Jagging across north-western Europe like a scar, the Hindenburg Line was Germany's most formidable line of defence in World War I.Its fearsome reputation was matched only by its cunning design, with deep zigzagging trenches, concrete fieldworks, barbed wire and devilish booby traps forming an intimidating barrier for any attacking army.Through meticulous research, this volume explores each of the major portions of the Hindenburg Line, paying particular atte...

Tropical habitats cover over one third of the Earth's terrestrial surface and harbor much of its biodiversity, with many areas rich in endemic species. However, these ecosystems are under significant and growing threat from issues such as deforestation, land degradation and ocean acidification. This introductory textbook provides a comprehensive guide to the major tropical biomes. It is unique in its balanced coverage of both aquatic and terrestrial systems and in its international scope. ...

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Macbeth and Hamlet, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself.Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelli...

In recent years, the conservation of tropical forests has received worldwide publicity whereas effective forest management, particularly for timber extraction, has attracted little attention and gained some notoriety. The overall aim of the present paper was to examine how environmental micro-variation in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve of Belize can influence species distribution and thereby inform management strategy. The paper deals first with the background to forest management in Belize,...

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells ten of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself.This collection includes Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, Henry V, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale and The Tempest.Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, ...

'An empowering read . . . it is refreshing to see somebody celebrate the role that black Britons have played in this island's long and complicated history'DAVID LAMMY, author of Tribes, in 'The best books of 2020', the Guardian'Timely and so important . . . recognition is long overdue . . . I would encourage everyone to buy it!'DAWN BUTLER MPA long-overdue book honouring the remarkable achievements of key Black British individuals ove...

'An empowering read . . . it is refreshing to see somebody celebrate the role that black Britons have played in this island's long and complicated history'DAVID LAMMY, author of Tribes, in 'The best books of 2020', the Guardian'Timely and so important . . . recognition is long overdue . . . I would encourage everyone to buy it!'DAWN BUTLER MPA long-overdue book honouring the remarkable achievements of key Black British individuals ove...

Patrick MacGill enlisted with the London Irish Rifles in 1915 and The Great Push is the resultant work, written during the Battle of Loos. This story recounts the fear, resilience, humour, and fatalism of those who fought at the raw edge of one of the most terrifying wars ever to have been waged.

The groundbreaking autobiographical novel by the renowned Irish journalist, poet, and author of The Great Push and The Rat-Pit.Peopled with extraordinary characters, suffused with humor and yet unflinching in its portrayal of the near slavery of the poor in Scotland and Ireland, Children of the Dead End sold 50,000 copies a year in the 1920s. It was as influential in its own way as the work of social investigators such as Rowntree in bringing about change in British...

The third novel that MacGill published, Moleskin Joe follows the fortunes of the ever-optimistic tramp who falls in love with a young Irish woman through the course of his travels.

The first of the colourful exploits of Jack Crossman, The Devil's Own sees him in the thick of the fighting during the notoriously brutal and bloody Crimean War. In an uneasy nineteenth century alliance with the French and the Turks, the British troops faced the dreaded Cossacks on the battlefield and debilitating diseases such as cholera in their campsites. Sergeant Jack Crossman, referred to by his admiring comrades as 'Fancy Jack', is a tough, shrewd and skilful soldier, part o...

Garry Douglas Kilworth's third Jack Crossman novel finds the man they call 'Fancy Jack' with little time to recover from the horrors of Balaclava. Following the terrible massacre of the Light Brigade, morale is low, supplies are scarce and the Crimean Winter is beginning to take its toll. Determined to capture the Russian port of Sevastopol, the British and French lay siege to the city. The Russians send a huge force to break the siege and the scene is set for the Battle of Inkerman. Jack ...