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History: Non-fiction.
Braille - Grade 2. Compiled: 2009.
The titles in this booklist are just a selection of the titles available for loan from the
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Adie, Kate.
Corsets to camouflage: women and war. 2004. 6v.
Uniform is universally seen as both a stamp of authority and of official acceptance.
But the sight of a woman in military uniform still provokes controversy. Although more
women are now taking prominent roles in combat, the status implied by uniform is
often regarded as contrary to the general perception of womanhood. In association
with the Imperial War Museum, this is the first book to look at the image of uniformed
women, both in conflict and in civilian roles throughout the twentieth century.
Armstrong, Karen.
A short history of myth. 2005. 2v.
The history of myth is the history of humanity; our stories and beliefs, our curiosity
and attempts to understand the world, link us to our ancestors and each other. Myths
help us make sense of the universe.
Atkinson, R J C.
Stonehenge and neighbouring monuments. 1995. 2v.
Stonehenge stands as a timeless testimony to the prehistoric peoples who built it
some 4000 years ago. This souvenir guide provides an insight into the way the
prehistoric people lived, how they built Stonehenge and how they transported the
sacred bluestones and the huge sarsen stones. The history of Stonehenge from 3050
to 1600 BC is described from the evidence of excavation and radiocarbon dating, and
set within the context of the surrounding landscape.
Ward, George, Francis, Paul. Paine, Brian. Kent Messenger.
Kent: our century by the people who lived it: a record of 100 years' history as
reported by newspapers of the Kent Messenger Group. 1999. 4v.
This book chronicles many of the key moments and episodes in Kent's history over
the last one hundred years, as witnessed and recorded by those who were there at
the time. It is not simply a factual record of Kent's history over a century, it is a true
story of those who lived through it.
Avery, Gillian.
The echoing green: memories of Regency and Victorian youth. 1974. 4v.
Through the writings of young people from different backgrounds, the author creates
a realistic picture of childhood in the nineteenth century.
Ball, John.
Cops and robbers: an investigation into armed bank robbery. 1978. 2v.
An investigation into armed bank robbery' this is a study of both cops and robbers
within a wide social context. A society's ability to protect its citizens' money in its
banks is one test of the existence of law and order. For a while, between 1968 and
1972, the annual rate of bank robberies in the London area rose with alarming
rapidity. The police were at a loss. Then in August 1972 Scotland Yard set up a
special robbery squad to combat the epidemic. This book tells of how the squad
slowly came to grips with the gangs.
Barbary, James.
Puritan & cavalier: the English civil war. 1977. 3v.
The author has written an account of the military events of the English Civil War
during the years 1642-1649, setting them firmly in the context of the political
background of the war but to appeal directly to the reader's imagination with his vivid
presentations of the battles and sieges, and to stimulate interest in the human aspect,
often overlooked in history books.
Benham, Hervey.
Last stronghold of sail: the story of Essex sailing-smacks, coasters and barges;
a chapter on wildfowling. 1986. 5v.
Hervey Benham evokes the old days of sailing- barges and smacks, of cutters and
ketches, and of all the craft which have sailed along the rivers of Essex and along the
East Coast.
Binding, Hilary.
Somerset privies. 1999. 3v.
Vivid, anecdotal, gruesome and crammed with outlandish information, shamingly
funny, "Somerset privies" is a descriptive tribute to the lavatories of yesteryear. It
takes us from the highly unsanitary Middle Ages to the more comic encounters of
recent times.
Briggs, Asa.
Iron Bridge to Crystal Palace: impact and images of the Industrial Revolution.
1979. 6v.
One of the most important symbols of Britain's emergence as the world's first
industrial nation is the iron bridge at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire, built in the summer
of 1779. Asa Briggs traces the growth and spread of industrial technology, based on
coal, iron and steam power, to other parts of the country, before reaching out to
embrace Europe and the rest of the world.
Brown, Dee Alexander.
Hear that lonesome whistle blow. 1977. 6v.
This is the story of the great American railroads; a story of breathtaking technological
ingenuity, pioneering idealism, hard driven labour and powerful greed. The heroes in
this extraordinary epic are the Irish labourers and Chinese coolies; the villains the
avaricious bankers and corrupt politicians. Before the undertaking was complete more
than 155 million acres of land had been given away to railway magnates, the Indian
tribes had been massacred and the buffalo driven from the Great Plains, millions of
settlers had been lured from Europe and a colossal industrial nation had been forged.
Bryant, Arthur, 1899-1985.Sir,
The story of England. Vol. 2; the age of chivalry. 1963. 11v.
Edward I to Richard II, 1274-1381.
Burleigh, Michael.
The racial state: Germany 1933-1945. 1991. 8v.
The Nazi regime in Germany tried to restructure a "class" society along racial lines.
This book deals with the ideas and institutions which supported this objective, and
shows how Nazi policies affected various groups of people, including the mentally
handicapped, the asocial and homosexuals. One law actually allowed for the
sterilisation of the hereditarily ill, including the hereditary blind. The authors conclude
that the policies were essentially barbarous.
