It is more than curious, it is wonderful, to observe how many sieges will be found in this volume, whose fate has been decided by means with which the art of war, as taught in the schools, had nothing to do; and it is always the captain of the greatest genius who seizes upon every unforeseen discovery, any extraordinary accident, any suddenly-perceived natural advantage, to defeat the best-concerted and most scientific plans of his adversary: in one instance the fortune of an assault is ch...

First Published in 1960, Nationalized Industry and Public Ownership is concerned with the state of nationalized industries in Britain in the context of the wider sphere of public enterprise in the world. It critically examines themes like the motives and background of nationalization; the state of public corporation in Britain; public utilities as monopoly; parliamentary debates and questions regarding government control; the idea of public accountability; the status of consumers’...

First Published in 1931, The Development of Local Government presents a comprehensive account of the most important questions related to various aspects of local government. William A. Robson gives us an illuminating history and survey of facts about crucial themes like the municipal structure; the function of local authorities; public health administration; the danger of centralization; conflict of town and country; expansion of cities; need for reconstruction; cultural aspects o...

First Published in 1967, Politics and Government at Home and Abroad presents William A. Robson’s penetrating observations on the basic requirements of democratic politics and government. Divided into two parts the essays cover a wide field. Part I deals with the fundamental questions of political thought such as relation between freedom, equality, and socialism; education and democracy, and the basic issues of practical government like reform of the British government; and the fut...

First Published in 1924, The Relation of Wealth to Welfare examines certain definite and fundamental elements of human welfare and their relation to private income on the one hand and various kinds of collective action on the other. The four elements discussed in the book are health, art, work, and education. The author argues that the power of private income to increase the welfare of its possessor in regard to the various elements under examination is as a matter of fact frequen...

Originally published in 1976, Welfare State and Welfare Society breaks away from the prevailing notion that the welfare state is mainly concerned with the well-being of the entire nation. The book distinguishes the welfare state from the welfare society, and shows that there is often a yawning gulf between public policy and how people feel, think and behave. The book examines critically, the policies which have been adopted or advocated as relevant to a welfare state, and inquires...

"A Mão que Não Solta" não é uma autobiografia. É um livro de memórias — fragmentos de uma vida marcada por acidentes, recomeços e encontros inesperados com a fé. Entre o menino que descobriu o medo na escuridão de uma casa antiga, o jovem que buscava sentido em meio às quedas e o homem que encontrou na música e na esperança um refúgio, cada lembrança se ergue como um marco. São recordações que misturam dor e superação, humor e silêncio, lágrimas e canções. Não seguem uma linha reta, porque...

WHAT IF……A frightening new reality has just come on the scene of America?A reality so abhorrent and unexpected is actually happening on a Global Scale?What if an “oh-so-close reality” series of events began to occur where an organization of “True Believers” consisting of scientists, medical professionals, and computer engineers came together to hatch an insidious plan. That plan, and the weapon they unleash, will pr...

In "The Great Sieges of History," William Robson meticulously examines some of the most pivotal sieges that shaped the course of human events. With a commanding narrative style, Robson interweaves detailed historical analysis with vivid storytelling, bringing to life the strategic complexities and human dramas of conflicts such as the Siege of Troy, the Siege of Vicksburg, and the Siege of Leningrad. The book stands out not only for its comprehensive research and scholarly rigor but also f...

The history of Jerusalem is very obscure. No city in the world has enjoyed so much veneration as well as attention as Jerusalem, and yet no city has been subjected to more violence. Almost held in as much reverence by the Mahometans as the Christians, the possession of the Holy City was equally a devotional object as a territorial one, with the followers of both creeds. Jerusalem has been besieged more than twelve times, and, as in such contests, religion only seems to embitter en...

Everything that exists has its origin in the past. It is therefore quite essential, before touching upon the events of any remarkable man's life, that we should take a retrospective glance at the circumstances in which his career originated.I purpose, then, to give here a rapid preliminary sketch of the prominent events that occurred in Italy, and especially in Piedmont —Garibaldi's native soil— between the years 1820 and 1834, before introducing him to the reader to tell his story...

One of the great objects of history is to form character by placing acts of patriotic devotion or private virtue in the most attractive light...From the way in which what is called Rome, as a nation, was got together, it was naturally in a constant state of warfare. The spirit in which it was founded pervaded and ruled over it to its fall: it was at all times a nation of the sword; and when that sword was blunted by having conquered the known world, its conquests all crumbled away:...