Pen & Sword Books

Jeremy Bamber enters the White House Farm case as a focal point in a long, contentious fight over truth and guilt.In the early hours of 7 August 1985, 24-year-old Jeremy Bamber claims to have received a chilling phone call from his father.‘Your sister’s gone berserk, and she’s got a gun’When the line went dead, Jeremy called the police.What was eventually discovered inside White House Farm shocked the nation; Nevill and June Bamber, their daughter Sheila, and her twin six-year-old sons, Daniel and Nicholas had all been shot dead with a rifle, and at first sight everything pointed towards Sheila having been the perpetrator of a murder-suicide. Within weeks though, the case took a dramatic turn and in 1986 Jeremy Bamber was convicted of murdering his family and sentenced to life in prison without any chance of release.Despite several failed attempts at appeal, decades on his dedicated team of campaigners continues to work tirelessly to clear his name. But is the evidence they claim to have uncovered cast-iron proof of his innocence, or merely a misinterpretation of the evidence proving his guilt?This compelling book revisits the original investigation, trial, and the sometimes outlandish theories that have kept the case in the public eye since 1985. Jeremy Bamber — Murder and Turmoil at White House Farm examines not just the crime but the complex and ongoing fight surrounding it.

Box of Lions reveals how ordinary admin soldiers held a professional invading force during the Imphal clash, shaping WWII's turning moment.Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Japanese army’s ‘March toward Delhi’ during the Second World War, Box of Lions explores the little-known but extraordinary clash on the Imphal Plain. When Japanese forces targeted a critical British supply depot — codenamed Lion Box — rich in food and military resources they expected little resistance. Instead, they encountered an unlikely and determined defence.Composed not of hardened infantry but of drivers, administrators, sappers and storemen, these so-called ‘admin soldiers’ from Britain, India, Nepal and Africa were suddenly thrust into frontline combat. Over the course of three days of bitter fighting, they held off a professional invading force, buying time for the Allies to evacuate vital stores and shaking the confidence of the Japanese troops.Written by the son of a veteran who fought on the frontline, this gripping account draws on thirty years of research, first-hand interviews — including with Japanese survivors — and multiple journeys to the battlefield itself. Rich in oral history and raw with emotion, Box of Lions brings to life the courage, fear and resilience of ordinary men caught in extraordinary circumstances.

“I appreciated Houlihan 's deep dive into the genre and his insightful thesis and recommend Vietnam on the Big Screen for anyone who loves movies in general and Vietnam War movies in particular.” — The VVA VeteranAmerica, it is said, deals with its trauma through the medium of Hollywood, and few experiences have been more traumatic than its involvement in the Vietnam War. As the last US helicopters fled the American Embassy compound during the fall of Saigon, they left behind a country devastated by twenty years of death and destruction. They were heading back to a country that was damaged in a different way. The America that ended its involvement in Vietnam in 1975 was defeated, humiliated, divided and scarred. It was a bewildering transformation for a nation that considered itself to be on the right side of history. Only a generation earlier, Americans were united in celebrating the bravery of the GIs and Marines who stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima and Normandy. Now they were confronted with an uglier face of war: pointless sacrifice, disillusioned and mutinous soldiers, massacres of innocent civilians and the shooting of unarmed student protestors. For a long time America found it impossible to process the experience, until Hollywood led the way.The movie industry had started out treating Vietnam like an extension of the Second World War. The gung-ho John Wayne action film The Green Berets (made with the full support of the Pentagon) had a simplistic “we’re the good guys” message. However, as American casualties mounted in Vietnam, social unrest erupted and the war’s aims looked ever murkier, the movie studios backed off. After The Green Berets in 1968 no major films were made about the conflict until the controversial and groundbreaking The Deer Hunter a decade later. The subject was deemed too hot to handle, although some brave filmmakers tackled it in roundabout ways (‘Soldier Blue’ was a re-telling of the My Lai massacre, set in the Old West).Eventually, The Deer Hunter ripped off the sticking plaster and let daylight into the American experience in Vietnam. Its depiction of US soldiers as victims, not heroes, caused fights in movie theatres and led to questions in Congress. But it paved the way for the greatest run of war movies ever made. Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and many more rewrote the grammar of combat films and helped a wounded nation come to terms with an unloved war.This is the story of how those films got made, how they were received at the time and how they shaped the American experience of Vietnam. The names behind them are legends in the movie industry, from directors like Francis Ford Coppola, Stanley Kubrick and Michael Cimino to actors including John Wayne, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep.

