History

The Battle for Afghanistan: A Masterful Retelling of Imperial Disaster William Dalrymple's gripping narrative of the First Anglo-Afghan War is a masterful retelling of one of the West's greatest imperial disasters in the East. Drawing on newly discovered...

Edward I, the king who ruled England with an iron fist, is a figure of both fascination and controversy. His reign was marked by war, conquest, and the forging of a unified Britain.This biography explores the complex forces that drove Edward's relentless...

A nostalgic look back at the 1960s childhood, from the toys and games of the time to the music and fashion that defined the era.This book is a collection of memories and experiences from one person's childhood in the 1960s, covering topics such as home...

The 1930s was a decade of great change and upheaval, marked by the Great Depression and the lead-up to World War II. Yet, amidst the turmoil, it was also a time of significant cultural and social shift, as new ideas and traditions began to take hold...

The World A Family History by Simon Sebag Montefiore This sweeping narrative spans 950,000 years of human history, tracing the lives of families that have shaped our world. From the earliest human ancestors to the present day, Montefiore weaves a rich...

Britain B.C. Life in Britain and Ireland Before the Romans by Francis Pryor A fresh perspective on the history of Ancient Britain and Ireland is offered in this groundbreaking book. Francis Pryor challenges the traditional view of Britain's history,...

Recreate the tumultuous spring of 1848 with Christopher Clark's gripping account of the European revolutions that shook the continent.In this captivating history, Clark masterfully brings to life the era of mass protests, violent clashes, and the...

On This Day in History brings to life a key event that happened on each day of the year, revealing a fascinating and often unexpected insight into our past.From the most important British battle you may never have heard of to the first meeting of Lennon...

Liverpool in the 1950s is a nostalgic look back at a pivotal decade in British history. The city of Liverpool underwent significant transformation during this period, marked by slum clearance, new developments, and the rise of consumer culture. Richly...

The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science by Richard Holmes. In 1769, Joseph Banks stepped onto a Tahitian beach expecting to have found Paradise. Instead, he discovered a new world of scientific discovery...

The British Navy's story is inextricably linked to that of Britain itself, a tale of how a small island nation's maritime prowess enabled it to become a global trading empire. This comprehensive history reveals the complexities and uncertainties behind...

A comprehensive guide to the rulers of the British nations, from pre-Roman times to the present day, Kings & Queens: The Concise Guide covers the lives and personalities of each monarch, including their achievements, challenges, and historical context...

The Secret Lives of Colour tells the unusual stories of 75 fascinating shades, dyes and hues that have shaped human history. From the blonde used in ancient battles to the white that protected against the plague, each colour has a surprising story to...

Sword Beach, the easternmost of the five Normandy beaches, was the site of a pivotal moment in history on 6th June 1944. Historian and archaeologist Stephen Fisher sheds new light on the battle that took place there, using previously unseen research,...

The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination by Adam Zeman Our imagination is often thought of as a creative tool, but in reality, it's a fundamental part of our daily lives. We use it to reminisce, anticipate, plan, daydream, and even read...

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World In the early 17th century, a small Massachusetts plantation was gripped by a wave of fear and paranoia. Food spoiled, livestock fell ill, and people suffered from strange visions and dreams. The...

The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped It by Daisy Dunn For centuries, the stories of ancient history have been told from a male perspective, with women relegated to the margins. In this groundbreaking new...

The story of how to calculate longitude was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the 18th century, with thousands of lives and the fortunes of nations hanging in the balance. In 1714, a king's ransom was offered to anyone who could prove a successful...

Scotland: A Nation's History by David Frost and David Ross This comprehensive history of Scotland explores the country's rich and complex past, from ancient times to the present day. The authors examine the key events, figures, and cultural developments...

The Dead Sea: A 10,000 Year History The Dead Sea is a place of contradictions, where hot springs are prized for their healing properties, yet its waters are deadly to most lifeforms. For centuries, civilizations have thrived around its shores, leaving...

