The Great Wall of China is renowned as one of the most impressive & intriguing man-made structures on earth. It is also the subject of an awesome mythology, embedded in both learned & popular imaginations, which has grown up & now obscured the historical record. Even the maps which chart the Wall`s position offer erroneous accounts of a phenomenon which has never been accurately surveyed. Arthur Waldron reveals that the notion of an ancient & continuously existing Great Wall, one of modern China`s national symbols & a legend in the eyes of the West, is in fact a myth. His fascinating account reveals the strategic & political context for the decision to build walls as fortified defences, & explores its profound implications for nomadic & agricultural life under the Ming dynasty. Taking up the insights offered into more recent Chinese politics, the book concludes with a searching investigation of the Wall`s new meanings in the myths
- departing from that history
- fostered in our own century.

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Everyone has heard of the Great Wall of China & knows of Hadrian`s Wall & the other barriers lining stretches of Rome`s imperial frontiers. But Peter Spring`s original new study demonstrates that far from being exceptional, the building of walls & other linear defences was commonplace among the peoples & states of pre-modern era. He finds examples virtually all across the globe & analyses their forms & strategic functions. He finds patterns for their distribution, an important recurrent theme being the divide between settled agriculture & nomads. The author argues that it is mistaken to view such undertakings as necessarily purely defensive measures that might be evidence of insecurity or a `maginot line mentality`, as they were in fact often about aggressive assertion of control over a region or strategic routes. This original & thought-provoking study brings new light & insight to a fascinating & neglected aspect of human political & military history. It The clear text is supported by numerous, specially drawn maps & photographs. ...

The First World War claimed over 995, 000 British lives, & its legacy continues to be remembered today. Great War Britain: London offers an in-depth portrait of the capital & its people during the `war to end all wars`. It describes the reaction to the war`s outbreak; charts the experience of individuals who enlisted; shares many first-hand experiences, including tales of the Zeppelin raids & anti-German riots of the era; examines the work of local hospitals; & explores how the capital & its people coped with the transition to life in peacetime. Vividly illustrated with evocative images from the newspapers of the day, it commemorates the extraordinary bravery & sacrifice of London`s residents between 1914 & 1918. ...

This is a guide to circling England using its inland waterways, by boat or on foot. Along the way we learn about our industrial heritage, how cities grew & thrived, as well as passing through spectacular landscapes & idyllic countryside. Beginning in leafy Surrey & ending at Bristol Docks via north Yorkshire, this 780-mile journey passes through the industrial landscape of the West Midlands & the stunning Pennine hills, as well as famous cities such as Oxford & Bath, taking you via the first canal in Britain, Hampton Court Palace, Cadbury World, idyllic Shropshire villages & iconic pieces of Victorian engineering. The route is split up into different sections, so readers can either take on the whole circumnavigation or one part of it. Celebrating the restoration of the canals that make this journey possible, the book features (and uses, if you`re travelling by boat) iconic pieces of waterways history such as the Anderton Lift, the Barton Swing Aqueduct, & the 29 locks at Devizes. Each section of the route is illustrated by a map, & features practical information on locks, tunnels & aqueducts, nearby places of interest, good pubs, useful transport links etc. Giving readers a unique way to discover the beauty & variety of England`s waterways, & laying down a new challenge to inland waterways enthusiasts, this is a practical & fascinating guide. ...

A new & comprehensive history of one of our best-loved railway companies. ` God`s Wonderful Railway`, the astonishing engineering feat of Isambard Kingdom Brunel`s main line from Paddington to Penzance, with its stupendous bridge over the River Tamar, endless Box Tunnel & exhilarating stretch alongside the sea at Dawlish Warren, has always been beloved of anyone who likes trains. Andrew Roden`s comprehensive new history of this remarkable railway company, whose well-engineered lines survive not only into the privatised era of First Great Western but also in numerous lovingly restored steam railways like the Dart Valley, tells the story of nothing less than the opening-up of the isolated south-west of England to the trade & tourism of the modern age. It has left us with soaring termini like Paddington & Bristol Temple Meads as well as glorious railway institutions like the Night Riviera overnight sleeper to Cornwall that endure to this day (not least thanks to the author`s own campaigning!). While the GWR`s green locomotives & chocolate & cream carriages may have given way to violet, anyone who wants to return to the golden age of the railways will find the company`s history an enthralling journey. ...