“… a well-sourced and highly-detailed account.” — Asian Review of BooksSingapore 1942. This is the story of Captain Mohan Singh, 14 Punjab Regiment, the first commander of the Indian National Army (INA) supported by Japan to expel the British from India. Of the soldiers who found it a great attraction or an impossible dilemma. Of the great risk Singh took in breaking with the Japanese when he realised they were not sticking to their promises. Of Subhash Chandra Bose’s tryst with destiny when he was then called to take over the mantle. Of the thousands of INA men who died of sickness & starvation in Burma. Of those who fought bravely when they got a chance. Of how though the INA was a Paper Tiger in battle, it was a Propaganda Lion after the war and hastened independence.It is the story of Lieutenant MM Pillai’s daring escape from Singapore. Of Warrant Officer John Baptist Crasta, one of 17,000 Indian POWs sent to hard labour camps in the Pacific, of whom over 10,000 died. Of the war crimes trials held by the Australians for Japanese atrocities against these POWs where Subedar Chint Singh was a key witness. Finally, it is the story of wives waiting for 5 years with little news of their soldier husband.How the INA was started 18 months before Bose reached and what happened to Indian soldiers when Mohan Singh disbanded the first INA, is a lesser known chapter of Indian and World War II history that deserves more telling. Hazarika’s narrative using their largely unpublished words & interviews with family members, is a gripping story of loyalty, of daring escapes and double crosses, and adversity in captivity. He appeals for more commemoration of these soldiers.

The Pankhurst family’s suffrage mission reshaped British history through persistent courage, personal sacrifice, and transformative political action.With their founding of the suffragette movement and passionate pursuit of votes for women, Emmeline Pankhurst and her three daughters—Christabel, Sylvia and Adela—forever altered the course of British history.This book offers a compelling exploration of their pivotal role in the women’s suffrage movement while uncovering the personal stories behind these trailblazing women. What motivated this post-Victorian middle-class family to risk everything—their reputations, their livelihoods, even their very lives—for the cause of female suffrage?Through an intimate examination of their relationships with one another, as well as with those who inspired and challenged them, this book reveals the love, resentments and ruthlessness that stirred these four women into action.Emmeline and her daughters were far from alone in the fight for suffrage, and the contributions of many of the exceptional women and men who supported them are highlighted here.Nevertheless, it is the Pankhurst’s extraordinary journey that lies at the heart of this story. Above all, this is a look into one remarkable family whose struggles and sacrifices ultimately left a lasting mark on history.

Gentleman Jim Almonds' remarkable career unfolds through perilous missions, shaping covert warfare and enduring leadership across continents.‘Fascinating to read about how the Malayan Scouts became the SAS. It helped fill in gaps for me.’ — **General Sir Peter de la Billiere. KCB, DSO, Mc & Bar, former Director SAS during the Iranian Embassy Siege and Commander-in-Chief of British Forces during the Gulf War**'Gentleman Jim Almonds is a Special Forces hero….and he is one of mine too.' **— Sir Ranulph Fiennes, OBE**'One of the most courageous men who has ever served his monarch and his country.' **— Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, military historian**In 1945, following his death-defying Second World War with 1st SAS, ‘Gentleman Jim’ Almonds still craved active military service and perilous adventuring.After training Emperor Haile Selassie’s Army in Ethiopia, Almonds volunteered as Second-in-Command of a new bandit-hunting outfit in the ‘Wild West’ of Eritrea. On active service in so-called peacetime, killing was a fact of life. But British justice was swift during a race against time to bring widespread terrorism under control in time to implement a United Nations Decision to federate Eritrea with Ethiopia under the Ethiopian Crown.When the SAS reformed for the Malayan Emergency, Almonds volunteered again as Commanding Officer of ‘B’ Squadron, 22nd SAS. Parachuting into the jungle to clear out Communist terrorists, he improvised insertion techniques into the canopy; close quarter combat training; and led torturous marches back to civilisation. This successful British campaign has been largely unsung — until now. In Singapore, Almonds designed and built boats, sailing them with his children — all destined for the Army — in the Straits of Jahore.As a major in the Gold Coast/Ghana, he built without power tools the 32-foot ketch he had designed in an Italian PoW camp. Via the mid-Atlantic, he sailed home to England with no modern steering aids, no health and safety and no radio — but an uncanny sense of direction. His story captures in snapshot detail the many countries he visited during his three-month, 5,000-mile, intercontinental voyage.Set in meticulously researched contexts, the account is fully sourced with an index, maps and glossaries.