The Rise of Rome: Books One to Five (Oxford World's Classics) by Livy and T. J. Luce This collection of five books brings to life the early years of Rome, from its legendary founding to its first major conquests. Written by the Roman historian Livy, this...

Vertigo: The Rise and Fall of Weimar GermanyThis gripping account of Germany's tumultuous era, spanning war defeat, revolution, and the rise of the Nazis, offers a unique insight into the country's transformation from 1918 to 1933.From the ashes of the...

The Liberation Line: The Last Untold Story of the Normandy Landings In the aftermath of D-Day, a crucial yet often overlooked chapter in the Allied victory unfolded. A team of British and American railway engineers, working under intense pressure and in...

The Boy Who Followed His Father Into AuschwitzA father and son's fight to stay together and survive the Holocaust, a powerful and often uncomfortable true story that captures the strength of their bond.When the Nazis come for them, Gustav and Fritz...

A Short History of Russia by Mark Galeotti provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the country's complex and often tumultuous past. From its early legends to the rise and fall of the Romanovs, and from the Russian Revolution to the present...

The SAS Ghost Patrol: A Daring Mission in Nazi Uniform In 1942, the SAS embarked on an audacious mission that would become one of the most remarkable stories of wartime lawlessness. Dressed in Nazi uniforms, they carried out a daring raid on the Libyan...

A masterful account of the first wicked century of the Roman Empire, Dynasty weaves together the history of ancient Rome with the narrative of the Julio-Claudian family. Tom Holland's skillful storytelling brings to life the founding myths, the fall of...

A humorous and fascinating history of countries that no longer exist, revealing the often bizarre reasons behind their demise. From violent explosions to referendums, this atlas of extinct nations delves into the stories of those that fell off the map...

Churchill's Secret Warriors is a gripping true story of the top-secret military units tasked with stopping the German war machine during WWII. In 1940, Prime Minister Winston Churchill authorized the creation of a special kind of military unit that would...

The Carrier Campaign in the Falklands War In April 1982, the British task force set sail for the South Atlantic, with air power playing a crucial role in the operation. The British had just 42 fighter jets available, outnumbered three-to-one by the...

She-wolves: The Women who Ruled England Before Elizabeth by Helen Castor The stories of these women, told here in all their vivid humanity, illustrate the paradox of royal power in female hands. In a world where men held the reins, how could women claim...

The year 1000 marked a pivotal moment in European history, as the fragmented kingdoms of the continent began to coalesce into a new Western Europe. Tom Holland's sweeping narrative takes readers on a thrilling journey across the continent, exploring the...

D-Day before dawn. The danger grows with each passing minute and hour. On June 6, 1944, a small detachment of British airborne troops stormed German defence forces, paving the way for the Allied invasion of Europe. The Pegasus Bridge was the first...

Vienna: The City of Ideas Created the Modern World Viennese ideas have profoundly shaped the modern world, influencing everything from architecture to advertising, science to culture. This panoramic account explores the city's rich intellectual history,...

Joan Smith's new history of Rome's Imperial Women offers a fresh and authoritative perspective on the lives of the women who lived under the Julio-Claudian emperors. This book dispels the myths and misogyny that have distorted their reputations for over...

State of Emergency: Britain 1970-74 is a vivid account of a tumultuous decade in British history. The early 1970s were marked by social unrest, economic uncertainty, and cultural upheaval, as the country struggled to come to terms with the decline of...

Graham Hancock's Magicians of the Gods is a deeply researched and wide-ranging investigation into the mysteries of our past and the evidence for Earth's lost civilization. The book explores a catastrophic event at the end of the last ice age, triggered...

Paris '44: The Shame and the GloryA gripping narrative of the liberation of Paris in 1944, one of the most dramatic moments of World War II. This fresh account tells the story of the city's resurgence from the shadows of oppression and humiliation, as...

Pandora's Jar: A fresh perspective on the women of Greek mythology. In ancient Greek myths, women were often portrayed as monstrous, vengeful or evil, but Natalie Haynes reveals a different story. She turns the tables, putting the women of the Greek...

