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Fascinated by the latest titles on historical accounts of war, politics, religion and societies? Find an interesting title in book, eBook, eAudiobook or large print. This list updates when we add new titles to our collection.
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eBook
By the winter of 1916/17, World War I had reached a deadlock. While the Allies commanded greater resources and fielded more soldiers than the Central Powers, German armies had penetrated deep into Russia and France, and tenaciously held on to their c...
The 'little ships' of the Second World War - the fast and highly maneuverable motor torpedo boats and gunboats which fought in coastal waters all over the world - developed a special kind of naval warfare. With their daring nightly raids against an e...
Book
In the first book to consider the hidden history of the Netherlands from a modern perspective, author Ben Coates explores the length and breadth of his adopted homeland and discovers why one of the world's smallest countries is so fascinating and sig...
Running for 664 miles along Kentucky's border, the Ohio River provided a remarkable opportunity for the enslaved to escape to free soil in Indiana and Ohio. The river beckoned fugitive slave Henry Bibb onto a steamboat at Madison, Indiana, headed to....
Antony and Cleopatra is a tragic play by Shakespeare, which tells the ill-fated love story between Antony and Cleopatra and the antagonistic role played by Julius Caesar, future Emperor of Rome. "I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd...
First released in 1776 at the height of the American Revolution this treatise denounced British rule and is thought to have been so popular as to have influenced the path of the revolution itself.
Step back into the romance and primal conflict of the medieval period with this collection of fairy tales and folklore from the era. Equal parts charmingly quaint and bracingly brutal, this carefully curated volume is sure to engage and enthrall readers...
Renowned German poet Mathilde Blind published several influential volumes of verse in the late nineteenth century. The epic poem The Ascent of Man is her most ambitious literary undertaking. In it, she provides a poetic account of Charles Darwin's theory...
A journalist with insatiable wanderlust, Lewis R. Freeman spent decades traveling the globe as a war correspondent and as a special embed with the U.S. Navy Fleet. This collection of nautical tales includes some events that Freeman witnessed firsthand...
In the early 1600s, an Anglican religious community was established by members of the Ferrar family in the small English village of Little Gidding. Though the community was informally organized and did not require its members to take vows, it was still...
As battles over literary censorship continue to rage on, it's vitally important to understand the background of this debate. In this fascinating volume, Farrer catalogs centuries of censorship in England, detailing the books that were identified as p...
As the Civil War seemed to spin out of control, President Lincoln sought more insight into the conditions on the front lines. Because he did not have full confidence in the controversial approach that General Grant had taken, Lincoln sent renowned jo...
Immerse yourself in thrilling battlefield action with this top-notch account of the American Civil War. Based on his own experiences as a Union soldier and, eventually, a prisoner of war, Byers paints a vivid, compelling and at times disturbing picture...
A massive influx of wealth and the emergence of a new class of nouveau riche industrialists and tycoons began to change the social structure of Britain in the early twentieth century. George Sturt, a craftsman and writer, documents the transition in ...
Known as one of the important early figures in the burgeoning genre of historical fiction, Alexandre Dumas spent much of his life chronicling the social and political unrest that utterly transformed France--and by extension, the rest of the world--in...
On the verge of entering the Anglican clergy, Samuel Butler experienced a sudden change of heart and instead decided to set sail for New Zealand, where he established a sheep farm. Butler chronicles his rocky start as a rancher--and his opinions on a...
Welsh writer Arthur Machen achieved literary acclaim with his groundbreaking tales of the supernatural, some of which modern-day horror luminary Stephen King ranks among the best in the English language. In the engaging nonfiction volume Hieroglyphics,...
Often, revolts and uprisings are regarded as being solely the results of a perfect storm of geopolitical, societal, and economic factors. But as French sociologist Gustave Le Bon astutely points out in The Psychology of Revolution, more personal vari...
The author H. Rider Haggard is today best remembered for classics of the action-adventure genre such as She and King Solomon's Mines. But these masterworks of "lost world" fiction had their roots in Haggard's real-life experiences in what is now known...
The British author Arthur Christopher Benson was never content to fall back on the typical narrative structure when it came to his novels, and The Altar Fire is definitely no exception. In a series of letters, it tells the tale of a successful novelist...