The Slapton Sands tragedy unfolds as a long-buried wartime mystery whose final fate of the missing men reshapes our understanding of the Normandy buildup.In April 1944 with the D-Day invasion looming, a convoy of American landing craft sailed along England’s south coast. In the dead of night, German E-boats struck and within minutes, ships were sunk, hundreds of US servicemen were dead, and the Allies had suffered their greatest loss of life in the build-up to the invasion of Normandy. The tragedy was quickly buried under wartime secrecy laws, yet for decades, rumours persisted. Were all the bodies recovered? Or did some of the missing men remain hidden, buried in Dorset fields?Award-winning investigative author Gary Sterne, known for Cover Up at Omaha Beach and Cover Up at Pointe du Hoc, has spent years uncovering hidden truths about the Normandy campaign. A chance meeting with a veteran set him on the trail of the Slapton Sands mystery. Through meticulous research and the discovery of long-forgotten British, American, and German documents, he has pieced together the events of that night in unprecedented detail.For the first time, the fate of every missing man is revealed — their names and what truly happened to them. Acclaimed by historians, this groundbreaking work finally resolves an 80-year-old enigma and shines new light on one of the Second World War’s most tragic and secretive episodes.

Britain’s armaments industry shaped wartime resilience through organized production, workforce shifts, and strategic adaptations.This is the history of Britain’s armaments industry during the Second World War.It begins with the rearmament before the war and shows how a shadow industry was prepared, in response to German aggression. See how industry was organised and programmed, before learning how armaments were researched, designed and developed. The narrative then looks at how enlistment was controlled, how skilled workers were deployed and how manufacturing was diluted, to allow tens of thousands of unemployed men and women to play their part.The story continues with an explanation of the importance of the coal and oil industries, followed by the development of the metal industries. It then looks at the huge amounts of imports and merchant shipping required, as well as the American Lend Lease programme.See how factories equipped the Royal Air Force, so it could fight the Battle of Britain, and reequipped the British Army following the disaster at Dunkirk. Also learn how the shipyards worked around the clock on warships and merchant ships, so the Royal Navy could defend the nation and protect the supply convoys. See how the lessons learnt on the battlefield helped modify early factory designs into practical ones. Learn how the war changed relations between the government, the employers, the unions, and the workforce. See how issues could cause widespread industrial unrest, as the cost of living rose and the rules became stricter. Also learn how the desire to improve production improved health and safety at work, welfare arrangements and developed management and human resources. We also see how the Luftwaffe attempt to cripple British industry with its aerial Blitz.The story ends with a nation being pushed to its limits for a second time in thirty years, before suddenly demobilising, again leaving the British people wondering what the future would hold for them.

