History Press: 2525 books

After the Dunkirk debacle in May 1940 Britain's primary weapon of defense was her air force. The exploits of the RAF’s bomber crews and fighter pilots featured almost nightly on the radio and in the cinema newreels; the men themselves were the objects of great admiration and respect. Yet, how many...

In the closing months of World War II, General Eisenhower exhorted the Western Allied forces to redouble their efforts to break the German will to resist. In considering this appeal, General Gubbins, whose Special Operations Executive was making a significant contribution to the liberation of occupied...

Female spies are often the stuff of legend and myth. Here, for the first time, Beryl Escott tells the true story of the incredible 40 women who worked for Britain's Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. These women came from a variety of backgrounds, from Gillian Gerson a Chilean...

A revealing biography of Edward Yeo-Thomas GC, the man who inspired Ian Fleming's James BondEdward Yeo-Thomas GC was one of the bravest of the brave. A fluent French-speaker, he joined SOE and was parachuted into occupied France three times to work with the Resistance. Appalled by the lack of help...

This is the riveting story of Noor Inayat Khan, the descendant of an Indian Prince Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore, who became a British secret agent for SOE during World War II. Born into an illustrious Indian family in 1914 and brought up in the non-violent Sufi religion, Noor seemed an unlikely...

Recreating the turbulent life of one of the most exciting women in European medieval history, this biography reveals a peculiarly "modern" queen Eleanor of Aquitaine was the only person ever to sit on the thrones of both France and England. This account of the adventures of the extraordinary...

Before his death in 1216, King John's desperate exploitation of his subjects for ever more money had turned him into the mythical monster of Hollywood legend. In contrast to his brother Richard, he appeared incompetent in battle, failing to defend Normandy (1202–04), and was unsuccessful in recovering...

Reveals the dark side of England's most celebrated monarchWhen people think of Richard the Lionheart they recall the scene at the end of every Robin Hood epic when he returns from the crusade to punish his treacherous brother John and the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham. In reality Richard detested England...

Henry III (1207-1272) reigned for 56 years, the longest-serving English monarch until the modern era. Admired for his building projects like Westminster Abbey, he is dismissed by scholars as weak and inept. This biography shows that he was in fact a more than capable ruler. Crowned as a boy, scarred...

The story of a man who survived Treblinka, to be haunted by his memories for 50 years—and ultimately, to be killed by them More than 800,000 people entered Treblinka and fewer than 70 came out. Hershl Sperling was one of them. He escaped. Why then, 50 years later, did he jump to his death from a...

Drawing on a wide range of contemporary sources, this biography examines the complex personality of Germany's last emperor. Born in 1859, the eldest grandchild of Queen Victoria, Prince Wilhelm was torn between two cultures - that of the Prussian Junker and that of the English liberal gentleman.

How the Victorians struggled to overcome diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and scarlet fever in their cities This is the fascinating story of how a small group of dedicated individuals fought opposition from politicians, taxpayers, and often their own colleagues to overcome disease in overwhelming...

In this book, acclaimed biographer Raymond Lamont-Brown casts light on a previously overlooked aspect of the monarchy. From the instigation of the royal doctor in medieval times, to the present day, the tales of secrets, murder, medical incompetence, and revolutionary operations revealed in this book...

Frank Hague served as the mayor of Jersey City for much of the early twentieth century. While some believed him a thief, others viewed him as a modern-day Robin Hood. He could put food on your table or triple your taxes, give you a job or end your career. It was with this same ease and power that he...