Pen sword books ltd (Oltre 55.000 risultati)

Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. Jewish Lives presents the life-stories of ten individual Jews who immigrated to Britain between 1750 and 1950, based on actual genealogical research. Their life-stories, enriched by a variety of sources, reflect the experiences of all Jewish immigrants as they settled in their adopted land. Melody Amsel-Arieli does not just piece together the detail of their lives - their work, pastimes, families, daily chores, food and celebrations. Drawing on social, economic and historical records, she also explores their background, places of origin, motives for immigration, arrival in the UK and experiences as they adjusted to their new surroundings - placing them in the wider historical context of their adopted community and society. This selection of revealing life-stores will prove fascinating for family historians and researchers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, by offering parallels with their own lives and the lives of their ancestors. Jewish Lives: Britain 1750-1950 will inspire readers to pursue their own quest for information and understanding of their past.…

Hardback. Condizione: Very Good. Thomas Wolsey rose from humble beginnings to power under Henry VIII, ultimately meeting a tragic end. The Wolseys of Suffolk date to Anglo-Saxon times. The earliest notice of a Wolsey as inhabitant of Ipswich is Thomas Wolsey's father, Robert. He was a successful small businessman and married a Joan Daundy. Thomas was probably born in 1471 in an inn and was almost certainly baptized in St Mary at the Elms church, Ipswich. Wolsey graduated from university and then his climb to power was extremely fast. He entered the Royal Household as the chaplain to King Henry VII. When King Henry VIII ascended to the throne Wolsey became his Almoner, which gave him access to the King's Council. Henry was very impressed with Wolsey's work. Thomas gained many important clerical positions. In 1515 Wolsey became Lord Chancellor of England. Thomas Wolsey's most famous peace treaty was signed between Henry VIII and Francis I of France at the glorious Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520. Henry had not produced a male heir. A woman called Anne Boleyn came on the scene. Henry began to think that she could mother him a son. The king asked Wolsey to seek a divorce from his first wife. He tried his utmost, as always, but the Pope kept delaying the matter. Wolsey failed and fell out of favor with Henry. He was charged with treason and escorted to the Tower of London. On his way, Thomas became very frail and sadly, on 29th November 1530 he died at Leicester Abbey.…

Hardback. Condizione: Very Good. The early 1990s saw Europe's first conflict for almost 40 years when bitter fighting broke out in the former Yugoslav republic. Colonel Colm Doyle of the Irish Army found himself in the midst of this appalling civil war when in October 1991 he became first a European Community Monitor and almost immediately Head of the Monitor Mission in besieged Sarajevo. After six months he was appointed Personal Representative to Lord Carrington, Chairman of the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia. In this overdue memoir, he describes his role mediating, negotiating and persuading political and military leaders of all sides to halt the seemingly inexorable path to all-out war. He arranged ceasefires, visited prisoner-of-war camps, extricated election monitors and organised hostage releases. His experiences made him a key witness at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague at the trials of Milosevic, Mladic and Karadzic. With his unprecedented access, Doyle's personal account can claim to be one of the most significant works on the brutal Bosnian War.…

Paperback. Condizione: Good. Hubert de Burgh rose from obscure beginnings to become one of the most powerful men in England. He loyally served first King John and then the young Henry III and played a crucial role in saving the Plantagenet dynasty when it was at its most vulnerable. During King Johns disastrous wars in France, Hubert held Chinon castle against the besieging French for a whole year. He remained loyal when the Barons rebelled against John and, when they invited French invaders to intervene, Hubert successfully held Dover Castle for the king against a siege led by the French Prince Louis. After Johns death, he held it for the new king, 9-year old Henry, against a renewed siege. In August 1217 he struck the final blow against the French invasion, which still held London, when he defeated a powerful fleet carrying French reinforcements at the naval Battle of Sandwich. Hubert continued to serve Henry III, making important reforms as Justiciar of England and leading military campaigns against the Welsh Prince Lewellyn. He eventually lost favour due to the machinations of his rivals and narrowly avoided execution but was eventually reconciled with his king and able to die a peaceful death. Incredibly, this is the first full-length biography of this remarkable man.…

Hardback. Condizione: Good. The biography of John Wenlock, Lord Wenlock, one of the foremost soldiers, courtiers and diplomats of the Wars of the Roses.