From the Spanish perspective, the Armada’s fate reveals a clash of pride, weather, and strategic misjudgment.The image of Sir Francis Drake calmly playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe despite the sighting of the Spanish Armada has been handed down as one of history's great examples of English insouciance. In reality, the English commander knew the wind and the tides precluded the English fleet from putting to sea at that time. It forms part of the story of what is considered one of England's greatest triumphs, but to the Spanish, even today the defeat of Duke of Medina Sidonia’s fleet still sticks in their hearts as probably the most humiliating period in their history.At the mere mention of its name, they are outraged and vehemently affirm that the Armada was defeated by storms and bad weather, and not by the Royal Navy. For the first time in the English language, this pivotal battle is analysed by a Spaniard, drawing on contemporary Spanish accounts and more recent critical histories.The background to the conflict between Philip II and Elizabeth I — the Anglo-Spanish War of 1585 to 1604 — is explained as seen from the Spanish viewpoint and the main characters of the age, such as Álvaro de Bazán, Alexander Farnese and, of course, Drake and Hawkins, are shown in a somewhat different light to that usually presented to British readers.The Spanish Armada From The Spanish Perspective begins with a description of the Spanish navy, its origins and its composition, and an examination of the usual claim that it was, at that time, the finest in the world. The Spanish dominance of the western Mediterranean and of the Atlantic is explained and the great galleons of the era and their capabilities are described. The organization of the Armada, and its composition is detailed, as are the seven fleets into which it was divided. Its ships and commanders are explored, especially its commander-in-chief, the Duke of Medina-Sidonia, a man who had little knowledge of the sea.All this is a prelude to the launching of the Armada and the dramatic voyage to England. The battle or, more precisely, the five battles that took place at Plymouth on 31 July 1588, at Portland Blind on 2 August, the Isle of Wright on 3 and 4 August, and the last battle at Brulotes (Calais) on 7 August form the main focus of the book.Equally intriguing is the account of the gruelling return journey made by the surviving ships from the battles, across the coasts of Scotland and Ireland, where bad weather eventually destroyed many of the ships and of the large number of the sailors who managed to swim ashore who were killed on reaching land. The fate of many of these prisoners is highlighted. The book also lists the main Spanish commanders who died during the battles and the return voyage, individuals such as Juan Martínez de Recalde and Miguel de Oquendo.Finally, the consequences of the campaign are considered from the Spanish viewpoint. Did Spain manage to recover quickly from the terrible losses suffered? Did England take advantage of the weak position in which the Spanish navy was left? Maybe a truly balanced perspective of the defeat of the Spanish Armada can now be realised as, at last, we can also truly see it from the Spanish perspective.

Formed a mere two months after the Bolshevik Revolution, the Cheka, the Soviet Security and Intelligence Agency, was formed to gather intelligence and promote revolution abroad. This organisation underwent a series of transformations over the following decades and achieved some remarkable successes against Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, the USA, and the United Kingdom.Throughout the 1930s, the Soviets pursued their ambition of gaining influence in Eastern Europe. It was a plan that inevitably brought them into conflict with Nazi Germany, against which they began setting up clandestine organisations that were meant to become operational in the event of war.The USA had been of peripheral interest to the Soviets up until the prospect of war loomed ever closer. Then, when it became known that Britain and the USA were exploring the potential of atomic weapons, espionage in the western hemisphere became of paramount importance. Despite their being allies against the Nazis, the Soviets significantly increased spying activity against both nations in an effort to develop their own atomic bomb programme.After the end of the Second World War, a new and ominous threat hung over the world in the guise of the Cold War when the Soviets brought into play their British spy network which became known as the Cambridge Five. These were agents who had been radicalised and recruited during the 1930s and then embedded within the British security services.In Stalin’s Top Spies the author explores five of the Soviet Union’s greatest spies: Leopold Trepper (and the Red Orchestra), Ursula Kuczynski (the Atomic Spy), Richard Sorge (a Soviet agent in Tokyo), Kim Philby (the Cambridge Spy), and Rudolf Abel (a Soviet intelligence officer who was arrested in the USA on charges of espionage in 1957). The book not only reveals their successes and failures, but assessing the extent to which they influenced world events from the Second World War through to the early years of the Cold War. In so doing, it also highlights the failures of the target nations to recognise the threat posed to them and exposes their lack of success in dealing with it.