Vietnam: An Epic History of a Tragic War This comprehensive history of the Vietnam War offers a nuanced and balanced account of one of the most divisive conflicts of the 20th century. Max Hastings draws on extensive research and interviews with...

The 1984/85 Miners' Strike: A Personal Account Thirty years after the strike, people are ready to look back and talk about what happened. This book presents some of their stories, offering a candid and powerful record of a divisive moment in history...

The British airborne experience during the Second World War is told in a riveting new history by bestselling historian Saul David. The legendary 'Red Devils' were among the finest combat troops of the conflict, created at Churchill's instigation in June...

The Penguin History of Modern Spain 1898 to the Present by Nigel Townson A fresh perspective on modern Spain, this book challenges the prevailing narrative of a country marked by civil war and dictatorship. Drawing on over forty years of post-Franco...

The Titanic's legacy lives on in the stories of its survivors. On 15 April 1912, the ship's tragic fate was sealed, leaving behind a haunting silence that would echo through the lives of those who escaped. This book sheds new light on the aftermath of...

Plan and manage your revision for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE History with this comprehensive guide. Covering key topics such as Germany, superpower relations, civil rights in the USA, Russia and the Soviet Union, and changes in medicine, this...

A major new history of women in British intelligence reveals their pivotal role in the first half of the twentieth century. From the 20th century onwards, women played an extraordinary range of roles in intelligence, defying convention and making...

Anna Funder's Stasiland tells the extraordinary stories from the underbelly of former East Germany, a country where the secret police's headquarters could become a museum overnight, and one in fifty citizens were informers. The book is a collection of...

A gripping narrative of the 6th century AD, when the Near East was divided between two powerful empires: the Persian and the Roman. One had vanished forever, while the other seemed almost finished. The Arabs, who ruled in their place, brought about a...

D-Day Through German Eyes: How the Wehrmacht Lost France The Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day is a well-known story, but what about the German perspective? This book tells the story of the Wehrmacht's experience on the eve of the invasion, and how...

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer is a comprehensive account of the Nazi regime's 12-year rule, from 1933 to 1945. Shirer, one of the few historians to have accessed the secret German archives, provides a detailed and insightful...

The Coming of the Third Reich: How the Nazis Destroyed Democracy and Seized Power in Germany by Richard J. Evans explores the events that led to the rise of Nazi Germany. From the aftermath of the First World War to the Great Depression, Evans reveals...

On 26 April 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, putting the world on the brink of nuclear annihilation and contaminating over half of Europe with radioactive fallout. This is the story of the events leading up to the disaster,...

The de Havilland Mosquito was an aircraft that should never have existed, yet it proved to be the war-winning wonder that the RAF couldn't do without. Built of lightweight wood and powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, it was impossibly aerodynamic...

The Roman Britain Map provides a comprehensive overview of nearly 400 years of history, covering the entire island of Great Britain. Printed back to back as North and South sheets, this map offers a unique insight into the archaeological remains from the...

Republik is a richly engrossing year-by-year account of Britain's republican experiment, which lasted from 1649 to 1660. After the execution of Charles I, the country embarked on a decade of bewildering change and instability, under the leadership of...

This groundbreaking collection addresses the burning issue of how we interpret history today. The stories we tell, who tells them, and what gets rewritten are questions that have been asked recently not just within the history world, but by all of us...

The Norman Conquest by Marc Morris The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 was a pivotal moment in the country's history, shaping the nation's language, law, architecture, and social structures. This book provides a detailed and engaging account of the...

A Short History of London: The Creation of a World Capital by Simon Jenkins is a comprehensive narrative history of the city that has shaped the world. From its origins as a Roman settlement to its current status as a global hub, Jenkins masterfully...

Rudolf Vrba, a brilliant yet troubled man, understood that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death. In April 1944, he became one of the first Jews to escape from Auschwitz and make his way to freedom, risking...

Rome's golden age, a period of unparalleled power and wealth, is the subject of Tom Holland's latest history. Beginning in 69AD, a year marked by the succession of four Caesars, and ending with the death of Hadrian, Pax presents a vivid history of the...