Hardback. Condizione: Good. The early 1990s saw Europe's first conflict for almost 40 years when bitter fighting broke out in the former Yugoslav republic. Colonel Colm Doyle of the Irish Army found himself in the midst of this appalling civil war when in October 1991 he became first a European Community Monitor and almost immediately Head of the Monitor Mission in besieged Sarajevo. After six months he was appointed Personal Representative to Lord Carrington, Chairman of the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia. In this overdue memoir, he describes his role mediating, negotiating and persuading political and military leaders of all sides to halt the seemingly inexorable path to all-out war. He arranged ceasefires, visited prisoner-of-war camps, extricated election monitors and organised hostage releases. His experiences made him a key witness at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague at the trials of Milosevic, Mladic and Karadzic. With his unprecedented access, Doyle's personal account can claim to be one of the most significant works on the brutal Bosnian War.…

Hardback. Condizione: Good. An entertaining romp through the myths of Ancient Rome, retold by Robert Garland.

Hardback. Condizione: Good. The night war over Germany was fought with equal ferocity on both sides, and was one of the toughest campaigns of the Second World War. This new publication seeks to provide a balanced account of the proceedings, including testimonies from pilots caught up on either side of the conflict.…

Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. Dramatic shots of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the carrier battles of the Coral Sea and Midway with quality that is now expected from the Images of War series. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 sank or crippled almost all of the battleships belonging to the US Navy's Pacific Fleet, but the fleet's aircraft carriers survived to demonstrate that naval aviation was now the dominant factor in the struggle at sea, turning the tide of the Pacific War. That the US Navy had the necessary ships, aircraft and crews was the result of pioneering, far-sighted decisions made in the pre-war years. Before the First World War the navy had recognised the potential of aircraft at sea, and it went on to develop the techniques and equipment that contributed so much to the defeat of the Japanese. This is the fascinating story Leo Marriott tells in this photographic history. In a selection of over 200 rare photographs he traces the growth of US naval aviation from the flimsy seaplanes of the first years of the twentieth century to the mighty armadas that challenged those of the Japanese and, after the carrier battles at Coral Sea and Midway, led the advance across the Pacific. Key aspects of the history are the navy's first aircraft carriers of the 1920s and the tremendous progress made in the decades between the wars in tactics and strategy as well as in the design of ships and aircraft.…

Paperback. Condizione: Good. Drawing on eyewitness accounts, this excellent book paints a graphic picture of the battle that was at the very center of Hitler's last gamble. Numerous photos through the text illustrate then and now scenes and bring to life the epic battle. Maps clearly show the progress of events and practical information is given to the reader about visiting the town of Bastogne today.…

Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. The author, in his thorough investigations, has interviewed all the leading participants involved and can now reveal the true story of the 'Brown Eminence'.

Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. You won't be familiar with every one of the huge array of women featured in these pages, but all, familiar or not, leave unanswered questions behind them. The range is extensive, as was the research, with its insight into the lives and minds of women in different centuries, different countries, with diverse cultures and backgrounds, from the poverty stricken to royalty. Mistresses, murderers, smugglers, pirates, prostitutes and fanatics with hearts and souls that feature every shade of black (and grey ). From Cleopatra to Ruth Ellis, from Boudicca to Bonnie Parker, from Lady Caroline Lamb to Moll Cutpurse, from Jezebel to Ava Gardner. Less familiar names include Mary Jeffries, the Victorian brothel-keeper, Belle Starr, the American gambler and horse thief, La Voisin, the seventeenth-century Queen of all Witches in France but these are random names, to illustrate the variety of the content in store for all those interested in women who defy law and order, for whatever reason. The risqu', the adventurous and the outrageous, the downright nasty and the downright desperate all human (female ) life is here. From the lower strata of society to the aristocracy, class is not a common denominator. Wicked? Misunderstood? Nave? Foolish? Predatory? Manipulative? Or just out of their time? Read and decide.…

Paperback. Condizione: Good. Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors is an expert introduction for the family historian to the wealth of material available to researchers in archives throughout Northern Ireland. Many records, like the early twentieth-century census returns and school registers, will be familiar to researchers, but others are often overlooked by all but the most experienced of genealogists. An easy-to-use, informative guide to the comprehensive collections available at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland is a key feature of Ian Maxwell's handbook. He also takes the reader through the records held in many libraries, museums and heritage centers across the province, and he provides detailed coverage of records that are available online. Unlike the rest of the British Isles, which has very extensive civil and census records, Irish ancestral research is hampered by the destruction of many of the major collections. Yet Ian Maxwell shows how family historians can make good use of church records, school registers and land and valuation records to trace their roots to the beginning of the nineteenth century and beyond.…

Paperback. Condizione: Good. The author, in his thorough investigations, has interviewed all the leading participants involved and can now reveal the true story of the 'Brown Eminence'.