In 1941, a year after France formally surrendered, Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French forces, appointed Jean Moulin to coordinate the various resistance movements that had sprung up all over France. His mission was to unify the diverse and often fragmented resistance groups into a more cohesive organization. He successfully brought together various resistance factions under the umbrella of the National Council of the Resistance (CNR), which was a crucial step toward creating a united front against both the Nazis and the Vichy French regime.Since the start of the Occupation, the Germans realized that resistance to their rule was inevitable. With this in mind, they went about establishing total control of France, not only through the German Army forces stationed in the country, but using the entire Nazi security apparatus.From 1941 onwards, the Germans began to encounter frequent and increasingly more damaging acts of resistance, which required not only intelligence and counter-intelligence work, but the launching of raids and small operations. The intensity of partisan attacks began to increase even more in 1942. This level of resistance grew even greater in 1943. By then, the partisans were selectively challenging local German garrisons and collaborator forces in the French countryside.By the beginning of 1944, the Resistance, or Maquis as it was also known, became bolder, even establishing so-called Free-French republics in various regions of the country. Employing primary source documents from several archives, author Antonio Muñoz has produced a one-volume study that fully covers the partisan and anti-partisan struggle in France from 1940 through to 1944. Hitler’s War Against the French Resistance, 1940–1944 is a valuable reference source for those who wish to study the guerrilla and anti-guerrilla struggle during the Second World War.

Supergrasses — professional criminals, often armed robbers, who were caught red-handed and willing to turn informer against their fellows in return for a reduced sentence — were a hugely valuable crime fighting asset during the 1970s and ‘80s.But this is the riveting inside story of a supergrass with a difference. Donald Walter Barrett was caught for a serious offence and, having turned supergrass, received a reduced sentence and then, following his release went on to commit more ruthless armed robberies amounting to £1.6 million. The more shocking involved the use of proxy bombs where an explosive device was attached to the victim who was told it would be detonated by remote control if he failed to comply with the robbers’ demands. Using this method, Barrett took an employee of a cash depository and his family hostage overnight, before raiding the depot and stealing £480,000 cash.Following his sensational arrest for a robbery of gold bullion, Barrett became the Metropolitan Police’s one and only double Supergrass. The Author, a much published and respected crime writer, was one of the Met Flying Squad officers who debriefed Barrett.The thrilling book features Barrett’s wide-ranging associates including ‘Bertie’ Smalls and ‘The Wembley Mob’, George Ince (whose lover, Dolly Kray provided an alibi) and a whole assortment of colourful and professional career criminals.

While the military exploits of Pompey the Great are well known to students of Roman history, the impressive deeds of his sons Sextus and Gnaeus are less well known. After the defeat and death of their father in 48 BC, the sons of Pompey carried on the struggle against Julius Caesar in Spain, Africa, and Sicily. In 45 BC the brothers were defeated at the epic battle of Munda, which Caesar rated the hardest-won victory of his career, and Gnaeus was killed. Sextus Pompey, however, escaped and went to Sicily, from where he continued the war against the Caesarian faction for a further ten years. He developed the island as his own private de facto kingdom, a secure naval base that supported his powerful fleet in far-flung operations. Allying himself with Caesar’s assassins, he fought the forces of the Second Triumvirate, not least Caesar’s adoptive son Octavian (the future Emperor Augustus) and his master admiral Agrippa, until finally caught and executed in 35 BC. Lee Fratantuono skilfully narrates the role of the sons of Pompey in these dramatic events: politics, diplomacy and epic battles by land and sea.

With the large number of troops stationed in and around the area and its position as a major industrial city, which focused on armaments production, shipbuilding and heavy engineering, the realities of the war were always prominently felt in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The city played a key role in the nation's war effort, as it was a key port and the nation's major exporter of coal a vital link in keeping the war effort going.The proud tradition of military service in the region was reflected in the huge numbers of Newcastle men and women who came forward to serve in the military or in roles such as nursing. The city was the recruitment centre and driving force for the formation of numerous 'Pals' Battalions and the Northumberland Fusiliers, which raised more battalions than any other regiment during the war.For many of those left behind the war was a time of fear and hardship. This book documents the struggle that many suffering families faced in coping with rising wartime prices, longer working hours, endless worry, wartime policies and severe shortages. These issues are brought to light throughout, with a view to how they affected the people of Newcastle and how, with audacity and courage, Newcastle's citizens overcame them. By the end of the war so many Newcastle men had been killed, and others faced an uncertain future in a shattered post-war economy. Despite this, the workers of Newcastle continued to provide incredible charitable support until the end of the war in addition to their already momentous efforts. These efforts are considered greatly in this enlightening book, which is a testimony to the bravery, self-sacrifice and determination of the people of Newcastle-upon-Tyne during the Great War.