A comprehensive guide to Ancient Britain, this map provides a detailed overview of the country's archaeological past from the Stone Age to the early Middle Ages. The OS Historical Map series offers a unique approach, using different symbols and colours...

Pompeii: The Life of a Roman TownThis absorbing account of the ancient city brings to life the people and places that once thrived in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. Mary Beard's meticulous reconstruction of the last days of Pompeii is a compelling look...

A new perspective on one of the most pivotal moments in recent history, Normandy '44 D-Day and the Battle for France by James Holland, presents a fresh and unflinching account of the brutality and violence of the Normandy campaign. Drawing on unseen...

Britain's pagan past is a complex and fascinating topic. This book, written by renowned historian Ronald Hutton, explores the development, suppression, and enduring cultural significance of paganism in Britain from the Paleolithic era to the arrival of...

The Sound of Utopia: A Portrait of Soviet Musicians Under Stalin In the shadow of Stalin's totalitarian regime, music became a perilous art form in Russia. Composers and musicians were forced to create works that served the socialist state, while...

The Kosovo War: a gripping eyewitness account of a major 20th-century military conflict. Tim Marshall, then diplomatic editor at Sky News, was on the ground covering the conflict, drawing on personal experience, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with...

Expert guidance for Edexcel A level History students, covering Britain and the USA in the Twentieth Century. This book provides authoritative, well-researched content and expert narrative to help students develop high-level skills in their breadth and...

Timothy Garton Ash's Homelands is a deeply personal and vividly recounted history of Europe since 1945. Drawing on half a century of travel and reflection, the book tells the story of Europe's slow recovery and rebuilding, its liberation and unification,...

The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East by Robert Fisk Robert Fisk's masterful narrative spans the most volatile regions of the Middle East, chronicling with both rage and compassion the tragic events that have shaped the region...

Sovietistan is a captivating travelogue that takes readers on a journey across the former Soviet Republics. Erika Fatland's account of her travels through Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan offers a unique perspective on the...

Alexander von Humboldt: The Man Who Saw Too Much. Alexander von Humboldt was a man of extraordinary curiosity and vision. His life was a testament to his boundless enthusiasm for discovery and exploration. From the depths of the rainforest to the highest...

The Children of Ash and Elm: A History of the Vikings A fresh perspective on the Viking Age, this book challenges traditional views of the period. Instead of focusing on the most famous raids, it explores the origins of the Viking phenomenon, tracing the...

Help you succeed in AQA AS/A-level History with this comprehensive revision guide, covering the key content and exam preparation activities you need to master.Structured revision notes and exam-style questions are combined to create a reliable resource...

Checkpoint Charlie: The Cold War, the Berlin Wall and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth As the sixtieth anniversary of the Berlin Wall's construction approaches, a gripping history of Checkpoint Charlie emerges. Iain MacGregor's book delves into the...

The Spitfire Manual is a unique collection of documents and instructions issued by the RAF during the Second World War. For the first time, these manuals and leaflets are brought together in a single book, providing a comprehensive guide on how to fly...

Strategy: A History by Lawrence Freedman This comprehensive history of strategic thinking spans from the advanced strategies employed by primate groups to the great military innovations of Baron Henri de Jomini and Carl von Clausewitz. Sir Lawrence...

The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World by Peter Frankopan The world is undergoing a profound shift in the balance of power, with the traditional Western-centric view of global relationships being challenged by the strengthening ties...

Winston Churchill's six-volume history of the Second World War remains a seminal work on the subject. This first volume, The Gathering Storm, vividly describes the events that led to the outbreak of war, from the aftermath of the First World War to the...

Yuval Noah Harari's 21 Lessons for the 21st Century is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges facing humanity in the modern world. In twenty-one concise lessons, Harari examines the most pressing issues of our time, from the threat of nuclear...

Discover the fascinating stories and little-known facts behind World War 2. This book brings together a collection of interesting and surprising stories from the Second World War, covering everything from the war's origins to its most recent depictions...