Cameron, James.
The making of Israel. 1976. 1v.
On 14 May 1948 in Tel Aviv, the Jewish National Council under the chairmanship of
David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the coming into being of the state of Israel. Every Israeli
story about the event began with the words "Now, after 200 years....". The author is
concerned with the events that led up to the Proclamation, but he summarises also
the more distant history.
Camplin, Jamie.
The rise of the plutocrats: wealth and power in Edwardian England. 1978. 4v.
No review available.
Carhart, Thaddeus.
The piano shop on the Left Bank: the hidden world of a Paris atelier. 2001. 5v.
The story of a musical friendship and a mutual obsession, intertwined with reflections
on how pianos work, their history, and the people who care for them, from the most
amateur pianists to the tuners and craftsmen who make the mechanism sing.
Carpenter, Humphrey.
That was satire that was: Beyond the Fringe, the Establishment Club, Private
Eye and That Was The Week That Was. 2000. 5v.
At the 1960 Edinburgh Festival, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Jonathan Miller and Alan
Bennett changed the face of British comedy with their satire. This study examines the
political and social conditions which inspired them.
Carr, Edward Hallett.
The Russian Revolution: from Lenin to Stalin (1917-1929). 1979. 5v. UK Loan
only.
No review available.
Churchill, Winston S.
A history of the English-speaking peoples. Vol. 1; the birth of Britain. 1956. 6v.
This is the story of the British people from Boadicea to Queen Victoria, written by Sir
Winston Churchill, himself a protagonist of history. The text traces the development
and advancement of the English-speaking peoples, in an attempt to tell us who we
are and how we came to be.
Clarke, Patricia.
The governesses: letters from the colonies 1862-1882. 1985. 9v.
In the latter half of the nineteenth century a number of educated, genteel women,
sponsored by the Female Middle Class Emigration Society, left Britain to seek a
better life in the colonies. In letters written to the Society when repaying their loans
they describe colonial life during the years 1862-82.
Cobb, Richard.
A classical education. London: 1985. 3v.
The author, a history professor, describes his schooling and his friendship with a
classmate, who, in later life, was tried for murder. "What a pity we went to a classical
school", says Edward, bemoaning the fact that useful information like how to wash
bloodstains off an axe had not been included in the curriculum of Shrewsbury School.
It is 13 years since the two school friends have seen another, and something haunts
their reminiscences. What has kept them apart for so long?
Cohn-Sherbok, Lavinia.
A short history of Judaism. Oxford: 1994. 4v.
"A short history of Judaism" provides a clear, brief yet comprehensive study of the
long history of the Jewish people and their faith. Written with insight and sympathy, it
traces the story that begins with a Semitic tribe dwelling in the land of Canaan 2000
years before the birth of Christ.
Conder, Francis Roubiliac.
The men who built railways: a reprint of F.R. Conder's Personal recollections of
English engineers. 1983. 5v.
This book comprises the reminiscences of an engineer engaged in the construction of
railways in different parts of England, Ireland and Wales from 1833 to 1856.
Cooke, Alistair.
Alistair Cooke's America. 1973. 4v.
This is an expanded version of the television series. The author writes about the land
and the people with the dispassionate but affectionate characteristic of his "Letter
from America" broadcasts, and offers unusual explanations and interpretations of
episodes which have affected the course of the country's history.
Davies, Norman.
The isles: a history. 1999. 30v.
This work considers the history of the "British Isles" in the light of parallel events on
the continent. It follows the construction of the United Kingdom and charts the rise
and fall of the main pillars of "Britishness", ending with the crisis that confronts Britain
now, the European Union. This work considers the history of the "British Isles",
including Ireland, in the light of parallel events on the continent. It follows the
construction of the United Kingdom and charts the rise and fall of the main pillars of
"Britishness", ending with the crisis that confronts Britain now, the European Union.
De La Bedoyere, Guy.
New illustrated world history. 2001. 7v.
From the cradles of early civilization in China and Egypt, through the strife of the
Middle Ages to the accelerated technological explosions of late twentieth century
society, the history of the world is revealed here. In A-Z format with thematic crossreferencing.
Dickie, John.
Cosa Nostra: a history of the Sicilian Mafia. 2004. 6v.
The Mafia has been given many names since it was founded in the mid-19th century the Sect, the Brotherhood, the Honoured Society, and now Cosa Nostra. Yet as times
have changed, the Mafia's subtle and bloody methods have remained the same. This
book reconstructs the complete history of the Sicilian Mafia from its origins to the
modern day, from the lemon groves and sulphur mines of Sicily, to the streets of
Manhattan. Contains swear words
Dunn, Kate.
Exit through the fireplace: great days of the rep. 1998. 7v.
Many of today's leading actors and directors began their career in a far less exalted
world: the rep, or repertory theatre. In this book, Kate Dunn draws on theatre people's
first hand experience to trace the great days of this renowned British institution.
