Modern English History

During the peak of the Somali piracy crisis, three ships - from Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan - were hijacked and then abandoned to their fate by their employers, who lacked the money to pay ransoms. All would still be there, were it not for Colonel John Steed, a retired British military attaché, who launched his own private mission to free them. Author Colin Freeman, who has himself spent time held hostage by Somali pirates, takes listeners on an inside track into the world of hostage negotiation and one man’s heroic rescue mission.

From the creation of the first encyclopedia to Wikipedia, from ancient museums to modern kindergarten classes—this is Simon Winchester’s brilliant and all-encompassing look at how humans acquire, retain, and pass on information and data, and how technology continues to change our lives and our minds. Throughout this fascinating tour, Winchester forces us to ponder what rational humans are becoming. What good is all this knowledge if it leads to lack of thought? What is information without wisdom?

Decode the Secrets of China's Global Strategy —Before It's Too Late!China’s growing influence is reshaping global power dynamics—are you ready to figure out China's next moves? China's New Client States? explores the historical foundations and modern applications of China’s foreign policy. From the ancient tributary system to the Belt and Road Initiative, this book reveals how China builds alliances, exerts influence, and challenges Western dominance. This fascinating and insightful book that digs into the historical roots of China's diplomatic strategies, revealing the principles ...

From the moment of her ascension to the throne in 1952 at the age of twenty-five, Queen Elizabeth II has been the object of unparalleled scrutiny. But through the fog of glamour and gossip, how well do we really know the world’s most famous monarch? Drawing on numerous interviews and never-before-revealed documents, acclaimed biographer Sally Bedell Smith pulls back the curtain to show in intimate detail the public and private lives of Queen Elizabeth II.

The trouble with history is that it’s full of famous people. Well … that isn’t real story of history - and history is a story, a story telling of a journey from the distant past through to the present and on in to the future. It is full of turmoil and challenge and sacrifice and struggle and the most incredible, undeniable dynamism. This is the story of the rise of the human race from the very beginniing of human time, to the year 1999. Well, we had to have a cut off date at some point. To be perfectly honest, the list of famous people some may think is history is only a very small ...

A thrilling and revelatory narrative of one of the most epic and consequential periods in 20th century history - the Arab Revolt and the secret “great game” to control the Middle East. Lawrence in Arabia definitively overturns received wisdom on how the modern Middle East was formed. Sweeping in its action, keen in its portraiture, acid in its condemnation of the destruction wrought by European colonial plots, this is a book that brilliantly captures the way in which the folly of the past creates the anguish of the present.

Catherine de Medici's father-in-law, King Francis of France, was the perfect Renaissance knight, the movement's exemplar and its Gallic interpreter. An aesthete, diplomat par excellence, and contemporary of Machiavelli, Francis was the founder of modern France, whose sheer force of will and personality molded his kingdom into the first European superpower. Arguably the man who introduced the Renaissance to France, Francis was also the prototype Frenchman - a national identity was modeled on his character.

This is an extraordinary chronicle of the fifteen years, 1815–1830, that laid the foundations of modern society. It is a history of people, ideas, politics, manners, morals, economics, art, science and technology, diplomacy, business and commerce, literature, and revolution.

In this fascinating work, winner of the Wolfson Prize for History Mark Mazower uncovers the history of the Balkans with detail and clarity. He explores the reasons for current conflicts and examines the Balkans as a religious, cultural, and economic melting pot for Europe and Asia. Through Robert O'Keefe's articulate narration, listeners will be absorbed by this rich world.

In this trailblazing work of revisionist history, Professor Clifton Crais argues that the growth of global capitalism between 1750 and the early 1900s should be seen not as the Anthropocene, but the Mortecene: the Age of Killing. Drawing on years of scholarship and a range of new sources, THE KILLING AGE turns our vision of past and present on its head, illuminating the Mortecene in all its horror: how it has shaped who we are, what we value, what we fear, and the precarious present we inhabit today.