Paperback. Condizione: Fair. You won't be familiar with every one of the huge array of women featured in these pages, but all, familiar or not, leave unanswered questions behind them. The range is extensive, as was the research, with its insight into the lives and minds of women in different centuries, different countries, with diverse cultures and backgrounds, from the poverty stricken to royalty. Mistresses, murderers, smugglers, pirates, prostitutes and fanatics with hearts and souls that feature every shade of black (and grey ). From Cleopatra to Ruth Ellis, from Boudicca to Bonnie Parker, from Lady Caroline Lamb to Moll Cutpurse, from Jezebel to Ava Gardner. Less familiar names include Mary Jeffries, the Victorian brothel-keeper, Belle Starr, the American gambler and horse thief, La Voisin, the seventeenth-century Queen of all Witches in France but these are random names, to illustrate the variety of the content in store for all those interested in women who defy law and order, for whatever reason. The risqu', the adventurous and the outrageous, the downright nasty and the downright desperate all human (female ) life is here. From the lower strata of society to the aristocracy, class is not a common denominator. Wicked? Misunderstood? Nave? Foolish? Predatory? Manipulative? Or just out of their time? Read and decide.…

Paperback. Condizione: Fair. The author, in his thorough investigations, has interviewed all the leading participants involved and can now reveal the true story of the 'Brown Eminence'.

Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. Tracing Your Northern Irish Ancestors is an expert introduction for the family historian to the wealth of material available to researchers in archives throughout Northern Ireland. Many records, like the early twentieth-century census returns and school registers, will be familiar to researchers, but others are often overlooked by all but the most experienced of genealogists. An easy-to-use, informative guide to the comprehensive collections available at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland is a key feature of Ian Maxwell's handbook. He also takes the reader through the records held in many libraries, museums and heritage centers across the province, and he provides detailed coverage of records that are available online. Unlike the rest of the British Isles, which has very extensive civil and census records, Irish ancestral research is hampered by the destruction of many of the major collections. Yet Ian Maxwell shows how family historians can make good use of church records, school registers and land and valuation records to trace their roots to the beginning of the nineteenth century and beyond. …

Hardback. Condizione: Very Good. London was a target for Zeppelins and bombers during the First World War, for bombers, V1s and rockets in the Second, and for Cold War missiles and for terrorists in more recent times, yet rarely has the history of twentieth-century attacks on the capital been studied as a whole. Peter Reese, in this thought-provoking account, vividly describes how the destructive potential of aerial bombing and terrorist actions has increased and how Londoners have struggled to protect themselves and their city. He looks at the strategic aims of the bombing campaigns - panic, devastation, paralysis of communications and the collapse of morale - and contrasts them with the actual responses of Londoners - of civilians - who faced this new form of indiscriminate warfare. As he traces the developing theory and practice of air power, he dispels myths and misunderstandings that still surround the subject. His narrative follows the story from the commencement of the First World War when the development of aircraft accelerated and the possibilities of aerial warfare came to be appreciated - and feared. There are graphic accounts of the German raids on the city in the First World War, of the intense interwar debate about the impact of bombing, and of the ordeal that followed - the Blitz and the V1 and V2 campaigns. He also considers in the concluding chapters more recent threats to the capital which come, not from aircraft and missiles, but from the bombing tactics adopted by terrorists, and the need for appropriate responses.…

Hardback. Condizione: Good. A naval history of the ships and personalities of the Nelson period. The sources used include accounts of the Napoleonic Wars, ships' logs, Admiralty documents, private and official reports, letters and contemporary descriptions.