Fear defines action horror games as developers reveal how design choices shape unforgettable, often perilous player experiences.What is the scariest moment in an action horror video game?Is it your first encounter with the xenomorph in Alien: Isolation? The iconic zombie dog jump scare in Resident Evil or the slow trek through Half-Life 2’s Ravenholm?Fear is personal and enigmatic, so how do developers deliver a memorable horror experience?Beyond Fear: Inside Action Horror Games is an intimate collection of exclusive first-hand interviews that dissect the intentional design choices of the genre’s best and most interesting games. It’s a book about success, failure and lasting impact.John Romero examines DOOM’s overlooked horror. Ken Levine wrestles with how his perfectionism led to mistakes in BioShock, and Half-Life’s Marc Laidlaw confronts the prospect of a career unfulfilled. The contrasting fortunes of Aliens: Colonial Marines and Alien: Isolation are charted by those who lived it. Resident Evil Village star Maggie Robertson celebrates Lady Dimitrescu, plus much more.Nick Akerman peels back the skin of action horror games to reveal emotional stories and the decisions that can make or break the people behind them.

Examines lesser-known American Expeditionary Forces battles in the Champagne–Marne region during World War I.Pershing’s aim had always been to fight the Germans with an independent American Army (the AEF, the American Expeditionary Forces) instead of dividing his divisions between the allies. When the Germans launched the first attack of their Spring Offensives on 21 March 1918, he was still far away from the creation of this independent army. During the first three months of 1918 only a few divisions could be considered as available for immediate action. On 26 March 1918 Foch was selected as the Supreme Allied Commander. Two days later, to solve immediate allied manpower problems and to check the German assault, General Pershing temporarily placed all American forces at the disposal of Supremo Foch. It was agreed that the availability of American troops would only last so long as was needed to check the German advance.This book deals with three lesser known battles fought by five divisions of the AEF that took place in the Champagne/Marne Region between the City of Reims and the Argonne Forest. The narrative includes actions of the 2nd, 36th, 42nd, 92nd and the 93rd Divisions. The latter two were made up of African-American troops.The five tours are ideal for visitors who have a few hours to spare coming from or going to the St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Verdun battlefields from one of Paris’s airports. They cover a lesser known area and each tour will not take more than a few hours. The starting points are all situated a little north of the A4, the Paris-Metz motorway. The tours also bridge the gap between the better known Chemin des Dames and Meuse-Argonne battlefields.

A study of ten Victorian women who defied societal norms, advancing feminism and reshaping British history.The Victorian era is often remembered for its rigid gender roles, yet beneath the surface, extraordinary women were challenging societal expectations and paving the way for future generations. Victorian Feminists explores the lives of ten remarkable women who defied convention, fought for their rights, and reshaped history.From Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first female physician and surgeon in Britain, to Emily Wilding Davison, whose ultimate sacrifice became a defining moment in the suffrage movement, these women refused to be confined by the limitations of their time. Christina Rossetti used poetry to challenge gender roles, Beatrix Potter turned her passion for nature into a publishing empire, and Lillie Langtry became the first celebrity to endorse commercial products, redefining women’s influence in the public sphere.Through resilience, intellect, and defiance, these women transformed their world. Victorian Feminists brings their struggles and triumphs to life, proving that the fight for equality did not begin in the 20th century—it was already being waged in the drawing rooms, lecture halls, and streets of Victorian Britain.

