


73260 SPYING FOR THE EMPIRE: The Great Game in Central and South Asia, 1757-


1947 by Robert Johnson The “Great Game”, the struggle between Britain and Russia for influence over southern and central Asia, as immortalised in Kipling’s novel Kim, lasted for almost two centuries. The “Jewel in the Crown”, the Indian Subcontinent,


was Britain’s most prized imperial possession. Topographically defended by the mountainous ramparts that it created when it barged into Asia some 40 million years ago, it was most definitely at risk from the vast armies of the Russian Empire that were inexorably advancing across Asia. In the early to mid-19th century anxieties hit new heights when Russian military plans were intercepted and by the arrival of “scientific teams” and “shooting parties” on the mountains that formed India’s northern border. British personnel - diplomatic, military, overt and covert - were despatched to the region to not only spy directly on Russian diplomats and military targets, but to ally or befriend the region’s khans, emirs and other potentates, thus denying the Russians access but without the expense of governing them within the Empire. As today, Afghanistan proved to be the most intractable region, but the entire region was unstable, inhabited by bellicose tribesmen who fought British rule every step of the way. Johnson’s in- depth examination of the inner workings of the British intelligence network of the period reveals for the first time its true function, scale and achievements, paying full tribute to the dangerous work carried out by a surprisingly small number of British and Asian agents. Maps and 16 pages of contemporary b/w photos, paintings and etchings, 320pp. £25 NOW £7.50


73404 FIFTY THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW


ABOUT WORLD HISTORY by Hugh Williams Williams has selected 50 key people, places, battles, objects and events, from which he distils world history into an entertaining and perceptive overview, and rather cleverly he arranges them chronologically under five themes as relevant today as they were millennia ago: wealth, religion, conquest, discovery and freedom. Injecting new life into historical landmarks and at the same time bringing those that are lesser-known to prominence, the Treaty of Versailles is to be found under wealth, as it was the financial burden it put upon Germany which made a second war almost inevitable. Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, while it established the theory of evolution, had a more profound effect upon religion than it did as a scientific discovery, unlike the 1953 discovery of the structure of DNA and Newton’s Principia of 1687. A further 46 history-making entries are all explained and mulled over, including the Black Death, Model T Ford and the Credit Crunch in wealth, the American, French and Russian Revolutions in freedom, the deaths of Jesus and Mohammed in religion, the Sack of Rome and the Indian Mutiny in conquest and Archimedes, Leonardo, Baird and Apollo XI in discovery. 414pp with 16 pages of colour plates. £20 NOW £7.50


72120 GLADIATORS by Ben Hubbard From Spartacus to Spitfires, Billy the Kid in the Wild West and Muhammed Ali in the boxing ring, our book traces the evolution of one to one combat through the


ages. Around 180 CE in the lavish amphitheatres of the Roman Empire, trained gladiators entertained vast audiences by fighting to the death. These barbaric battles were a far cry from the relatively sophisticated pistol duel of the 18th century which took place in a pre- agreed field of honour and where the two opponents met at dawn, each armed with a gun. London Prize Ring and Queensbury, chivalry, the Fight Club, Samurai and even Errol Flynn get a look in. Photos. £8.99 NOW £2.50


70324 A SHORT HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES


by Robert V. Remini


This concise, entertaining and accessible history of the US and the Western Hemisphere provides the essential facts about the discovery, settlement, growth and development of the American nation and its institutions. The initial settlement of the Americas was most likely across a land bridge between Siberia and Alaska some 50,000 years ago. These people spread across the entire continent and, apart from a brief visit by the Vikings around 1000AD, were unaware of the Old World until the late 15th century, when first the Spanish, then the English, French and Dutch staked their claims. Remini takes us from these first colonies through the Revolution and its causes to the founding of a republic under the Constitution. Following this, the 1812 war as Britain attempted to retake some of its lost territory, and the immense economic and cultural changes that ensued. Rapid expansion to the west and south was followed by the struggle over slavery, which led to the Civil War, in which millions died. The rise of big business, the US as a global superpower, the Depression sandwiched between two world wars, the rise of conservatism and the outbreak of terrorism at home and abroad brings us up to date. Photos plus many explanatory maps. 373pp. £16.99 NOW £6.50