History doesn’t just repeat—it compounds. "Boom, Bust, Repeat: How Financial Disasters Shaped Modern Finance" pulls readers into the high-stakes world of market crashes, shady schemes, and government bailouts that built the financial empires we live with today. From Alexander Hamilton’s first bailout in 1792 to the global tremors of the 2008 financial crisis, Joseph Ejike Ojih delivers a page-turning journey through the chaos that created modern money power. This is not your typical economics book. It reads like a thriller. With shocking tales of fake countries like Poyais, reckless ...

Joseph Seligman arrived in the United States in 1837, with the equivalent of $100 sewn into the lining of his pants. Then came the Lehman brothers, who would open a general store in Montgomery, Alabama. Not far behind were Solomon Loeb and Marcus Goldman, among the “Forty-Eighters” fleeing a Germany that had relegated Jews to an underclass.

Unlock the secrets of two ancient faiths with "Samaritanism and Karaite Judaism: A Journey Through Time." This compelling 2-in-1 volume combines "Samaritanism: A Beginner's Guide" and "Karaite Judaism for Beginners," offering an unparalleled exploration into these fascinating traditions. Dive into the heart of history, belief, and culture with a guide that will captivate your mind and soul. Journey through history: Unveil the origins and evolution of Samaritanism and Karaite Judaism, tracing their unique paths through centuries of change. Understand how these faiths have stood the test of ...

Steven L. Kent has been playing video games since Pong and writing about the industry since the Nintendo Entertainment System. In volume 1 of The Ultimate History of Video Games, he chronicled the industry’s first thirty years. In volume 2, he narrates gaming’s entrance into the twenty-first century, as Nintendo, Sega, Sony, and Microsoft battle to capture the global market.

The History of and Listening to Blues Music is your essential beginner’s guide to exploring one of the most powerful and influential genres in music history. Whether you're curious about the soulful roots of the blues, want to discover iconic artists like Robert Johnson and B.B. King, or are eager to dive into modern blues revival, this comprehensive guide has you covered. Packed with engaging chapters on the origins of the blues, key subgenres like Delta and Chicago blues, essential listening lists, and practical tips on collecting records and attending live shows, this book is perfect ...

Crescent Dawn features some of the legendary figures of the era – from Mehmet the Conqueror, and Suleiman the Magnificent on the Ottoman side, to Charles V and Vasco de Gama on the other – and some of the most exotic locales on Earth – from the sumptuous palaces of Constantinople to the bloody battlefields of the Balkans to the awe-inspiring mountains of Ethiopia. This is a colorful history that brings the great battles of the age to life and clearly shows how the western struggle against the Ottomans constituted the first truly world war.

Ronald Hutton is known for his colorful, provocative, and always exhaustively researched studies on original subjects. This work is no exception: the first full-scale scholarly study of the only religion England has ever given the world, that of modern pagan witchcraft, which has now spread from English shores across four continents. Hutton examines the nature of that religion and its development, and offers a microhistory of attitudes to paganism, witchcraft, and magic in British society since 1800.

At the age of 16, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, Cixi was chosen as one of the emperor's numerous concubines. When he died in 1861, their five-year-old son succeeded to the throne. Cixi at once launched a palace coup against the regents appointed by her husband and made herself the real ruler of China - behind the throne, literally, with a silk screen separating her from her officials who were all male.

The New York Times best-selling author traces the development of technology from the Industrial Age to the Digital Age to explore the single component crucial to advancement - precision - in a superb history that is both an homage and a warning for our future.

Embark on a Journey to the New 7 Wonders of the World Without Leaving Your Seat—or Start Planning the Adventure of a Lifetime! Are you craving inspiration for your next adventure? Do you dream of exploring breathtaking places steeped in history and wonder? Whether you’re a passionate traveler or an armchair explorer, this book is your ultimate guide to the world’s most remarkable destinations. From the timeless majesty of the Taj Mahal to the awe-inspiring heights of Machu Picchu, this book takes you on a journey to Explore the New 7 Wonders of the World. Through vivid storytelling, ...