Theatre people's first hand experiences in the world of local repertory theatre.
Dyos, H J.
Exploring the urban past: essays in urban history. 1982. 7v.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the growth of interest in the urban past was largely due
to the work of the late H.J. Dyos, Professor of Urban History at the University of
Leicester. This book brings together some of Dyos's most important and influential
essays, written over a period of nearly thirty years.
Edwardes, Michael.
The dark side of history: magic in the making of man. 1978. 5v.
"Recently much has been said and written about an 'occult revival' as if some Lazarus
had been raised from the dead. But the occult has never been dead. However, my
intention has not been to write the history of the occult or a do it yourself manual, a
kind of 'Joy of Magic'. I have tried to do no more than put the occult where I believe, it
properly belongs - in the mainstream of history, rather than on its manic periphery".
Elborough, Travis.
The bus we loved: London's affair with the Routemaster. 2005. 3v.
The text tells the story of London's love affair with the now near-vanished
Routemaster bus. It wasn't just a bus but a symbol of the city: what the gondola is to
Venice. Its distinctive shape drove through films and TV shows and appeared on
millions of souvenirs. It was the last bus to be designed and built in London, by
Londoners, the last bus in Britain to have conductors as well as drivers.
Feltwell, John.
The naturalist's garden. 1987. 5v.
The beauty and variety of our modern gardens owe much to the discoveries of early
naturalists. In his book, the author recreates the gardens of the past from ancient
times to medieval meadows, Elizabethan herb gardens and the first gardens of the
"New World". He explores the achievements of naturalists from Pliny and
Shakespeare to Linnaeus, John Ray, Gilbert White and William Robinson. "The
naturalist's garden" will interest both gardeners and nature lovers alike.
Ferguson, Niall.
Empire: how Britain made the modern world. 2003. 9v.
Written to accompany a Channel Four television series, this text shows, on a vast
canvas, how the British Empire in the nineteenth century spearheaded real
globalisation with steam power, telegraphs, guns, engineers, missionaries and
millions of settlers.
Fernández-Armesto, Felipe.
Ideas that changed the world. 2004. 9v.
A guide to the historical and philosophical notions that have shaped human
civilization. From cannibalism to jihad, from the dawn of time to the present day, from
Ancient Greece to North America, each idea is explained.
Flanders, Judith.
Consuming passions: leisure and pleasure in Victorian Britain. 2006. 17v.
This book tells the story of how, over two centuries, leisure became an industry,
offering a cornucopia of entertainment for a new mass audience, as demand was
fuelled by newspapers, by advertising, by publicity - all eighteenth-century creations.
Flanders, Judith.
The Victorian house: domestic life from childbirth to deathbed. 2003. 13v.
Through a collage of diaries, letters, advice books and magazines the text provides a
portrait of Victorian domestic life. The book, follows the story of daily life from room to
room: from childbirth in the master bedroom, through the scullery, kitchen and dining
room - cleaning, dining, entertaining - on upwards, ending in the sickroom and death.
Fonseca, Isabel.
Bury me standing: the gypsies and their journey. 1996. 8v.
After the revolutions of 1989, Isabel Fonseca lived and travelled with the gypsies of
Eastern Europe, sharing their daily lives, and recording their stories and their attempts
to become something more than despised outsiders. She traces the gypsies from
their exodus out of India, to their enslavement by the princes of medieval Romania;
from their massacre by the Nazis, to their new violently contested presence in the
political arena. After the revolutions of 1989, Isabel Fonseca lived and travelled with
the gypsies of Eastern Europe, sharing their daily lives, and recording their stories
and their attempts to become something more than despised outsiders. She traces
the gypsies from their exodus out of India, to their enslavement by the princes of
medieval Romania; from their massacre by the Nazis, to their new violently contested
presence in the political arena.
French, Philip.
The movie moguls: an informal history of the Hollywood tycoons. 1969. 4v.
The story of the men who helped build up America's film industry from the peepshow
of the nineties to the Hollywood empire of the twenties and thirties.
French, Sally.
An oral history of the education of visually impaired people: telling stories for
inclusive futures. 2006. 8v.
By means of 61 open-ended interviews with visually impaired people (written as
stories) and an analysis of documentary evidence, this book explores the history of
education for visually impaired children in Britain since the 18th century.
Fulford, Roger.
Hanover to Windsor. 1960. 2v.
William IV, Victoria, Edward VII, and George V.
Galbraith, John Kenneth.
Money: whence it came, where it went. 1975. 7v.
Most of us are prepared to concede that money is important, yet when it comes to
understanding its workings and dealing with its administration and regulation on a
scale wider than that of the domestic budget, most of us surrender to the conclusion
that this is a matter of profound mystery best left to experts. This book challenges the
idea that there is any mystery involved, and demonstrates that "there is nothing about
money that cannot be understood by the person of average curiosity, diligence and
intelligence".
Galbraith, John Kenneth.
The age of uncertainty. 1977. 4v.