23944 BOOK OF THE KINGS AND QUEENS OF


BRITAIN by G.S.P Freeman-Grenville Dr. Freeman-Grenville was the consultant for Burke’s Royal Families of the World and his major work was the Chronology of World History. This specially commissioned book is a magisterial and entertainingly written overview of British monarchs from Cerdic First, King of Wessex to George VI. All the regal chronology and insights into the foibles of one of the world’s most interesting and resilient constitutional monarchies. 245pp in paperback. ONLY £4


72537 ONE IN THE EYE FOR HAROLD: Why Everything You Thought You Knew about


History is Wrong by Phil Mason


Once and for all, King Harold was not killed by an arrow in the eye - he was in fact beheaded, disembowelled and emasculated on the battlefield by four Norman knights. Neanderthals, Philistines and Vikings have been badly


misrepresented. Here Phil Mason thrillingly romps through the centuries, expertly debunking fictions which have coloured our view of religion, politics, war and society for aeons. One more thing - Rudolf Diesel, the German credited with the invention of the compression engine that still bears his name, filed his patent three years after a working engine was built by Herbert Akroyd Stuart of Halifax. 251pp paperback. £9.99 NOW £4


70610 ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF


THE PRESIDENTS OF AMERICA by Professor Jon Roper


The President of America is arguably the most powerful person in the world, and this comprehensive history of 44 presidents gives full details about each holder of the office from George Washington to Barack Obama, including major events during their term. The new democratic America would have no king in accordance with Thomas Paine’s famous principle: “The Law is King”. Colour reproductions and highlighted boxes supplement the text: for instance, we learn that Washington was a slave owner who freed household slaves in his will, while a photograph of Lincoln shows him delivering the famous Gettysburg Address in a top hat. Another turbulent decade was the sixties when Civil Rights, Women’s Rights and the Vietnam War. 256pp, softback, over 400 colour and archive reproductions. ONLY £6.50


72661 THE NILE AND ITS PEOPLE: 7000 Years of


Egyptian History by Charlotte Booth Here, for the first time, is the complex history of Egypt, from 5000 BC to the modern day, with the river Nile as a guide. For thousands of years, Egyptians have been dependant on it for their very survival. But Egypt and her civilisation are relatively young in


the history of the Nile. It was formed 160,000,000 years ago, when the tectonic plates shifted. From then until the present day, its compelling story is unearthed, from its changing role as ‘a river without a soul’ through a period when it was regarded as ‘the crossroads of the whole world’ and ‘a receptacle of the rains of heaven’ to its present status as an exotic holiday location but also as a means of livelihood for thousands of working human beings. 191 pages illus in colour and b/w, with maps. £16.99 NOW £5.50


70166 BIRTH OF MODERN BRITAIN: A Journey into Britain’s Archaeological Past


1550 to the Present by Francis Pryor The pioneers of the agricultural and industrial revolutions were often far too busy inventing things to have the time to make records of what was going on around them but, fortunately, the buildings and machines they left behind can bring a period vividly to life. Another example is the case of the Second World War - it was archaeology that provided the only real means of


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discovering what had been destroyed. Surveying the whole post-medieval period, from 1550 to the present day, this volume ranges over topics as diverse as the beginnings of modern agriculture, the growth of towns and cities, and the development of roads, canals and railways. Here in a nutshell is Britain’s hidden past. 299 pages with colour plates, maps and plans. £25 NOW £8