Discover & explore every type of whisky, from the classic single & smooth blended malts of Scotl&, to the lesser-known corn & rye whiskies appearing on the scene. Featuring 500 whiskies from 23 countries, Great Whiskies is the perfect guide to today`s global whisky market. Are you in search of the Islay malt that offers the peatiest finish, or curious to know which Japanese blend combines notes of pineapple & oak? Each whisky-producing region has been covered by a specialist, with detailed tasting notes to help you choose your ideal tipple. Find out the stories behind long established whisky brands, such as Johnnie Walker, The Dalmore, or Oban, & surprise yourself with new, artisan distilleries taking the whisky world by storm. Take a guided tour along five whisky trails, covering the classic whisky-producing regions of Scotl&, Japan, Kentucky, & more
- complete with handy tips for distillery tours & accommodation to help you plan your ideal trip. With essential tasting notes & distillery information about each of the 500+ whiskies, as well as 24 brand new whiskies exclusive to this edition, Great Whiskies is your comprehensive & accessible resource, all distilled into one travel-friendly pocket guide.
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` Great White Shark` covers all aspects of this great but sadly misunderstood ocean predator. There are three sections: Portrait of the Great White; Searching for the Great White; & Requiem for the Great White? Together they describe shark biology & behaviour (some of it previously unknown, such as hunting in groups) & describe how researchers & conservationists study & protect sharks. The last section considers the plight of the shark & paints an accurate portrait of this remarkable creature. It also surveys the deadly dangers faced by great white sharks, such as finning & ocean garbage. More than 100 dramatic photographs of sharks fill the book. Topics include: * The role of the great white shark in marine ecosystems; * 10 myths about great white sharks; * Complete survey of great white shark biology & behaviour; * Great white shark attacks; * Identifying & tagging sharks; * Types of transmitters & how sharks are tagged; * Shark cages; * Shark protection around the world; * Range map & essential facts; * Protection legislation; * Further reading for adults & children, films & internet sites. Four experts
- underwater photographer Frederic Buyle, oceanographer Catherine Vadon, marine zoologist Michael Scholl, & marine biologist Bernard Seret
- reflect on the future of the species now living on borrowed time. ` Great White Shark` writes an exciting new chapter in shark research for naturalists interested in marine life, students & popular science readers.

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Revolt in the Desert is the extraordinary story of the war in Arabia between 1916 & 1918, written by one of the war`s most extraordinary characters, Lawrence of Arabia. It tells of his adventures & life amongst the Arab tribesmen, the daring raids on the Turks, the demolition of railway lines, the attacking of desert outposts, & of the opening of `the road to Damascus` & eventual overthrow of the Turks in the inhospitable landscape of the Middle East. Few had made headway with the Bedouin & Arabs before Lawrence, but his strength of character & his personality suited this war perfectly & he was soon considered to be hugely important in the fight in the Middle East both by his superiors & by the Arabs who rallied around him. This is his story, from his viewpoint. T.E. Lawrence truly was a great writer on the Great War. ...

