A groundbreaking history and guidebook uncovering the prehistoric landscape, people, and creatures of the Thames Valley before London existed.Despite the vast amount of work written and published about London, there has never before been a full-length book covering the history of that part of the Thames Valley before the arrival of the Romans.Beginning in the Cretaceous Era, which ended 66 million years ago, Prehistoric London examines the geology of this p...

Discover the secrets of Roman London with this invaluable and lavishly illustrated travel companion that blends history and self-guided walks to explore all visible Roman remains throughout Greater London. Much more than a simple guidebook, Exploring Roman London is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the early history of England's capital city. In addition to containing information on every site in London where Roman remains can be seen, the history of the foundation of the ci...

The Reverend Jonas Faulkner, pastor of the First Claremont Presbyterian Church in Texas, is a man with a secret: in his younger days he was a notorious gunman, involved in a horrific massacre causing the deaths of many children. So, when a party of young girls travelling to an orphanage in Claremont, is seized by a Kiowa raiding party, Pastor Faulkner knows he must act. Seeking redemption for his violent past, the elderly clergyman is still a force to be reckoned with, and he's prepared to...

Is it true that the trans-Atlantic slave trade, about which so much has been heard in recent years, would have been impossible without the willing and enthusiastic cooperation of African leaders? Slavery was a common practice in Africa long before the arrival of Europeans, with the trade in black slaves, who were transported from Africa to America and the islands of the Caribbean, aided by the African traders who benefited from the arrangement. Even when Europe and America outlawed slavery...

"A solid introduction and useful survey of slaving activity by the Muslims of North Africa over the course of several centuries." — ChroniclesEverybody knows about the transatlantic slave trade, which saw black Africans snatched from their homes, taken across the Atlantic Ocean and then sold into slavery. However, a century before Britain became involved in this terrible business, whole villages and towns in England, Ireland, Italy, Spain and other European...

"Fascinating and enlightening . . . Historical true crime books can often fall victim to being very dry . . . [This book], however, is quite the opposite" ( Crime Traveler).Despite the Victorian period's reputation for stability and social order, there was plenty of civil disorder during this time—violent crime and terrorism were considerably worse than they are today. This book recounts a time when citizens faced problems eerily similar to those with whic...

This revealing history explores Britain's use of concentration camps from the Boer War to WWII and the Troubles in Northern Ireland.The term concentration camp will forever be associated with the horrors of Nazi Germany. But the British were the true driving force behind the development of these notorious facilities. During the Boer War, British concentration camps caused the deaths of tens of thousands of children from starvation and disease. In the years after Wor...

The little-known true story of rioting and rebellion among British veterans and workers after the end of World War I.On the August Bank Holiday of 1919, the government in London dispatched warships to the northern city of Liverpool in an overwhelming show of force. Thousands of troops, backed by tanks, had been trying without success to suppress disorder on the streets.Earlier that year in London, a thousand soldiers had marched on Downing Street before bei...

"Webb takes what we know about these magical beings via pop culture and explores their origins and how their respective images have changed over time." — The PortalistThis book tells the fascinating story of the origin of our ideas about wizards, witches, and fairies. We all have a clear mental image of the pointed hats worn by such individuals, which are based upon actual headgear dating back 3,000 years to the Bronze Age. Carefully sifting through old le...

"Simon Webb's eminently readable book may draw gasps of horror, disbelief, or disdain . . . a mind-blowing and fascinating journey through history." — On: Yorkshire MagazineAll nations and peoples have a body of legendary tales and semi-historical episodes which explain who they are and help to define their place in the world. The British are no exception, and in this book, Simon Webb explores some of the most well-known episodes from British history; stor...

A look at the leader and members of the militant Women's Social and Political Union and their contribution to the rise of fascism during the 1930s.Emmeline Pankhurst is seen today as a valiant champion of democracy, but in the 1930s certain prominent former suffragettes were comparing her to Hitler and Mussolini. It was suggested that Mrs. Pankhurst and her Women's Social and Political Union could be viewed as a proto-fascist movement; an idea likely to strike the m...

A look at the surprising nineteenth-century technology that inspires this literary and cultural movement: "I was very impressed by this book." — SF CrowsnestIn recent decades, steampunk has grown from a rather obscure subgenre of science fiction into a striking and distinctive style of fashion, art, design, and even music. It is in the written word, however, that steampunk has its roots—and in this book Simon Webb explores and examines th...