An authoritative life of Harold II, the king who died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066Harold Godwinson is renowned as the king who lost England to the invading William the Conqueror in 1066. Infamous legends, invented by the Victorians, surround his life, corrupting our idea of him. But who was the real Harold II?In this major new biography, Tom Licence reveals the truth behind the nineteenth-century myths. Moving from Harold’s childhood and his adventures...

The people who lived in England before the First World War now inhabit a realm of yellow photographs. Theirs is a world fast fading from ours, yet they do not appear overly distant. Many of us can remember them as being much like ourselves. Nor is it too late for us to encounter them so intimately that we might catch ourselves worrying that we have invaded their privacy. Digging up their refuse is like peeping through the keyhole. How far off are our grandparents in reality when we can sni...

An authoritative life of Edward the Confessor, the monarch whose death sparked the invasion of 1066"In putting flesh back on Edward’s bones Licence has brought a new succession story to popular attention."—Leanda de Lisle, The Times“This fine biography of Edward the Confessor is both entertaining and elegiac.”—Nicholas Vincent, The TabletOne of the last kings of An...

Aelred (1110–1167) served Rievaulx Abbey, the second Cistercian monastery in England, for twenty years as abbot. During his abbacy he wrote thirteen treatises, some offering spiritual guidance and others seeking to advise King Henry II. He also wrote thirty-one sermons as a commentary on Isaiah 13–16 and 182 surviving liturgical sermons, mostly addressed to his monks.This volume contains the second half of Aelred's ninety-eight liturgical sermons from the Reading-Cluny collection, ...

Why did the flushing toilet take two centuries to catch on? Why did Samuel Pepys never give his mistresses an orgasm? Why did medieval people sleep sitting up? When were the two 'dirty centuries'? Why did gas lighting cause Victorian ladies to faint? Why, for centuries, did people fear fruit?All these questions - and more - are answered in this juicy, truly intimate history of the home.Through the bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen, Lucy Worsley explores what people...

This is a collection of Calvin's Commentaries -- a large collection, about four times the size of a typical novel. According to Wikipedia: "John Calvin (né Jean Cauvin; 10 July 1509 27 May 1564) was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he suddenly converted and broke from the Roman Catholic Church in the ...

TRAVEL BACK IN TIME WITH THE BBC'S RUTH GOODMANWe know what life was like for Victoria and Albert. But what was it like for a commoner - like you or me?How did it feel to cook with coal and wash with tea leaves?Drink beer for breakfast and clean your teeth with cuttlefish?Catch the omnibus to work and do the laundry in your corset?How to be a Victorian is a radical new approach to history; a journey b...

Writing to a Roman layman and enquiring Christian named Lawrence in AD 421, Augustine intended The Handbook: A Guide on Faith, Hope, and Love as a guide for catechesis and spiritual development. In this strikingly concise book, he breaks down Christian life to its most basic elements–faith, hope, and love–and by examining these central commitments he provides one of the most accessible and direct introductions to Christianity and to his thought.The Handbook

What were early kitchens like? How have they evolved over time? What factors have influenced their design? David Eveleigh takes you into the heart of the home and shows us why modern kitchens are the way they are. Everything you could wish to know about kitchens and their unusual history will be found with these pages.

Test your knowledge of the catholic faith and see how many questions you can answer.Lots of quiz questions to help you understand and learn about the Catholic faith or to refresh your memory.A section has been included on reference lists for Catholics. Some may be familiar, even obvious to you such as the 10 Commandments or the Stations of the Cross. Other may not and they will help you to answer the following questions:How many Choirs of Angels are there? Can you l...

This excellent pocket catechism provides a wealth of detailed guidance on, and explanation of, the Catholic faith. It explains Faith in God and the Apostle's Creed, Hope and Christian Prayer, Charity as lived out in the Ten Commandments and other guidance of the Church. It also explains the Seven Sacraments, identifies the Christian virtues and their corresponding vices, and sets out the Christian's Rule of Life and Daily Exercise. It also contains a section of common everyday prayers.

In 1558 John Calvin held a prominent position of leadership in the Reform movement. He had written prolifically and his works had been widely circulated-and critiqued. It was at this time that he penned an answer to a critique of his position on divine providence, as articulated in the 1546 edition of the Institutes. His polemical defense of his beliefs, The Secret Providence of God, reflects the boisterous, argumentative tone of the Reformation era and is Calvin's fullest treatme...