Great Yarmouth in 1904 in a fascinating series of reproductions of old Ordnance Survey plans in the Alan Godfrey Editions, ideal for anyone interested in the history of their neighbourhood or family. Yarmouth & Gorleston area is covered by four maps. GREAT YARMOUTH NORTH map covers the northern part of Yarmouth from St Nicholas church northward. Features include Vauxhall station, Runham Vauxhall, Workhouse, Old & New Cemeteries, Beach station, Breydon Viaduct, St Nicholas church, Old Recreation Ground, Falcon Brewery, tramways, railway approaches, Infectious Diseases Hospital, Vauxhall Bridge, etc. On the reverse are extracts from a directory re councillors & public establishments. This GREAT YARMOUTH map covers the centre of Yarmouth, stretching from St Nicholas Road & Priory Plain southward to the Royal Naval Hospital, & from the coast inland to the Midland & Gt Northern railway (but note that the main station is north of this map). Features include the River Yare, East Suffolk line with station, Southtown, Cobholm Isl&, Market Place, King Street, St Georges Park, Britannia Pier, The Jetty, Wellington Pier, Winter Gardens, tramways, Town Hall, South Quay, railway lines along quay. A major feature is the extraordinary range of narrow yards, streets & rows in what was the medieval centre
- many of these disappeared during bombing in World War II. On the reverse directory extracts lists the private residents A to H. YARMOUTH SOUTH & GORLESTON NORTH map continues coverage southward to Gorleston Priory. Features here include the Royal Artillery Barracks, Nelson`s Monument, South Beach, Fish Wharf, Southtown Common, Gorleston North station, Malthouse Quay, Otter`s Farm, northern part of Gorleston High Street, etc. Coverage extends west into countryside & Bradwell House & Gapton Hall. Yarmouth directory entries H to Z are on the reverse. GORLESTON map shows the centre of Gorleston, with coverage continuing south to Gorleston-on-Sea station. Features include St Andrew`s church, South Pier, lighthouses at harbour entrance, Cliff Hotel, Brush Quay, West Quay, Ballast Quay, High St, Pier Plain, Lowestoft Road, cemetery, Shrubland Farm, isolation hospital. A directory of Gorleston on the reverse. About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the 25” OS Series: Selected towns in Great Britain & Ireland are covered by maps showing the extent of urban development in the last decades of the 19th & early 20th century. The plans have been taken from the Ordnance Survey mapping & reprinted at about 15 inches to one mile (1:4, 340). On the reverse most maps have historical notes & many also include extracts from contemporary directories. Most maps cover about one mile (1.6kms) north/south, one & a half miles (2.4kms) across; adjoining sheets can be combined to provide wider coverage.FOR MORE INFORMATION & A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AVAILABLE TITLES PLEASE CLICK ON THE SERIES LINK.
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Great Yarmouth & District in 1908 in a series of reproductions of Ordnance Survey’s famous ” Inch to the Mile” maps published in the Alan Godfrey Editions to provide a historical record of England & Wales in the second half of 19th & early 20th century. The map covers the eastern area of Norfolk around Acle, Loddon & Great Yarmouth, &

Includes:: Suffolk around Gorleston. Coverage stretches from Kirby Bedon eastward to the coast, & from South Walsham southward to Flixton. Halvergate & its marshes are near the centre of the map. Other locations on the map include: in NORFOLK Alpington, Ashby, Beighton, Bergh Apton, Billockby, Blofield, Bramerton, Brooke, Brundall, Burgh St Margaret, Caistor Yarmouth, Carleton St Peter, Castley, Chedgrave, Claxton, Filby, Framingham Earl, Freethorpe, Great Plumstead, Haddiscoe, Hale, Halvergate, Hardley, Hassingham, Heckingham, Hellington, Hemblington, Huckenham, Langley, Limpenhoe, Lingwood, Mautby, Moulton, Mundham, Norton Subcourse, Postwick, Raveningham, Rockland St Mary, Runham, Seething, Sisl&, Southwood, Strumpshaw, Surlingham, Thrigby, Thurlton, Thwaite, Toft Monks, Tunstall, Wickhampton, Witton & Yelverton; plus in SUFFOLK Ashby, Belton, Blundeston, Bradwell, Burgh Castle, Corton, Flixton, Fritton, Gunton, Herringfleet, Hopton on Sea & Lound. On the reverse is a large extract from Norfolk Sheet 77.15 showing the village of Reedham in detail, plus a directory. About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the OS Inch to the Mile Maps: the maps provide an invaluable overview of a wider area, typically 18 x 12 miles (29 x 19 kms approx.), & offer historical mapping for small towns & villages not covered by the more detailed series for which the Godfrey Editions are better known. On the reverse all the maps have historical notes & most titles also include a more detailed, large scale map of a small town or a village in the area. To see other titles in this series please click on the series link.

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