Economists and social philosophers have had a decisive influence on the great rush
of revolution and change through the world in the last two hundred years. The author
traces these ideas and their consequences from Adam Smith through to Marx and
Lenin. This book was published with the release of the TV series of the same name.
Gall, Sandy.
The bushmen of Southern Africa: slaughter of the innocent. 2002. 6v.
Facing up to a shameful history, the text celebrates the culture and courage of the
first people of Africa, the Bushmen, who, over the past 200 years have been
dispossessed and almost exterminated. In Botswana - miraculously saved by the
Mandela government - they are now making their last stand.
Hardyment, Christina.
From mangle to microwave: the mechanization of household work. 1988. 5v.
Have household machines solved the deeper problems of domestic management,
asks Christina Hardyment in this entertaining history of technology in the home. From
the time of the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851 to the gadget-ridden
households of today, she traces the invention and development of kitchen equipment,
washing-machines and irons, vacuum cleaners, sewing-machines and bathroom
technology.
Harris, Ruth.
Lourdes: body and spirit in the secular age. 1999. 12v.
This text is a history of the pilgrimage to Lourdes and an account of a world of
religious beliefs which challenges the view that the spirit of modern Europe is a
secular one. It explains how the town became the greatest of all Christian healing
shrines, and how it prospered in a secular age. A history of the world's most important
Catholic shrine, visited by 5 million pilgrims each year. Well over a century after the
peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous claimed to see the Virgin Mary in a Pyrenean
grotto, the Lourdes pilgrimage continues to excite both hostility and enthusiasm. The
text explains how the small French town became the greatest of all Christian healing
shrines despite unpromising beginnings.
Hastings, Max.
The Oxford book of military anecdotes. 1985. 10v.
"This collection is principally English and American, with occasional forays among
foreign armies. Although it begins in earliest times it emphasises the post 18th
century period when anecdotage achieved the form we most readily recognise
today....I have sought stories that illuminate the condition of the soldier through the
ages, in barracks and on the battlefield".
Hattersley, Roy.
A Yorkshire boyhood. 1983. 4v.
The pleasures and pangs of working-class childhood in the north of England are
recounted with candour and affection. The author remembers the hardship of the
Thirties, the Blitz and the eleven-plus examination for the Grammar School.
Hill, Christopher.
God's Englishman: Oliver Cromwell and the English revolution. 1970. 3v.
Written by an historian, this is a compilation of interpretive essays which analyze the
forces which Cromwell helped to create and which created him.
Hillenbrand, Laura.
Seabiscuit: the true story of three men and a racehorse. 2002. 6v
The true story of three men and their dreams for a racehorse - Seabiscuit - that
symbolised a pivotal moment in American history as modern America was born out of
the crucible of the Depression and the dustbowl, as the 20th century's greatest nation
found the courage to bet on itself to win against the odds.
Hudson, Kenneth.
Pawnbroking: an aspect of British social history. 1982. 4v.
The author charts the early history of pawnbroking, when kings pledged their jewels to
pay for their wars, to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when pawnbrokers
dealt not only in jewellery and things of value, but more and more with small pledges,
often redeemed at the week's end. In the final chapters he writes of the effect of the
Welfare State, and how today's pawnbrokers are looking towards the future and
changing not only the business of pawnbroking but also it's image.
Hughes, Geoffrey.
Swearing a social history of foul language, oaths and profanity in English. 1998.
8v.
Tracing the history of swearing from ancient Anglo-Saxon traditions and those of the
Middle Ages, through Shakespeare, the Enlightenment and the Victorians, to the
"Lady Chatterley" trial and various current trends, the author explores an irrepressible
part of English linguistic heritage. Tracing the history of swearing from ancient AngloSaxon traditions and those of the Middle Ages, through Shakespeare, the
Enlightenment and the Victorians, to the Lady Chatterley trail and various current
trends, Professor Geoffrey Hughes explores a fascinating, little discussed yet
irrepressible part of our linguistic heritage. Comes with a new postscript. Contains
swear words.
Inglis, Brian.
Science and parascience: a history of the paranormal. 1984. 7v.
Although disclaiming any desire to "sell" the paranormal, the author feels that the
evidence from psychical research between the wars, far-fetched and even repulsive
though some of its results were, deserves to be reassessed in the light of the collapse
of science's materialist foundations, and of the greater readiness of the public to
accept the reality of psychic phenomena.
James, Edward.
Britain in the first millennium. 2001. 9v.
The first millennium in British history, a period framed by two invasions and conquests
from across the Channel, is portrayed in this account. It covers the entire first
millennium - or what might be called the "long" first millennium, from the middle of the
first century BC until near the end of the eleventh century AD. The whole of Britain is
studied, in its full European context, rather than as a self-sufficient island.
John, Angela V.
Our mother's land: chapters in Welsh Women's history, 1830-1939. 1997. 6v.
This lively book - the first devoted to Welsh women's history - rescues the submerged
lives of women over the last two centuries from oblivion to redefine Wales as not
merely 'the land of our fathers'.