Regarded by many as the first major historian, Herodotus was a Greek scholar and traveler who set down his impressions of foreign countries and his analysis of wars and other significant events in a relatively straightforward, journalistic manner. This...
Most of the lore surrounding America's Wild West has to do with cowboys and outlaws, but these boomtowns were also overrun with grifters, hustlers, and confidence men on the prowl. George Graham Rice was a legendary example of a crook who amassed a s...
The "official" account of the Civil War is well known by many, but this sweeping narrative often overlooks the experiences and impressions of individuals. Life in Dixie During the War offers up a fascinating first-hand account of what it was like to ...
Dip into the mysterious world of sorcery with this comprehensive take on the topic. Published anonymously due to the incendiary nature of the subject matter, Magic and Witchcraft offers a historical overview of magic throughout the ages, all rendered...
Many histories of the short life of Old West gunslinger William Bonney have been published, but few pack the punch of Charles A. Siringo's History of 'Billy the Kid' , a thrilling first-person account that traces the doomed outlaw's story from birth to...
Early American history is brought to life in this thrilling collection of tales from the period surrounding the tumultuous birth of the nation. It's a must-read for history buffs, or for students seeking a much more enthralling take on topics like Pu...
Who needs fictional flights of fancy when the truth of the matter is so wild, weird, and fascinating? In Historic Adventures: Tales From American History, author Rupert Holland guides readers through a treasure trove of true-to-life tales about the p...
An American journalist's first-hand account of the Russian Revolution of 1917 offers a moment-by-moment chronicle of the Bolshevik seizure of power and profiles of the leaders involved.
Though born in Iowa, author Emerson Hough moved to rural New Mexico and practiced as a frontier lawyer there for many years. Along the way, he met some very interesting characters, including many of the Wild West's most infamous outlaws. This volume ...
England's rise to prominence on the world stage over the course of thousands of years is a tumultuous tale that includes equal parts triumph and tragedy. This volume grants readers a first-row seat as the drama unfolds, told with inimitable elegance,...
This in-depth historical account focuses on the life, accomplishments and influence of Robert I, also known as Robert the Bruce, who was the king of Scots in the period 1306-1329. Offering a detailed and even-handed look at the king, Murison's remarkable...
In the early twentieth century, university professor and Methodist minister Dallas Lore Sharp made a splash in the often-stuffy field of nature writing with this collection of essays in his unique voice, which combines encyclopedic knowledge of flora...
Today, the term "filibuster" refers to a tactic used by loquacious lawmakers who seek to prevent a vote by delivering marathon-length speeches. But in the past, the term had a different meaning--it referred to freelance mercenaries who traveled to fo...
Though best remembered as an important early figure in the development of the genre of science fiction, H. G. Wells was a intellectually voracious thinker and writer who used his novels and short stories as a means of getting at significant, timeless...
Russian authors such as Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky have long been recognized by critics and readers alike as some of the world's most gifted literary artists. However, their complex prose and weighty philosophical ideas can be overwhelming. This...
Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt, was a mysterious and beguiling figure who has fascinated historians for thousands of years. In this detailed account of her life and influence, author Jacob Abbott addresses many of the lingering question...
Travel through the genteel avenues and gritty slums of turn-of-the-century London in this dazzling travelogue from Charles William Heckethorn. Rather than focusing solely on the affluent neighborhoods filled with high-born aristocrats, Heckethorn catalogs...
The Hyborian Age is an essay by Robert E. Howard pertaining to the Hyborian Age, the fictional setting of his stories about Conan the Cimmerian. It sets out in detail the major events of the prehistorical period, before and after the time of the Conan...
The country now known as Thailand was long referred to as "Siam," and it has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. This in-depth history details the series of states that were established in the region from the early classical period to the...
The largest religious order in the Catholic Church, the Jesuits have played a major role in the religion since the order's founding in 1540. In this comprehensive history from Thomas J. Campbell, the contribution of the Jesuits--particularly in the realms...
Xenophon was a Greek soldier who played a key role in several military skirmishes and attacks throughout his life. Later in his life, he began to write down his recollections of these battles and other key political and cultural events, thus becoming...
Through the long, hot summer of 2019, Hong Kong burned. Anti-government protests, sparked by a government proposal to introduce a controversial extradition law, grew into a pro-democracy movement that engulfed the city for months. Protesters fought s...
