Forever in the shadow of the war which followed 1913 is usually seen as little more than the antechamber to apocalypse. Our perspectives narrowed by hindsight the world of that year is reduced to its most frivolous features
- last summers in grand aristocratic residences a flurry of extravagant social engagements
- or its most destructive ones: the unresolved rivalries of the great European powers the anxieties of a period of accelerated change the social fear of revolution the violence in the Balkans. Our images of the times are too often dominated by the faded pastels of upper-class indulgence or by the unmitigated blackness of a world rushing headlong into the abyss of an inevitable war. 1913: The World before the Great War proposes a strikingly different portrait returning the world in that year to its contemporary freshness its future still undecided its outlook still open. Told through the stories of twenty-three cities
- Europe's capitals at the height of their global reach the emerging metropolises of America the imperial cities of Asia & Africa the boomtowns of Australia & the Americas
- Charles Emmerson presents a panoramic view of a world crackling with possibilities from St Petersburg to Shanghai & from Los Angeles to Jerusalem. What emerges is a rich & complex world more familiar than we expect connected as never before on the threshold of events which would change the course of global history.



...

1914-1918 David Stevensons history of the First World War has been acclaimed as the definitive one
- volume account of the conflict.
...

The Easter Rising began at 12 noon 24 April 1916 & lasted for six short but bloody days resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians the destruction of many parts of Dublin & the true beginning of Irish independence. The 1916 Rising was born out of the Conservative & Unionist parties illegal defiance of the democratically expressed wish of the Irish electorate for Home Rule; & of confusion mishap & disorganisation compounded by a split within the Volunteer leadership. Tim Pat Coogan introduces the major players themes & outcomes of a drama that would profoundly affect twentieth-century Irish history. Not only is this the story of a turning point in Irelands struggle for freedom but also a testament to the men & women of courage & conviction who were prepared to give their lives for what they believed was right. ...

With over 1 000 colourful images Robert Opie brings to life the 1920s & captures the mood of this radical decade in Great Britain. The Twenties were a time for change & invention. The arrival of the wireless provided a new form of entertainment & The Radio Times" was launched in 1923. The popularity of the cinema continued & was changed forever with the coming of talkies & " The Jazz Singer" in 1926. While there were many notable events from the Tutankhaman discoveries to the Empire exhibition at Wembley unemployment & workers discontent pervaded everyday life culminating in the General Strike of 1926. For children however fun & amusement could be found with new cartoon characters: the antics of Felix the Cat at the pictures tales of Pooh Bear in A.A. Milnes book " Winnie-the-Pooh" & in newspapers Bonzo the Dog (" Daily Sketch") Rupert the Bear (" Daily Express") Teddy Tail (" Daily Mail") & Pip Squeak & Wilfred (" Daily Mirror"). Apart from women daring to smoke (especially Turkish cigarettes) the young flappers found freedom in the rising hemlines that revealed their legs & enabled the new energetic dances such as the Charleston & Black Bottom. It was an experimental age for hairstyles perming crimping bobbing. No wonder that this decade became known as the Roaring Twenties." ...

The 1930s house is a design icon & the first truly modern British home with over three million built. But many are now in need of 'essential repairs'. Problems like cavity wall tie failure corroded metal windows unstable bays collapsing drains & subsidence are well-known but how can you tell if your house has major defects or is just typical for its age? Forget 'makeovers': this easy-to-use manual shows where to look for danger signs what's 'normal' & what isn't & how to fix common defects. You'll also be able to talk the same language as builders & property professionals. This is the first book to cover logically all defects common to 1930s houses. ...

Filled to the brim with images this scrapbook of the 1930s overflows with nostalgia for those who remember that extraordinary era. For those who do not this wealth of imagery provides a vivid insight into a time when sliced bread had just reached the table & Butlins holiday camps had recently opened. Life in the 1930s for many was not easy; for others who had known Victorian times the pace of change was frightening & modern life led to nerve tension. Yet change brought a better standard of living & numerous new products helped the daily routine. Electrical appliances were a boon to housewives without servants affordable motor cars made access to the countryside easier new fun included Dinky Toys Monopoly & a stream of delectable confectionery (Mars bars Kit Kat Black Magic Cadburys Roses). The aluminium milk bottle top made its appearance. Design was memorable for the red telephone kiosk the Anglepoise lamp & the Underground map
- all still in evidence today. The Royal Family went through a turbulent year following the death of George V when Edward VIII decided he had to abdicate. The speeding motorist was hampered by 30 mph restrictions & pedestrian crossings were guarded by Belisha beacons. By the end of the 1930s television held exciting promise for the future but a growing tension focused on impending war. The 1930s Scrapbook has drawn together the best from the Robert Opie Collection. The images are as bright today as when they were purchased in the shops. Coronation souvenirs film & fashion magazines fireworks comics & Christmas crackers
- all survived to tell a remarkable story.

...

The early Forties might have been years of make-do-&-mending & fashionable inventiveness but the latter half of the decade saw an explosion of contemporary forward-looking fashions. 1940s Fashion: the Definitive Sourcebook" is an extensive survey that brings together previously unpublished photography & beautifully drawn illustrations to provide a comprehensive overview of the period from the austerity fashion of the war years to the introduction of Dior's revolutionary " New Look" & the rise of Hollywood glamour. From haute couture to ready-to-wear this publication comprehensively documents the season-by-season fashions of the WWII era & the immediate post war period. The images feature prominent stars of the decade such as Joan Bennett Veronica Lake & Barbara Stanwyck & designers including Dior Lucien Lelong Balmain Nina Ricci & Worth. "1940s Fashion: the Definitive Sourcebook" covers every aspect of female fashions from the period from lacy evening gowns tailored skirt-suits & luxurious fur jackets to figure-sculpting undergarments satin negligees & glamorous swimwear. The introduction outlines the different themes of the period & each chapter is given an introduction. Biographies of major designers of the time are included for an in-depth look at who shaped the 1940s fashion world." ...

A brand new Agatha Christie omnibus bringing together all four st&-alone novels she wrote in the 1940s
- N or M? Towards Zero Sparkling
...

The 1948 Olympic Games were the first of the postwar era. Britain was still suffering the after effects of the war. Rationing was in operation. Bomb sites remained throughout London & other major cities. Yet London took on the Games & staged them very successfully. There was no election of London as the chosen venue. The idea had first been raised in 1937 by Lord Burghley that London should hold the Games in 1944. The International Olympic Committee decided without any vote that London should have the 1948 Games. ? The Games cost three quarters of a million pounds
- about GBP77 million in todays terms. Compare that to the 2012 budget of GBP3.3 billion! Of course no new facilities were built. This was the make-do-&-mend Olympics. Athletes were housed in barracks & schools & were given tickets for the underground to make their own way to the stadium. Those British athletes who lived in or near London stayed at home. ? The book tells how London came to be awarded the Games how they were managed & their economic political & social significance. Each of the sports are described but this is no endless list of dry statistics.
...

Do you remember Pathe News? Taking the train to the seaside? The violet stains of iodine on the knees of boys in short trousers? Knitted bathing costumes? Then the chances are you were born in or around 1950. To the young people of today the 1950s seems like another age. But for those born around then this era of childhood seems like yesterday. From waking up to ice on the inside of the windows washing in a tin bath by the fire & spoonfuls of cod-liver oil home life was very different to today. This delightful compendium of memories will appeal to all who grew up in this post-war decade whether in town or country wealth or poverty. With chapters on games & hobbies holidays music & fashion the wonderful memories & delightful illustrations will bring back this decade of childhood & jog memories about all aspects of life. ...