The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings mark a turning point in history, revealing unprecedented destructive power and lasting global consequences.At 08.15 hours on 6 August 1945, one of the most seismic events in human history unfolded over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. An atomic bomb, nicknamed Little Boy, exploded about 1,500 feet above the city with a force of 15,000 tons of TNT. Around five square miles of the city were destroyed in seconds and tens of thousands of its citizens and soldiers were killed. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was unleased against Nagasaki with similar devastating results. Less than a week later Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s unconditional surrender, bringing the Second World War to an explosive end.The story of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki begins with the Manhattan Project. From its inception in 1939, the Manhattan Project, which at its height involved more than 125,000 individuals and ultimately cost billions of US dollars, is explored in this book, as is the organization and training of the bomb crews of 393rd Bombardment Squadron of Colonel Paul Tibbets’ 509th Composite Group. For its attacks on Japan, the squadron was equipped with fifteen dazzling silverplate Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, which had been specially adapted to carry nuclear weapons.It is, of course, the dramatic events of 6 and 9 August 1945, which are featured most prominently in this book. Every step of the attacks, from the arming of Enola Gay and Bockscar, which famously carried the two nuclear devices, to their take-off from Runway Able on the tiny island of Tinian, to the flights to the targets and the release of the bombs are revealed. Many are the unmistakable images of the detonation and effects of the two nuclear blasts, portrayed here in graphic contemporary photographs.Portraits of the key individuals are shown, as are the test sites, workshops, aircraft and the weapons themselves to provide a wide-ranging, comprehensive visual study of the steps which led to the first and only deployment of nuclear bombs in warfare.

Amphibious warfare insights from a seasoned executor reveal enduring lessons on conflict, leadership, and strategic risk.Third volume of the critically-acclaimed series stressing maritime trade as the driver of world history, wealth-creation, technologiical inventiveness, art and literature. This book tackles the Maritime Enlightenment, which spurred economic liberalism and humanitarianism, unlike its continental version, breaking free from historic attitudes to slavery and serfdom, contextualising current debates on imperial history. The immediate cause of America’s War of Independence is revealed to be about illegal maritime trade. Jefferson and Madison never understood the latent wealth-creating power of US trade, misdirecting energies for some years. US north-south divisions were exacerbated by trade tariffs more than than slavery. The failure of France’s Revolution and Germany’s 20th-century wars were also failures to appreciate its importance. The post 1945 rise of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China and UAE were directly because of their encouragement of maritime trade and shipping. Britain’s decline was heralded by political indifference then hostility, contrasting with its previous encouragement; its greatest strength. Nick’s chapter on shipping’s efforts to achieve net-zero is a must read for anyone involved in the green debate. Written by someone at the heart of maritime trade since the 1970s, the series is an important counterweight to political history we are usually fed, a different way of thinking about the world, past and present.

Ancient sources reveal Atlantic Celts’ contact and conflict with Rome, shaping northern Europe’s military and frontier history.Dr Raoul McLaughlin presents ancient sources for the Atlantic Celts, providing new, annotated translations of Roman texts. These describe contact and conflict between Rome and the Celtic peoples of Britain and Ireland. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Celtic peoples of northern Europe, or the military and economic development of the Roman frontiers.Roman forces conquered southern Britain in AD 43, establishing a seaboard province facing Gaul and the militarised Rhine frontier. But external threats and mass revolts revealed how easily this condensed province could be eradicated by warfare. Further expansion followed, but the Roman Empire struggled to locate and establish secure northern and western limits to Britannia. Despite large-scale military and political efforts, the Romans never conquered or fully subjugated the Celtic territories on the Atlantic edge of EuropeThis book contains ancient sources ranging from AD 60 and the Boudiccan Revolt, to the disintegration of imperial rule in the AD 400s. Chapters cover ancient Ireland, the Flavian expansion of Roman Britain, the planned Irish conquest and the first Caledonian campaign (AD 77–83). Further ancient evidence reveals the withdrawal and consolidation of imperial frontiers behind barriers such as Hadrian’s Wall, while later texts outline the threat posed by the Picts and ancient Irish. The final chapters cover the Germanic migrations that led to the collapse of Roman Britain and the ethnogenesis of the Anglo-Saxons.