The story of the medieval world’s most extraordinary organisations, the Assassins and the TemplarsThe Assassins and the Templars are two of history’s most legendary groups. One was a Shi’ite religious sect, the other a Christian military order created to defend the Holy Land. Violently opposed, they had vastly different reputations, followings, and ambitions. Yet they developed strikingly similar strategies—and their intertwined stories have, oddly enough, uncanny ...

A major history of the Crusades that illuminates the strength and sophistication of the Western and Muslim armies.During the Crusades, the Western and Muslim armies developed various highly sophisticated strategies of both attack and defense, which evolved during the course of the battles. In this ambitious new work, Steve Tibble draws on a wide range of Muslim texts and archaeological evidence as well as more commonly cited Western sources to analyze the respective...

A gripping account of the Knights Templar, challenging received wisdom to show how these devout medieval knights played a profound role in making modern BritainThe Knights Templar have an enduring reputation—but not one they would recognize. Originally established in the twelfth century to protect pilgrims, the Order is remembered today for heresy, fanaticism, and even satanism.In this bold new interpretation, Steve Tibble sets out to correct the record. Th...

A vivid new history of the criminal underworld in the medieval Holy LandThe religious wars of the crusades are renowned for their military engagements. But the period was witness to brutality beyond the battlefield. More so than any other medieval war zone, the Holy Land was rife with unprecedented levels of criminality and violence.In the first history of its kind, Steve Tibble explores the criminal underbelly of the crusades. From gangsters and bandits to...

A new look at the crusaders, which shows how they pursued long-term plans and clear strategic goalsMedieval states, and particularly crusader societies, often have been considered brutish and culturally isolated. It seems unlikely that they could develop “strategy” in any meaningful sense. However, the crusaders were actually highly organized in their thinking and their decision making was rarely random.In this lively account, Steve Tibble draws on a rich a...

A gripping account of the Knights Templar, challenging received wisdom to show how these devout medieval knights played a profound role in making modern BritainThe Knights Templar have an enduring reputation—but not one they would recognize. Originally established in the twelfth century to protect pilgrims, the Order is remembered today for heresy, fanaticism, and even satanism.In this bold new interpretation, Steve Tibble sets out to correct the record. Th...

A medieval historian examines what we really know about the man who was "Merlin the Magician" and his impact on Britain.Merlin has remained an enthralling and curious individual since he was first introduced in the twelfth century in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae. But although the Merlin of literature and Arthurian myth is well known, his "historical" figure and his relation to medieval magic are less familiar. In this book Anne Lawrence-...

Get a buzz out of science with a collection of fun facts and explanations of the world around us from the author of How Can You Tell if a Spider Is Dead?What can you learn about your world in just a moment? Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue? Or whether dogs can read our facial expressions? Don Glass and experts in their fields answer these questions and many more. Written for readers of all ages with no background in science required, How the ...

"Honest, transparent, and realistic . . . His approach offers insights, advice, and sensible strategies to stop procrastinating and start writing." —Neil Foote, Principal Lecturer, Mayborn School of JournalismIn his debut title, Write Like You Mean It, award-winning journalist and content writer Steve Gamel dives into his best advice for writers that he has gathered over the years. With stories from his early years and frequent foibles as a journalist, Game...

**A close-up, action-filled account of the crucial role the U.S. Navy played in the early years of the Cold War, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Fleet at Flood Tide and The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors“A lucid, fast-moving and fitting finale to [Hornfischer’s] career.”—The Wall Street Journal**A landmark chronicle of the U.S. Navy in the Cold War, Who Can Hold the Sea combines narrative history with scenes ...

This fresh treatment of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany reveals how the close relationship between Mussolini and Hitler influenced both men.From 1934 until 1944 Mussolini met Hitler numerous times, and the two developed a relationship that deeply affected both countries. While Germany is generally regarded as the senior power, Christian Goeschel demonstrates just how much history has underrepresented Mussolini's influence on his German ally.A scholar of twenti...

A portrait of Jane Austen’s England told through the career paths of younger sons—men of good family but small fortuneIn Regency England the eldest son usually inherited almost everything while his younger brothers, left with little inheritance, had to make a crucial decision: What should they do to make an independent living? Rory Muir weaves together the stories of many obscure and well-known young men, shedding light on an overlooked aspect of Regency society. T...