72743 THE GREAT PHARAOHS by T. G. H. James, Valeria Manferto


De Fabianis and Laura Accomazzo A breathtakingly beautiful volume. Into it are integrated two exceptional books written by the famous Egyptologist T. G. H. James and illustrated with photos and reconstructive drawings that bring to life the pomp and drama of the most dynamic and magnificent periods of Ancient Egypt’s history, from 1334 to 1325 BC and from 1279 to 1212 BC. Here is the story of two men accustomed to think like gods, responsible for the stability of the world and destined to live for eternity. The first was Tutankhamun, a hapless boy-king crushed by his responsibilities. The second was Ramesses II the Great, who was vigorous and long-lived, and created a monument to his country that was destined to last for millennia. The Grand Siècle of antiquity, the little more than 100 years that allowed ancient Egypt to raise itself from the catastrophe that accompanied a religious revolution to reach new heights of power and to achieve, for the last time, a glory that has never waned. Apart from the universal fame that Tutankhamun and Ramesses II share, and the proximity of the periods in which they lived, the reigns and figures of the two pharaohs have nothing in common. Nonetheless, in their differing ways they exemplify the glory and grandeur of Egypt and are the most tragic and most splendid examples of the regality and magnificence of the ancient kings. The Boy Pharaoh and the Conqueror - they left behind artefacts, paintings, drawings and sculptures that, millennia later, continue to leave their viewers dumb- struck. 640 pages long, 30cm x 21.5cm, colour photos. £25 NOW £12


72744 TRAVELLER’S GUIDE TO THE ANCIENT


WORLD: Greece In the Year 415BCE Written in the style of a contemporary guidebook, here is an expert insight into Athens and its surroundings as it was in 415BCE. How to buy a slave, where to get a room for the night, great playwrights and what to see at the theatre, festivals, battle sites of the Persian wars, the fine buildings at Attica, around the Agora, other buildings on the Acropolis, agriculture and industry, military life, religion, politics, history and the Athenian people, crime and the law, baths, shopping, clothing, sex and brothels and sporting events. Line art and maps. 160pp. £9.99 NOW £4


71136 LEVANT: Splendour and Catastrophe on


the Mediterranean by Philip Mansel The eastern Mediterranean, collectively known as the Levant, paradoxically symbolises a tolerant, open society. In this unusual study of the region the author looks at the history of three major cities: Smyrna in Turkey, Beirut in Lebanon and Alexandria in Egypt. In the 19th century these were the key ports of the region and formed the gateway between the Ottoman Empire and Europe, east and west, maintaining a triangular tension between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Smyrna’s commercial role was frequently in tension with its strategic importance, while the British had occupied Alexandria in 1882 and continued to use the city as a strategic outpost. The author concludes that Beirut is “an experimental laboratory for the future of the Middle East”. 470pp, photos. £25 NOW £6


71637 EMPIRE: What Ruling the World


Did to the British by Jeremy Paxman Jeremy Paxman’s 2011 BBC TV series “Empire” was an immense hit across all age groups, its irresistible combination of Paxman’s acerbic, drier-than-dust wit, wide-ranging research and eye for the unusual. The influence of the British Empire is everywhere, from the very existence of the United Kingdom to the ethnic makeup of our cities. It affects the PM’s decision whether to send in troops somewhere, the sports we and much of the world play, the architecture of our buildings, our laws and the food we love, and a great deal more besides. 356pp, maps and illus. £25 NOW £7.50


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72548 BUTLER’S GUIDE TO RUNNING THE HOME AND OTHER GRACES


by Stanley Ager and Fiona St. Aubyn This nostalgic and informative glimpse of the past is packed with fascinating details about life downstairs and protocol upstairs. With his expertise and experience, Ager - or Mr Ager, as he was known to the staff - ensured that the house which was his responsibility was an impeccable place to live, and a gracious and welcoming destination for guests. If you want the lowdown on how to select and pour wine, polish silver to a mirror finish, fold napkins precisely in six different ways, or stage an ‘impromptu’ romantic picnic, then Ager is your man. He will brush, maintain, fold and pack clothes and footwear so well that, when you reach your journey’s end, they are crease-free, and he is also an expert in opening a door soundlessly to hand you your ironed newspaper. A charming journey into the past. 208 pages, line drawings. £14.99 NOW £5


71690 ARCHAEOLOGY STEP BY STEP: A Practical Guide to Uncovering the Past by Christopher Catling


When the time comes for a dig, the book gives expert advice on planning, tools, removing topsoil, digging a section, describing deposits and finds, and soil sampling. Other topics covered are radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology and mathematical techniques such as seriation. One case study is the Prittlewell Prince, a 7th century Anglo-Saxon burial discovered in 2007. A chronology covers the main features of world civilisations, and specialisms such as battlefield and forensic archaeology get a section to themselves. 256pp, softback, timeline, glossary, illus in colour. ONLY £5