Hardback. Condizione: Fair. The Scottish Wars of Independence are often celebrated for the heroic deeds of men, but behind the scenes, noblewomen played an equally pivotal role in shaping the nation's fate. In Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence, Beth Reid brings to life the stories of these remarkable women, from royalty to influential landowners, whose contributions to Scotland's turbulent history have long been overlooked. From noblewomen like Isabella MacDuff, Agnes Randolph, and Agnes Comyn-who made kings, defended castles, and led conspiracies-to royal women who influenced key decisions and defined dynasties, this book paints a vivid picture of resilience, strategy, and courage. Through chronicles, royal charters, and material culture, Reid uncovers how these women navigated war and politics, revealing their critical yet underappreciated roles in shaping the outcomes of the Wars of Independence. Focusing on noblewomen rather than ordinary lives, this book offers a fresh perspective on a male-dominated narrative, shedding light on the influential partnerships and actions of women who stood at the heart of Scotland's history. With meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence is essential reading for history enthusiasts eager to explore the often-untold contributions of Scotland's noblewomen during one of its most formative periods.…

Hardback. Condizione: Good. The Scottish Wars of Independence are often celebrated for the heroic deeds of men, but behind the scenes, noblewomen played an equally pivotal role in shaping the nation's fate. In Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence, Beth Reid brings to life the stories of these remarkable women, from royalty to influential landowners, whose contributions to Scotland's turbulent history have long been overlooked. From noblewomen like Isabella MacDuff, Agnes Randolph, and Agnes Comyn-who made kings, defended castles, and led conspiracies-to royal women who influenced key decisions and defined dynasties, this book paints a vivid picture of resilience, strategy, and courage. Through chronicles, royal charters, and material culture, Reid uncovers how these women navigated war and politics, revealing their critical yet underappreciated roles in shaping the outcomes of the Wars of Independence. Focusing on noblewomen rather than ordinary lives, this book offers a fresh perspective on a male-dominated narrative, shedding light on the influential partnerships and actions of women who stood at the heart of Scotland's history. With meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Women in the Scottish Wars of Independence is essential reading for history enthusiasts eager to explore the often-untold contributions of Scotland's noblewomen during one of its most formative periods.…

Hardback. Condizione: Good. Covers the little known story of the William and Mary on its voyage to New Orleans, packed with 208 emigrants.

Paperback. Condizione: Good. Edward Teach Blackbeard -is one of the legends of the so-called golden age of piracy . There have been so many accounts of his short, bloody career that it is hard to see him and his times in a clear historical light. This new study looks for the man behind the legend, and it gives a vivid insight into the nature of piracy and the naval operations that were launched against it.The narrative focuses on the roles played by the Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood who masterminded the pursuit of Blackbeard, and Lieutenant Robert Maynard of HMS Pearl who led the pursuit and finally cornered Teach and his crew and, after a vicious fight, saw him killed.In vivid detail, it reveals how the hunt for Blackbeard was orchestrated, how he was tracked down, and the parts played in the drama by the larger-than-life leading characters in this extraordinary story. This freshly researched study of the pursuit of the notorious pirate and his crew - and of the final fight in which Blackbeard lost his life - makes compelling reading. …

Hardback. Condizione: Good. Vietnam Fire Mission reflects on Larry Hiton?s time in the U.S. Marine Corps, initially enlisting at 18 with the belief that all Marines were infantrymen. However, upon completing boot camp, he was assigned to artillery as a cannoneer (MOS 0811), which was a significant surprise. In this first hand account Hilton explains that artillery units, while typically thought of as being behind the lines, were often directly targeted during the Vietnam War, where there were no front lines. Artillery positions were frequently attacked by mortars, snipers, and enemy forces, requiring Marines to defend themselves. The author describes the initial confusion among Marines in 1965, as many had no knowledge of Vietnam before being abruptly deployed there. Marines who had been stationed in the Pacific were quickly shipped to Vietnam, with some arriving without their proper gear. The deployment to Vietnam, especially in the early stages, caused frustration for those whose service was extended. Reflecting on his own experiences, the author recounts how the stress of war sometimes led to memory lapses. For instance, they struggled to recall the details of November 10, 1966, despite it being the U.S. Marine Corps? birthday, only to later discover that they had participated in a ceremony in Vietnam that day. Hilton concludes that by acknowledging the challenges of recalling events accurately under the intense conditions of war he is able to share his story to the best of his ability to give the reader a glimpse in to one of the most contentious conflicts.…