Judah, Tim.
Kosovo: war and revenge. 2000. 9v.
It analyses Slobodan Milosevic and explains how Kosovo provided the springboard
for him to mobilise the Serbs and seize supreme power. It reveals the great lost
opportunity of the February 1999 Rambouillet conference for peace and compromise
in the southern Balkans. It explains how exiled Kosovar militants could take their war
from Swiss cafes to the mountains of northern Albania. And it examines how and why
NATO launched its first ever war, a seventy-eight day campaign of high-tech air
strikes against Serbia, believing the onslaught would be over in days. The text sets
the conflict in its full historical context. It analyzes Slobodan Milosevic and explains
how Kosovo provided the springboard for him to mobilize the Serbs and seize
supreme power. It reveals the great lost opportunity of the February 1999 Rambouillet
conference for peace and compromise in the southern Balkans. It explains how exiled
Kosovar militants could take their war from Swiss cafes to the mountains of northern
Albania. And it examines how and why NATO launched its first ever war a seventyeight day campaign of high-tech air strikes against Serbia believing the onslaught
would be over in days.
Keneally, Thomas.
The great shame: a story of the Irish in the Old World and the New. 1998. 9v.
In the 19th century the Irish population was halved. This book traces the three causes
of this depletion: first, the famine; second, the Irish Diaspora and emigration to places
such as America and Canada; and third, the transportations of political activists to
Australia. The text traces the three causes of the halving of the Irish population in the
nineteenth century: the famine, the Irish emigrations to America and Canada, and the
transportation of political activists to Australia. It is a quest for the author's Irish
ancestors.
Lax, Eric.
The mould in Dr. Florey's coat: the story of the penicillin miracle. 2004. 5v.
Chronicles the true story of the Oxford scientists who discovered penicillin by
experimenting on mould, creating a family of drugs that would eradicate some of the
worst diseases in human history.
Lewis, Lesley.
The private life of a country house 1912-1939. 1997. 5v.
In this vivid memoir Lesley Lewis gives a fascinating account of life in a minor English
country house in Essex between the wars. By concentrating on social and domestic
details, and on everyday events and objects, she offers a rare insight into family
relationships and into the running of the household in a period which now seems so
remote.
Lively, Penelope.
A house unlocked. 2001. 4v.
A memoir of a house in Somerset - Golsoncott - which the author's grandparents
bought in 1923, and which stayed in the family until 1975. Penelope Lively traces the
history of the house, its inhabitants and, in doing so, charts social and cultural
changes over the 20th century. Penelope Lively recalls Golsoncott, the country house
in Somerset her grandparents bought in 1923. Back then the running of the house
required the services of eleven people. Golsoncott was touched by the cataclysmic
events of the twentieth century: the Russian Revolution, the Holocaust, and the Blitz.
All left their mark on the house, if you know where to look.
Lloyd, Alan.
The great prize fight. 1977. 3v.
In it's day "the Great Fight" was the sensation of Britain and America, it's contestants
Tom Sayers (Britain) and John C Heenan (America), were national heroes. An epic
reconstruction of an amazing fist-fight in ring history, and a vivid insight into Victorian
sporting life, this portrait of bare-knuckle bruisers, their trainers, backers, families, and
opponents in Law and Church is for those with an interest in boxing or the social
history of Dickensian England.
Lock, Joan.
Marlborough Street: the story of a London Court. 1980. 4v.
Marlborough Street Court was once referred to in "The Times" as 'the most
troublesome court over which a magistrate is called upon to preside'. Its difficult
reputation stemmed largely from the fame, power and influence of those likely to put
in an appearance in or out of the dock.
Maria Hubert.
Jane Austen's Christmas: the festive season in Georgian England. 1996. 2v.
This book describes Christmas in Jane Austen's day. It tells how "Emma" came to be
dedicated to the Prince Regent, and how a prudish country cousin once almost ruined
the Austen family entertainment. There are games and recipes the Austen's would
have enjoyed. Christmas in the later Georgian period is also described by some of
Jane Austen's contemporaries, including Robert Southey, John Clare and Sir Walter
Scott. This book describes Christmas as Jane Austen would have enjoyed it. It tells
how "Emma" came to be dedicated to the Prince Regent, and how a prudish country
cousin once almost ruined the Austen family entertainment. Play the games the
Austen's enjoyed, or try some of the recipes from her own kitchen. Christmas in the
later Georgian period is also described by some of Jane Austen's contemporaries,
including Robert Southey, John Clare and Sir Walter Scott.
Mason, Phil.
Seldom a dull moment: a romp down memory lane. 1999.
At the age of fifty he was made redundant and together with his wife, Mary, started a
small home-based publishing house, which eventually specialised in Christian
humour. From that day forward there was seldom a dull moment.
Matson, John.
Dear Osborne: Queen Victoria's family life in the Isle of Wight. 1978. 3v. UK
Loan only.
No review available.
Matthews, Patrick.
Cannabis culture: a journey through disputed territory. 1999. 5v.