The Tour de France may provide the most obvious fame and glory, but it is cycling's one-day tests that the professional riders really prize. Toughest, longest and dirtiest of all are the so-called 'Monuments', the five legendary races that are the sp...
"You cannot believe a word Mick Farren tells you!" John Lydon A literary life railing against the machine, in the company of Johnny Cash, Frank Zappa, Chuck Berry and more. Mick Farren has spent more than 4 decades in the thick of the culture wars as...
A story of espionage that could have changed the course of history and saved thousands of American and British lives - and millions of Asian lives. 'On the night of 3 December 1941, I could not fall asleep,' Kilsoo Haan remembered. 'I went to the Chop...
The year 1066: a battlefield in England, a mighty king lies prone on the ground, his lifeblood ebbing out of him. As he draws his last breath, the world of which he is the greatest figurehead also moves towards its end, its existence about to pass from...
Pan Am at War chronicles the airline's historic role in advancing aviation and serving America's national interest before and during World War II. From its inception, Pan American Airways operated as the "wings of democracy," spanning six continents ...
Comprehensive and engaging new history charting Romania's development over 2000 years from its establishment to the present day.
"Across Australia, early Europeans commented again and again that the land looked like a park. With extensive grassy patches and pathways, open woodlands and abundant wildlife, it evoked a country estate in England. Bill Gammage has discovered this was...
This book offers an exploration of the secret universe we all carry inside us, the connections we forge with the worlds of our friends and loved ones, and the products of our worlds reflected in the things we create outside of ourselves. Anam Cara, Gaelic...
eAudiobook
This Penguin Classic is performed by Natalie Dormer, best known for her standout role as Queen Margaery in Game of Thrones, as well as her roles in The Hunger Games and Captain America: The First Avenger. A Room of One's Own, based on a lecture given...
Secrets, lies, lawyers and covert recordings. If you thought the 2019 election was just about a death tax that didn't exist, you're in for a surprise.From the dark arts of the dirt units to the role of billionaire Clive Palmer, this is the untold story...
World War II was the most destructive conflict of the 20th century. How did it happen -- and why? Packed with fascinating anecdotes, interesting sidebars, and top ten lists, this friendly reference contains everything you need to know about World War...
In May 1918, Angela and Leopold Mond received a knock on the front door. It was the postman and he was delivering the letter every family in the United Kingdom dreaded: the notification of a loved one's battlefield death, in their case the death in action...
This book will aid readers' knowledge of this region by addressing its historical past and political future. It is based around a prophetic observation of Lee Kuan Yew, the legendary former Prime Minister of Singapore, that "to understand the present...
During the Falklands war Jerry Pook, a pilot in No. 1(F) Squadron RAF, flew air interdiction, armed reccon, close-air-support and airfield attack as well as pure photo-reccon missions. Most weapons were delivered from extreme low-level attacks because...
60 of the most daring escapes, famous shipwrecks, and ultimate survival stories. These are astonishing stories of human endurance and endeavour. Compelling descriptions combined with illustrative maps give you a full understanding of the world's grea...
Much of our perception of Babylon in the West is filtered through the poignant echoes of loss and longing that resonate in the Hebrew Bible. The lamenting exiles of Judah craved a return to their lost homeland after the sack of Jerusalem in 587 BC and...
An Auschwitz prisoner's remarkable account of suffering and survival, widely thought to be the only complete book written inside the camp itself. With an Afterword by John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Eddy de Wind, a Dutch doctor ...
By the middle of 1944, Imperial Japan's armed forces were in an increasingly desperate situation. Its elite air corps had been wiped out over the Solomons in 1942-43, and its navy was a shadow of the force that had attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. But ...
No figure in twentieth century history more clearly demands a close biographical understanding than Adolf Hitler; and no period is more important than the Second World War. Beginning with Hitler's startling European successes in the aftermath of the ...
"In the United States campaign against numerous Japanese-held islands in the Pacific, crucial to the assaults was a new group of amphibious gunboats that could deliver heavy fire close in to shore as American forces landed. They were important later ...
"The West is in full retreat. The Anglo-Saxon powers, great and small, withdraw into fantasies of lost greatness. Populists all over Europe cry out that immigration and globalisation are the work of a nefarious system, run by unseen masters with no n...
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