The Art of Medieval Times 1493 must-have history book by


Hartmann Schedel


72407 CHRONICLE OF THE WORLD 1493


by Hartmann Schedel,


edited by Stephan Füssel 500 years before Google, Hartmann Schedel’s Weltchronik, or Chronicle of the World (better known today as the Nuremberg Chronicle, after the German city in which it was created), was a


groundbreaking encyclopedic work and at the time the most lavishly illustrated book ever printed in Europe. Albrecht Dürer was possibly a contributor to the physician and humanist Schedel’s massive project. Both a historical reference work and a contemporary inventory of urban culture at the end of the 15th century, and divided into six ages from the Creation to the ‘present’, the Chronicle was to have a remarkable influence on the cultural, ecclesiastical and intellectual history of the Middle Ages. It was particularly notable for its vast quantity of woodcut illustrations (more than 1,800) depicting events from the Bible, human monstrosities, portraits of kings, queens, saints and martyrs, and allegorical pictures of miracles, natural catastrophes, wars, as well as views of the founding of a great number of “modern” cities many of which had never been documented before. Today, copies of the Chronicle sell for up to 800,000 dollars. Taschen publishers procured a rare hand-coloured copy, true to the original in every respect, and have here created a complete facsimile of the finest quality. In case you don’t read Early Modern High German, the beautiful explanatory booklet, with summaries of the book’s main stories, provides a user-friendly way to explore this amazing historical masterpiece. Hardcover with colour illustrated 88 page booklet in slipcase, 8" x 11½”, 684 pages. New, cloth bound, gold- tooled, ‘antiqued’


parchment-look paper and exquisite typography and design. Complete and annotated. ONLY £35


73270 1493: How Europe’s Discovery of the


Americas Revolutionised Trade, Ecology and Life on Earth


by Charles C. Mann


In a monumental achievement of a book, jam-packed with startling research, the author, a multiple writing-award-winner, describes in detail how the world was changed forever by the


movement of foods, metals, plants, people and diseases between the New World and both Europe and China. In so doing, he shows how the ecological collision of Europe and the Americas transformed virtually every aspect of human history. For more than 2,000,000 years before Europeans arrived in the American Continent, the two hemispheres of the world had remained totally separate, developing entirely different sorts of plants and animals. But, at the end of the 15th century, Columbus’ voyages brought them together, and marked the beginning of an extraordinary ecological and cultural exchange. This compelling volume tells the story of one of the most consequential events in human history. The ‘Columbian Exchange’ fostered the rise of Europe, devastated imperial China, convulsed Africa and, for two centuries, centred attention on Manila and Mexico City. It also led to the world’s first globalized economy, driven by the trade of silver, silk, porcelain, spices and slaves. All this may sound rather dry, but we can assure readers that every page of this amazing book is packed with fascinating facts. For instance, beginning in the 16th century, Europeans carried tomatoes around the world and the plant had a cultural impact everywhere it moved. Imagine Italy without tomato sauce! The Columbian Exchange took corn to Africa and sweet potatoes to East Asia, horses and apples to the Americas, rhubarb and eucalyptus to Europe and a host of organisms like insects, grasses, bacteria and viruses all over the globe. The examples are legion. Today, scientists can plot environmental changes, geneticists use DNA assays to trace the ruinous path of potato blight, ecologists employ mathematical simulations to map the spread of malaria in Europe. 536 pages illus in b/w with many maps. £25 NOW £8


72524 GILDED LIVES, FATAL VOYAGE: The Titanic’s First Class Passengers and Their World


by Hugh Brewster


This study of the key first-class passengers of the Titanic, many of whom lost their lives, makes an absorbing read and is full of social history. Travelling with his pregnant wife Madeleine, John Jacob Astor IV was the richest person on board, a close friend of J. Bruce Ismay, Lucile, Lady Duff Gordon, was the leader of a fashion revolution in which women were encouraged to abandon the stiff whalebone corsetry of their mothers and grandmothers. Jim Smith had recently come into a department store fortune. The author describes the fates of these and other passengers, including their refusal to pick up those struggling in the water, and highlighting the businesslike attitude of the suffragettes and other independent woman who had places in the boats. 338pp. £20 NOW £6.50


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