The Domesday Book: A Complete Translation This comprehensive translation of the Domesday Book offers a unique insight into the English landscape in the late 11th century. Compiled in a matter of months in 1086, the document provides a detailed picture of...

The Restless Republic: Britain Without a Crown In 1649, Britain was plunged into revolution, and the English monarchy was abolished. The following decade was marked by turmoil and experimentation as the people struggled to establish a new order. This is...

The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 by Christopher M. Clark The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 was a pivotal moment in modern history, sparking a chain of events that would lead to the downfall of four great empires and...

Voices from the Grave: Two Men's War in Ireland A groundbreaking book that sheds new light on the Troubles, Voices from the Grave brings to life the stories of two former paramilitary leaders who speak with unprecedented frankness about their role in the...

Viking Britain: A History by Thomas Williams The Viking Age is often associated with violent raids and pillage, but this narrative history reveals a more complex story. Thomas Williams explores the physical remains and landscapes shaped by the Vikings,...

The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis In 1929, a desperate bid to combat tuberculosis led to the recruitment of Black southern nurses to work at New York's largest municipal hospital. Lured by promises of good pay...

Fingerprints of the Gods: The Quest Continues challenges conventional wisdom about the origins of modern society. This groundbreaking book presents new evidence that has persuaded millions of readers worldwide to rethink their understanding of history...

Discover the captivating story of Venice, a city renowned for its breathtaking art and rich history. From the Renaissance to the present day, this elegant volume takes you on a visual journey through the city's past five centuries.Explore the city's...

The Stable Boy of Auschwitz: A Heartbreaking True Story of Courage and Survival This is the remarkable true story of a young Jewish boy who was forced to work as a stable boy in Auschwitz during World War II. Against all odds, he survived the...

The story of Chernobyl is a harrowing and compelling narrative that brings the 1986 disaster to life through the eyes of those who witnessed it first-hand. Adam Higginbotham's book, Midnight in Chernobyl, draws on hundreds of hours of interviews,...

The Middle Ages are often misunderstood as a dark and unchanging period, but in reality, people's horizons expanded dramatically between 1000 and 1600. This transformation marked the transition from a warrior-led society to one that laid the foundations...

The Witches: Salem, 1692A fresh and electrifying view of the Salem witch trials, this book explores the pivotal role women played in American history during a tumultuous time. Stacy Schiff masterfully weaves together the archives to reveal the intricate...

A sweeping narrative that spans centuries, Northerners is a comprehensive history of the North of England, told through the lives of its inhabitants. From the earliest times to the present day, the book reveals the dramatic events that shaped the region,...

Discover the soul of Yorkshire in this engaging and humorous journey into the heart of the county.Exiled Yorkshireman Rick Broadbent returns to his native county to uncover the truth behind the stereotypes and myths that have shaped its reputation. Along...

Angela Y. Davis examines the intertwined histories of the abolitionist and women's suffrage movements, revealing the racism and class prejudice inherent in much of white feminism. This seminal work brings to light new pioneering heroines who fought back...

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, Second Edition A groundbreaking exploration of the human brain, where mind meets matter. Iain McGilchrist challenges the long-held notion that the left hemisphere of the...

Fishers of Men is a true account of the secret operations carried out by the British Army's most clandestine unit, the Force Research Unit. The story of an essential instrument in the fight against terrorism, covert intelligence gathering is told through...

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind offers a groundbreaking narrative of humanity's creation and evolution, exploring the ways in which biology and history have defined us. From the emergence of modern cognition 70,000 years ago, this book charts the...

Band of Brothers tells the story of Easy Company, a crack rifle company in the US Army, from their rigorous training in Georgia in 1942 to their triumphant capture of Hitler's 'Eagle's Nest' in Berchtesgaden. Ambrose chronicles their heroic adventures...

A Treasury of British Folklore Maypoles, Mandrakes & Mistletoe by Dee Dee Chainey is a captivating collection of British customs, superstitions and legends from past and present. This beautifully illustrated book delves into the history of folklore in...