Hardback. Condizione: Very Good. Vietnam Fire Mission reflects on Larry Hiton?s time in the U.S. Marine Corps, initially enlisting at 18 with the belief that all Marines were infantrymen. However, upon completing boot camp, he was assigned to artillery as a cannoneer (MOS 0811), which was a significant surprise. In this first hand account Hilton explains that artillery units, while typically thought of as being behind the lines, were often directly targeted during the Vietnam War, where there were no front lines. Artillery positions were frequently attacked by mortars, snipers, and enemy forces, requiring Marines to defend themselves. The author describes the initial confusion among Marines in 1965, as many had no knowledge of Vietnam before being abruptly deployed there. Marines who had been stationed in the Pacific were quickly shipped to Vietnam, with some arriving without their proper gear. The deployment to Vietnam, especially in the early stages, caused frustration for those whose service was extended. Reflecting on his own experiences, the author recounts how the stress of war sometimes led to memory lapses. For instance, they struggled to recall the details of November 10, 1966, despite it being the U.S. Marine Corps? birthday, only to later discover that they had participated in a ceremony in Vietnam that day. Hilton concludes that by acknowledging the challenges of recalling events accurately under the intense conditions of war he is able to share his story to the best of his ability to give the reader a glimpse in to one of the most contentious conflicts.…

Paperback. Condizione: Good. Warfare in the Ancient World explores how civilizations and cultures made war on the battlefields of the Near East and Europe over a period of 2000 years. Through the use of dozens of tactical maps, this fascinating one-volume introduction to the art of war during western civilization's ancient, and classical periods offers a fresh perspective on the sophisticated nature of pre-modern warfare. Allfree, Joshua; Cairns, John (illustratore).…

Paperback. Condizione: Good. An account of the massacre in the Belgian village of Malmedy when, in the winter of 1944, Peiper, the commander of a crack regiment of Panzer tanks, issued the order to breach American defences in the Ardennes and to mow down anything that came into view.

Paperback. Condizione: Very Good. An account of the massacre in the Belgian village of Malmedy when, in the winter of 1944, Peiper, the commander of a crack regiment of Panzer tanks, issued the order to breach American defences in the Ardennes and to mow down anything that came into view.

Hardback. Condizione: Good. In his short life, Liverpool-born Alexander Foote went from being a volunteer in the International Brigade in Spain to becoming an agent of Soviet military intelligence in Switzerland. Pretending to his friends that he was a dim-witted Englishman with private means, Foote became the key telegraphist of the so-called 'Red Three' network of radio stations, communicating top secret German intelligence to the USSR from under the noses of the Swiss authorities. The information from Foote's Morse key originated from sources in Germany and came to Foote via the enigmatic figure of Rudolph Rossler, known as Agent Lucy. Where he obtained the information from is a mystery that has never been solved. During the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, Soviet generals came to depend on the information from Foote's transmitter and those of his comrades.On his release from a ten-month remand in a Swiss gaol on an espionage charge, Foote absconded to Paris in 1944 before being invited for debriefing in Moscow. When he arrived, he became aware that he was under suspicion of being a British spy and it took all his wit to talk his comrades in Soviet intelligence out of sending him to the gulag: a fate that waited for many of the others in his Swiss network.Disillusioned with life in the USSR, Foote approached British intelligence while he was on a Soviet mission in Berlin. He made them an offer: if they got him back to Britain he would tell them all he knew about Soviet intelligence, from the inside.This is his story.…

Hardback. Condizione: Fair. In his short life, Liverpool-born Alexander Foote went from being a volunteer in the International Brigade in Spain to becoming an agent of Soviet military intelligence in Switzerland. Pretending to his friends that he was a dim-witted Englishman with private means, Foote became the key telegraphist of the so-called 'Red Three' network of radio stations, communicating top secret German intelligence to the USSR from under the noses of the Swiss authorities. The information from Foote's Morse key originated from sources in Germany and came to Foote via the enigmatic figure of Rudolph Rossler, known as Agent Lucy. Where he obtained the information from is a mystery that has never been solved. During the battles of Stalingrad and Kursk, Soviet generals came to depend on the information from Foote's transmitter and those of his comrades.On his release from a ten-month remand in a Swiss gaol on an espionage charge, Foote absconded to Paris in 1944 before being invited for debriefing in Moscow. When he arrived, he became aware that he was under suspicion of being a British spy and it took all his wit to talk his comrades in Soviet intelligence out of sending him to the gulag: a fate that waited for many of the others in his Swiss network.Disillusioned with life in the USSR, Foote approached British intelligence while he was on a Soviet mission in Berlin. He made them an offer: if they got him back to Britain he would tell them all he knew about Soviet intelligence, from the inside.This is his story.…