What exactly happens when you get stoned? Why does your mouth dry up and why
do you become so interested in food and sex? Why can some people work when
they're stoned while others cannot? This book sets out to answer all these questions
and more. This text explores the culture of cannabis, and the characters that surround
it. Some view it as the holy herb, the healer of the nations. Others see it as the
deceptive weed that undermined Arab civilisation. For millions of others it's no longer
even controversial: legalised for many patients under American state laws, tolerated
in Holland, and openly planted in the Swiss Alps.
Misiunas, Romuald J.
The Baltic States: years of dependence 1940-1990. 1993. 10v
The independence of the Baltic States ended when Stalin occupied and annexed
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, in 1940. This book describes and analyses how the
Baltic nations survived fifty years of social disruption, language discrimination and
Russian colonialism, and the effect on the Soviet Union of the Baltic States
invincibility's.
Moffat, Alistair.
Arthur and the lost kingdoms. 1999. 6v.
Shattering all existing assumptions about Britain's most famous hero, this book
rewrites the legend of King Arthur, radically relocating Camelot and the sites of his
brilliant victories. The text describes why historians have failed to show convincingly
that King Arthur existed, for a good reason: they have been looking in the wrong
place. The author's conclusions are based not only on archaeology and documents
but also on an analysis of the ancient place-names of the rivers, hills and settlements
of southern Scotland.
Neillands, Robin.
In the combat zone: the history of Special Forces since 1945. 1997. 8v.
The author describes the exploits and changing roles of the SAS and the US Green
Berets, together with special forces in a wider sense, including the Parachute
regiment and Royal Marine Commandos in Britain, the Navy SEALS, Force Recon,
the Rangers and the LRRPs in the USA, as well as Israeli, Italian, German, French,
Australian, and other special force units. The author describes the exploits and
changing roles of the SAS and the US Green Berets, together with special forces in a
wider sense, including the Parachute regiment and Royal Marine Commandos in
Britain, the Navy SEALS, Force Recon, the Rangers and the LRRPs in the USA, as
well as Israeli, Italian, German, French, Australian, and other special force units.
Page, R.I.
Life in Anglo-Saxon England. 1970. 3v.
No review available.
Pavord, Anna.
The Naming of Names. 2005. 10v.
The Naming of Names traces the search for order in the natural world, a search that
for hundreds of years occupied some of the most brilliant minds in Europe. Anna
Pavord takes us on a thrilling adventure into botanical history, travelling from Athens
in the third century BC, through Constantinople, Venice, the medical school at
Salerno to the universities of Pisa and Padua. Gradually, over a long period, plants
assumed identities and acquired names that show how they are related to other
plants. But who began all this work, and how was it done? A compelling insight into a
world full of intrigue and intensely competitive egos.
Pelikan, Jaroslav Jan.
Mary through the centuries: her place in the history of culture. 1996.
The Virgin Mary has been a figure of inspiration to Catholics, Protestants, Jews and
Muslims, artists, musicians, writers, and men and women everywhere. This text
examines how Mary has been depicted and venerated through the ages.
Power, Eileen.
Medieval women. 1975. 2v.
Throughout her career as a medieval historian, Eileen Power was engaged on a book
on women in the Middle Ages. She did not live to write the book but some of the
material she collected found its way into her popular lectures on medieval women.
These lectures are now brought together, edited by M. M. Postan, and reveal the
world in which women lived, were educated, worked, and worshipped. Power gives a
vivid account of the worlds of the lady, the peasant, the townswoman, and the nun.
The result is a historical yet intimate picture of a period gone by yet with resonances
for today.
Prebble, John.
The Highland clearances. 1969. 7v.
In the terrible aftermath of Culloden, the Highlanders suffered at the hands of their
own clan chiefs. John Prebble recounts how the Highlanders were deserted and then
betrayed into famine and poverty. While their chiefs grew rich on meat and wool, the
people died of cholera and starvation or, evicted from the glens to make way for
sheep were forced to emigrate to foreign lands.
Rawding, F.W
The rebellion in India, 1857. 1977. 1v. UK Loan only.
No review available.
Rees, Siân.
The floating brothel: the extraordinary true story of an eighteenth-century ship
and its cargo of female convicts. 2006. 5v.
The bawdy but true tale of 237 women convicts who left England in 1789 on the Lady
Julian bound for Botany Bay. They were destined to provide sexual services and a
breeding bank for the men who were already in New South Wales.
Regan, Geoffrey.
More military blunders. 2004. 4v.
From ancient times military history has been marked as much by misjudgements and
incompetence as by gallantry and glory. Such blunders have sometimes ended in
tragedy, sometimes in farce - and sometimes they have ended in triumph, despite all
the odds. In this fascinating and entertaining collection, author Geoffrey Regan not
only recounts some of the staggering stories, but also highlights the kinds of
difficulties that can lead to military disaster. His anecdotes encompass every aspect
of warfare from friendly fire to meddling politicians and lack of cooperation.
