In John of Brienne: King of Jerusalem and Emperor of Constantinople, James Turner offers an in-depth exploration of one of the medieval world's most intriguing yet underappreciated figures. John of Brienne, who ascended from a relatively modest French aristocratic background, secured not one but two of the era's most prestigious crowns: King of Jerusalem and Emperor of Constantinople. Through a blend of personal ambition, strategic marriages, and opportune alliances, John navigate...

A biography of Harald Hardrada tracing his exile, mercenary exploits, and rise to power as Norway’s Last Viking.A wounded and teenaged Harald Hardrada fled Norway in 1030 following the death of his half-brother King Olaf II at the Battle of Stiklestad. He would return home decades later as a battle-hardened mercenary commander, weighted down with plunder acquired from wars fought across the Mediterranean. Harald’s transition from exiled semi-royal to a famed advent...

A prehistory of today's humanities, from ancient Greece to the early twentieth centuryMany today do not recognize the word, but "philology" was for centuries nearly synonymous with humanistic intellectual life, encompassing not only the study of Greek and Roman literature and the Bible but also all other studies of language and literature, as well as history, culture, art, and more. In short, philology was the queen of the human sciences. How did it become little m...

"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."--H. P. LOVECRAFT, "Supernatural Horror in Literature"Howard Phillips Lovecraft forever changed the face of horror, fantasy, and science fiction with a remarkable series of stories as influential as the works of Poe, Tolkien, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. His chilling mythology established a gateway between the known universe and an ancient dimension of otherwo...

The just war tradition is central to the practice of international relations, in questions of war, peace, and the conduct of war in the contemporary world, but surprisingly few scholars have questioned the authority of the tradition as a source of moral guidance for modern statecraft. Just War: Authority, Tradition, and Practice brings together many of the most important contemporary writers on just war to consider questions of authority surrounding the just war tradition.Authority...

The forest hums with ancient secrets. The village of Sheil stands in their path.When an eerie, bone-deep drone drifts from the shadowed Veylan Forest, the villagers of Sheil dismiss it with nervous laughter, until the screaming begins.Captain Balian and a ragtag force of soldiers barely hold the village together as monstrous beasts with elongated faces and antlers descend in waves, tearing through wood and flesh alike. The creatures, known only through whispered le...

On a remote island battered by wind and silence, Colin tends his lighthouse, a solitary life carved from salt and stone. But everything changes when the sea delivers a stranger to his shores: Nasia, a woman with no past she can trust and scars deeper than memory.As they fight for survival against the island's ancient horrors, creatures born from the earth's broken heart, Colin and Nasia forge an unlikely bond, one stronger than the fear that hunts them. Together, they unearth burie...

Embark on an adventure that will test the limits of survival and unravel the enigmatic tales of those who seek solace in the heart of the untamed. In "Savannah Solstice," a diverse group gathers at Umphlati Lodge, their lives intertwining against the backdrop of a vast wilderness teeming with secrets.Lauren, a woman with a warm smile but hidden longing, draws the attention of fellow adventurer Michael and ex-soldier Eben. As bonds form, they find themselves entangled in a web of pe...

The many storied monarchs of twelfth century England lived, fought, loved, and died surrounded by their illegitimate relatives. While their many contributions have too often been overlooked, these illegitimate sons, daughters and siblings occupied crucial positions within the edifice of royal authority, serving their legitimate relatives as proxies and lieutenants. In addition to occupying roles and offices at the center of royal administration, Anglo-Norman and Angevin royal bastards, exi...

Sovereignty generally refers to a particular national territory, the inviolability of the nation’s borders, and the right of that nation to protect its borders and ensure internal stability. From the Middle Ages until well into the Modern Period, however, another concept of sovereignty held sway: responsibility for the common good. James Turner Johnson argues that these two conceptions—sovereignty as self-defense and sovereignty as acting on behalf of the common good—are in conflict and su...

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have focused new attention on a perennial problem: how to end wars well. What ethical considerations should guide war’s settlement and its aftermath? In cases of protracted conflicts, recurring war, failed or failing states, or genocide and war crimes, is there a framework for establishing an enduring peace that is pragmatic and moral?Ethics Beyond War’s End provides answers to these questions from the just war tradition. Just war thinking engages t...

First published in 1832, this is a detailed treatise on farriery, with a particular focus on the nature, origin and symptoms of navicular joint lameness. Written by a member of the Royal Veterinary College and accomplished army surgeon, it goes into great detail of preventative and curative treatment, as well as offering practical tips to horse shoeing. Contents include: "Manuscript Transmitted to the Veterinary College in 1816", "Navicular Joint Disease Unknown as the General Seat of Chro...