London owes its origins to being a suitable site for settlement close to what was then the lowest bridging point of the Thames. There have been many factors that have caused it to become such a vast, diverse and dynamic organism. Transport and the railways in particular have played a vital part in making London what it is today. This book does not pretend to be a chronological or comprehensive history of the railways of London because this has been done elsewhere. Instead this book acts as...

The Making of London explores the rich history of the Metropolis from the Roman settlement established 2,000 years ago in the area that came to be known as the 'Square Mile' and traces the process whereby it eventually emerged as the world's greatest city. London became the capital and seat of government of Britain, a center of culture, entertainment and retailing, a major port and industrial center and world leader in international trade, commerce and finance. The focus is largely on cent...

The General Strike was one of the most significant events in twentieth century Britain. The miners were locked out and the mass of rank-and-file trade unionists then came out on strike in their support. With their families and some middle-class sympathizers, the miners and the labor and trade union movement found itself pitched against the political establishment, the apparatus of the state, the powerful mineowners backed by the Conservative Government and most of the media of the time in ...

Explores how London's railways transformed the city into a global hub, impacting everything from suburbia to crime and culture.London has always been a major transport hub. Indeed, it owes its origins to being the location in ancient times of what was then the lowest bridging point of the River Thames. From the 1830s to 1914 it became the focal point of Britain's railway system. In that time a railway network of extraordinary complexity developed, serving the needs...

The railways changed the world. They initiated a revolution in communications which continues to this day, ever more profoundly influencing our lives. They had an enormous economic and social impact in Britain, not least with its demography. Before 1914 places on the railway system felt they were connected to the wider world. Those left off the system often feared for their future. It was never actually as simple as that. Some places well served by railways prospered, other did not. Some w...

London's pubs and other drinking places, just like its people, its history, traditions and institutions, are fascinating and extraordinarily diverse. This book provides a readable introduction to aspects of the role they have played in the history of the metropolis. What were the differences between taverns and alehouses? What was a 'gin palace'? Where do coffee-houses fit into London's liquid history? Have any of London's great coaching inns survived? Who was 'Polly' and why did she draw ...

A gritty and thrilling anthology of 28 new short stories in tribute to pulp noir master, Cornell Woolrich, author of 'Rear Window', the inspiration behind Alfred Hitchock's classic film.Featuring Neil Gaiman, Kim Newman, James Sallis, A.K. Benedict, USA Today-bestseller Samantha Lee Howe, Joe R. Lansdale and many more.An anthology of exclusive new short stories in tribute to the master of pulp era crime writing, Cornell Woolrich. Woolrich, also published as William Irish and ...

A succinct, uncompromising study of what it means to help other people, this book, first published in 1978, examines the helping process in the light of the principles of Zen Buddhism. Emphasizing the Zen precepts of true compassion, newness and Taoistic change, it explains how a helper can break down the artificial barriers that serve to separate people and hinder the helping process. As the teachings of Zen demonstrate, real compassion involves a selflessness and respect that can bring h...

An insider's look at the grueling three-month training program that produces the world's deadliest snipers.As a SEAL sniper and combat veteran, Brandon Webb was tapped to revamp the US Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) Scout/Sniper School. Incorporating the latest advances in technology and ballistics software, he created an entirely new course that continues to test the skills and even the best warriors. In this revealing new book, Webb takes readers through every aspec...

Tyburn Fields is the best known site of execution in London, but London may be aptly named the executioner's city, so many were the places where executions could and did occur.London:The Executioner's City reveals the capital as a place where the bodies of criminals defined the boundaries of the city and heads on poles greeted patrons on London Bridge. The ubiquity of crime and punishment was taken for granted by countless generations of the capital's inha...

We have all seen the hilarious depiction of Mrs Miggins' coffee shop in "Blackadder", but what was it really like in the first cafes, as coffee drinking became more popular? What else did the shops sell? How did coffee shop life influence politics, the media and everyday life?

This biography examines the life and career of the conservative politician who led the charge to reshape British Railways in the mid-twentieth century.Ernest Marples was one of the most influential and controversial British politicians of the mid-twentieth century. As the Minister of Transport (1959–1964) he appointed Dr. Beeching chairman of British Railways and commissioned him to produce his infamous "Beeching Report". Earlier, as Postmaster General (1957–1959), ...