Roberts, J. Aelwyn
North Wales privies = Tai bach Gogledd Cymru. 1998. 2v.
When Aelwyn Roberts set out to research this book little did he realise just how many
Ty bachs or garden loos he would be able to discover. True, some had been
converted into workshops, tool sheds and coal bunkers, but many were still intact:
one, two and even three holers, built to accommodate the entire family.
Roberts, J.M.
The triumph of the west. 1985. 7v.
Today there is widespread scepticism about the achievements of western civilisation.
People doubt the value of its scientific and technological advances and point to their
often equivocal side-effects. Yet western ideas and institutions still exert huge
influence throughout the world. The author traces a number of the continuing strands
running through the West's conceptions of itself and other civilisations, and draws a
picture of the nature of its often flawed and complicated triumph.
Rohl, David M.
Legend: the genesis of civilisation. 1998. 12v.
A sequel to "A Test of Time", this text continues the author's pursuit for historical truth,
and reveals what really happened in seven famous myths and legends, showing us
that the passage of time has not wiped away all the evidence of the reality behind the
legends. This text continues the author's pursuit for historical truth, and reveals what
really happened in seven famous myths and legends, showing us that the passage of
time has not wiped away all the evidence of the reality behind the legends.
Rose, Michael.
Fighting for peace: Bosnia 1994. 1998. 9v.
Known for his role as a commander in the Falklands war, and for directing operations
at the Iranian Embassy siege, General Sir Michael Rose tells the story of his role as
Commander of the UN Protection Force in Bosnia in 1994. Known for his role as a
commander in the Falklands war, and for directing operations at the Iranian Embassy
siege, General Sir Michael Rose tells the story of his role as Commander of the UN
Protection Force in Bosnia in 1994.
Ross, Charles.
The Wars of the Roses: a concise history. 1976. 2v.
Henry V was probably the most able king ever to occupy the English throne. Yet his
legacy to his nine-month-old son on his death in 1422 was one of debt and
lawlessness.
Royle, Trevor.
The best years of their lives: the National Service experience 1945-63. 1986. 8v.
Memories of National Service experiences unite some two million individuals who,
between 1945 and 1963, were forced to abandon their civilian existences and spend
up to two years serving as soldiers, sailors and airmen. Trevor Royle has interviewed
scores of ex-National Servicemen from all over the country and welded their
impressions, their emotions and their anecdotes into a fascinating social history.
Rybot, Doris.
It began before Noah. 1972. 2v.
When was the first animal domesticated? Here, in this short but succinct history, is a
survey of the whole of man's relationship with animals (including early zoos) together
with thought-provoking facts and theories.
Schama, Simon.
Rough crossings: Britain, the slaves and the American Revolution. 2005. 12v.
Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution and its aftermath, the text tells
of the epic struggle for freedom by thousands of slaves who believed that their future
as free men and women was bound up with staying British, not becoming American.
The decision to offer liberty to slaves who defected to the British side began in military
strategy, but it unleashed a great mass movement of Afro-Americans who clung to the
sentimental notion of British freedom even when they knew that the emancipators
were very far from being saints in the matter of slavery.
Simms, Eric.
A natural history of Britain and Ireland. 1979. 7v.
The British Isles may consist of only small fragments of land off the Continent of
Europe, but within their shores lies an extraordinarily wide variety of scenery,
fashioned by the many kinds of rock and soil that are such a feature of our islands.
The author, a well-known naturalist, looks at these differing landscapes, their flora
and fauna, and the changes that have been brought about by the influence of man
both past and present.
Stephens, Trent.
Dark remedy: the impact of thalidomide and its revival as a vital medicine. 2002.
2v.
In this medical detective story, Trent Stephens and Rock Brynner recount the history
of thalidomide, from the epidemic of birth defects in the 1960's to the present day, as
scientists work to create and test an alternative drug that captures thalidomide's
curative properties without its cruel side effects. A parable about compassion - and
the absence of it - "Dark Remedy" is an account of thalidomide's extraordinary impact
on the lives of individuals and nations over half a century.
Tannahill, Reay.
Sex in history. 1980. 10v.
"The purpose of this book is to place the human sex drive and it's social and moral
consequences in their widest historical perspective, taking in the whole panorama of
sexual attitudes, customs, and practices in all the world's major civilizations from
earliest times until the present day. In effect, it is at once a history of sex, a history of
relationships between the sexes, and a history of how sex and sexuality have
influenced the whole course of human development."
Taylor, A.J.P.
English history, 1914-1945. 1965. 21v.
Three decades in the story of England, two World Wars and the social and political
changes during this time.
Thomas, David St John.
The country railway. 1976. 3v.
This text portrays all aspects of the branch and cross-country railway.
Thomas, Hugh.
The Spanish Civil War. 1961. 9v. UK Loan only.
No review available.
Thomson, David.
World history: from 1914 to 1950. 1954. 2v.
No review available.
Thurston, Harry.
Island of the blessed: the secrets of Egypt's everlasting oasis. 2003. 6v.
