In the sweltering summer of 1858 the stink of sewage from the polluted Thames was so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons. Sewage generated by a popul
This volume gives an account of the women both behind the scenes and at the forefront of 16th-century English history, including Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, and Henry VIII's six wiv
This is an account of the Great Irish Potato Famine of the late 1840s, a famine which resulted in the death of about one million people and was also largely responsible, in conjunction with British go
This biography contains original contributions from more than 30 actors and actresses including, Sir Ian McKellen, Ronnie Corbett, Ian Carmichael, Derek Fowlds, John Standing, George Cole, Stephen Fr
In an age when building developments seem to be advancing on every small plot of unspoiled countryside, it seems hard to imagine times when well-established settlements were declining and dying. Such
This study brings together numerous murderous tales that shocked not only the city but also made national headlines. Contained within the pages of this book are the stories behind some of the most he
This intriguing volume looks at the early sources describing Arthur's career and compares them to the reality of Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries. It presents the most up-to-date scholarship and a
The lives of Tsars Alexander II and Alexander III have, until now, received little attention. But their reigns set in train the events which would culminate in the destruction of the Romanov dynasty
This introduction to methods of excavation describes a technique that is essential in archaeology. It is aimed at professional and amateur archaeologists, at students at all levels and at anyone who
There have been more prisons in London than in any other European city. Of these, Newgate was the largest, most notorious, and worst. Built during the 12th century, it became a legendary place—
Robin Hood, whether riding through the glen, robbing the rich to pay the poor or giving the Sheriff of Nottingham his come-uppance, is one of the most captivating and controversial legendary figures.
As the world's first - and only - supersonic passenger transport aircraft, the Anglo-French Concorde has never been out of the news. From its maiden flight in 1969 until its retirement from airline se
Over four days at the beginning of September AD 9, half of Rome's Western army was ambushed in a German forest and annihilated. Three legions, three cavalry units and six auxiliary regiments—so
From the early nineteenth century, Imperial Russian expansion threatened the increasing British dominance of India. In the 1860s, Captain Thomas Montgomerie hit on the idea of training natives from I
Attempts to find the person (if any) behind the legend of King Arthur have been going on for a long time. The search has revealed many interesting facts and it has also led to sharp disagreements. By
Few RAF pilots flew operationally from the beginning to the end of the Second World War. Fewer still can claim to have taken part in the Battle of France, Battle of Britain, El Alamein, and the D-Day
Following the suppression of the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916, the British Army Court-martialled almost 200 prisoners. Around ninety of them received death sentences, but the death penalty was conf
At the outbreak of war, the government short-sightedly allowed thousands of miners to enlist in the armed services. By 1943 the war effort was in danger of grinding to a halt because of a lack of coa
Here is a survivor's vivid account of the greatest maritime disaster in history. The information contained in Gracie's account is available from no other source. He provides details of those final mo
The Boeing 747, more commonly known as the Jumbo Jet, is probably the most recognized of all modern airliners, and for many years it was the largest passenger airliner in service.In this study