Harry Thurston follows an international group of archaeologists on an expedition to
uncover the secrets of the everlasting oasis that exists in the middle of the Egyptian
desert. In the excavation process, many ancient objects are found that hint at how
civilization was born in the Egyptian desert.
Tomlinson, William Weaver.
Tomlinson's North Eastern Railway: its rise and development. 1967. 23v.
This was first published in 1914 and was immediately recognised as a standard work.
Its publication did much to raise the quality of railway history as a whole. This edition
has an introduction by K Hoole, the modern authority on the history of the railways of
north-east England. Hoole states that in any work with historical content concerning
the North Eastern Railway the first acknowledgement must always be made to W.W.
Tomlinson's monumental work. This book is still a necessity for anyone interested in
north-eastern England.
Tootle, Harry.
The Moorfield Pit disaster. 1998. 5v
In 1883 an explosion occurred underground in Moorfield Colliery, near Accrington.
Sixty-eight men and lads lost their lives, fifty-three were injured, and ninety-five
children were left fatherless. It remains as the biggest and worst disaster ever to have
hit North-East Lancashire. Tootle, an ex-collier, tells the story of the explosion and its
effect on the affected families.
Ustinov, Peter.
My Russia. 1983. 4v
The noted actor-writer's accounts of his visits to the land of his parents' birth, together
with 120 specially commissioned photographs, provide insight into the amazing
diversity and subtle mysteries of life in the Soviet Union.
Vaizey, John.
The squandered peace: the world 1945-1975. 1983. 12v. UK Loan only.
No review available.
Wakefield, Arthur.
Little boy lost: a search for identity. 1994. 1v.
Arthur Wakefield was born during the early part of the 20th Century and raised at his
grandparents' home in the village of Maesteg in the South Wales valleys. In this book
he pieces together the heart-rending story of his life; his struggle to overcome the
stigma of illegitimacy and to carve out his own identity.
Wilson, A.N.
The Victorians. 2002. 18v.
The author argues that the "global village" is a Victorian village and any of the ideas
we take for granted, for good or ill, originated with these extraordinary, self-confident
people. He considers how the capitalist world came into being because of actual
businessmen, journalists and politicians. And covers the ideas of men such as Karl
Marx and George Bernard Shaw, the lofty and the famous such as Prince Albert and
Disraeli and the poor and obscure from doctors ministering to cholera victims in the
big cities to young women working as models for famous painters.
Wise, Sarah.
The Italian boy: murder and grave-robbery in 1830s London. 2004. 5v.
Towards the end of 1831, the authorities unearthed a series of crimes at Number 3,
Nova Scotia Gardens in East London that appeared to echo the notorious Burke and
Hare killings in Edinburgh three years earlier. After a long investigation, it became
known that a group of body snatchers - two men in particular, John Bishop and
Thomas Williams, called the 'London Burkers' - were supplying the anatomy schools
with fresh 'examples' for dissection. The case became known as 'The Italian Boy'.
Wood, Anthony
Great Britain, 1900-1965. 1978. 8v.
No review available.
Wood, Anthony
Nineteenth century Britain, 1815-1914. 1960. 6v.
No review available.
Wood, Gordon S.
The American Revolution: a history. 2003. 4v.
The noblest ideals and aspirations of the peoples of USA came out of the
Revolutionary era. Brought about when thirteen insignificant colonies of His Britannic
Majesty King George III, three thousand miles from the centres of Western civilization,
fought off British rule to become, in fewer than three decades, a huge, sprawling,
rambunctious republic of nearly four million citizens.
Woodruff, William.
The road to Nab End: an extraordinary Northern childhood. 2002. 6v.
William Woodruff was the son of a weaver, born on a pallet of straw at the back of the
mill and two days later his mother was back at work. Life was extremely tough for the
family in 1920's Blackburn - a treat was sheep's head or cow-heel soup - and got
worse when his father lost his job when the cotton industry started its terminal decline.
Woodruff had to find his childhood fun in the little free time he had available between
his delivery job and school. William Woodruff had the sort of childhood satirised in the
famous Monty Python Yorkshireman sketch. The son of a weaver, he was born on a
pallet of straw at the back of the mill and two days later his mother was back at work.
Life was extremely tough for the family in 1920's Blackburn - a treat was sheep's head
or cow-heel soup - and got worse when his father lost his job when the cotton industry
started its terminal decline. Woodruff had to find his childhood fun in the little free time
he had available between his delivery job and school, but he never writes selfpityingly, leaving the reader to shed the tears on his behalf.
Workman, Bernard Keith.
They saw it happen in classical times: an anthology of eye- witnesses' accounts
of events in the histories of Greece and Rome, 1400 BC - AD 540. 1964. 3v.
Almost all the passages in this anthology (translated by the compiler in vigorous
modern English) were written by men alive during the events they purport to describe.
There are concise notes on each passage, a glossary and two very simplified charts
of the main events and periods in the history of Greece and Rome.