Lichfield of all the towns & cities in the West Midlands has the longest & most intriguing history. Its famous son Dr. Samuel Johnson called it 'a city of philosophers' & the extraordinary society of writers scientists & thinkers who lived in the shadow of its great cathedral in the 18th century proved his point. By that time the city already had well over a thousand years of history under its belt since St Chad came down from York in the 7th century & recognised Lichfield as a place of mystery & power perfect for his new church. In the Middle Ages powerful bishops fortified the town & the close & created one of the earliest markets in the Midlands. Such was its importance that every English king included it in his itinerary. In the 1640s Lichfield was the focus for one of the most dramatic conflicts of the Civil War when within four years the city came under siege three times. ...

London has had more prisons than any other British city. The City's 'gates' once contained prisons but probably the most notorious of all was Newgate which stood for over 700 years. The eleventh century Tower of London was used as a prison for a variety of high profile prisoners from Sir Thomas More to the Krays. Discover the background of a variety of historic places of incarceration such as The Clink the King's Bench Prison; & debtors prisons such as the Fleet Prison & the Marshalsea. ' Lost' prisons such as the Gatehouse in Westminster Millbank Penitentiary Surrey County Gaol in Horsemonger Row The House of Detention Coldbath Fields Prison & Tothill Fields Prison are also described in detail; as are more familiar gaols: Holloway Pentonville Brixton Wandsworth & Wormwood Scrubs. In his A History of London's Prisons Geoffrey Howse delves not only into the intricate web of historical facts detailing the origins of the capital's prisons but also

Includes:: fascinating detail concerning the day-to-day life of prisoners
- from the highly born to the most despicable human specimens imaginable
- as well as those less fortunate individuals who found themselves through no fault of their own 'in the clink' some soon becoming clients of the hangman or executioner.



...

Shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2006 & winner of the 2006 Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger The History of Love" by bestselling author Nicole Krauss explores the lasting power of the written word & the lasting power of love. When I was born my mother named me after every girl in a book my father gave her called " The History of Love"... Fourteen-year-old Alma Singer is trying to find a cure for her mothers loneliness. Believing she might discover it in an old book her mother is lovingly translating she sets out in search of its author. Across New York an old man called Leo Gursky is trying to survive a little bit longer. He spends his days dreaming of the love lost that sixty years ago in Poland inspired him to write a book. & although he doesnt know it yet that book also survived: crossing oceans & generations & changing lives..." Wonderfully affecting...brilliant touching & remarkably poised". (" Sunday Telegraph"). "A tender tribute to human valiance. Who could be unmoved by a cast of characters whose daily battles are etched on out mind in such diamond-cut prose?" (" Independent on Sunday"). " Devastating...one of the most passionate vindications of the written word in recent fiction. It takes ones breath away". (" Spectator"). Nicole Krauss is an American bestselling author who has received international critical acclaim for her first three novels: " Great House" (shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction 2011) " The History of Love" & " Man Walks into a Room" (shortlisted for the LA Times Book Award) all of which are available in Penguin paperback." ...

A History of Mathematics: From Mesopotamia to Modernity covers the evolution of mathematics through time & across the major Eastern & Western civilizations. It begins in Babylon then describes the trials & tribulations of the Greek mathematicians. The important & often neglected influence of both Chinese & Islamic mathematics is covered in detail placing the description of early Western mathematics in a global context. The book concludes with modern mathematics covering recent developments such as the advent of the computer chaos theory topology mathematical physics & the solution of Fermat's Last Theorem. Containing more than 100 illustrations & figures this text aimed at advanced undergraduates & postgraduates addresses the methods & challenges associated with studying the history of mathematics. The reader is introduced to the leading figures in the history of mathematics (including Archimedes Ptolemy Qin Jiushao al-Kashi al-Khwarizmi Galileo Newton Leibniz Helmholtz Hilbert Alan Turing & Andrew Wiles) & their fields. An extensive bibliography with cross-references to key texts will provide invaluable resource to students & exercises (with solutions) will stretch the more advanced reader. ...

J.R.R. Tolkien is famous for his literary creation exemplified in The Hobbit" " The Lord of the Rings" & " The Silmarillion". He also produced a vast amount of further material that expands upon the mythology & numerous stories of Middle-Earth & which gives added life to the thous&-year war between the Elves & the evil spirit Morgoth & his terrifying lieutenant Sauron. It was to this task of literary construction that Tolkiens youngest son & literary heir Christopher applied himself to producing the series of twelve books " The History of Middle-Earth". This hardback edition brings together the first five volumes of " The Complete History of Middle-earth": " The Book of Lost Tales Parts 1 & 2" " The Lays of Beleriand" " The Shaping of Middle-Earth" & " The Lost Road". It features dozens of rare maps & illustrations drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien." ...

J.R.R. Tolkien is famous for his unique literary creation exemplified in The Hobbit" " The Lord of the Rings" & " The Silmarillion". He also produced a vast amount of further material that expands upon the stories that were published & which gives added life to the tales of the hobbits Gandalf & the quest of the Fellowship as told in " The Lord of the Rings". It was to this task of literary construction that Tolkiens youngest son & literary heir Christopher applied himself to producing the series of twelve books " The Complete History of Middle-Earth". This hardback edition brings together volumes six to nine of " The History of Middle-earth": " The Return of the Shadow" " The Treason of Isengard" " The War of the Ring" & " Sauron Defeated". Together these books give a complete account of the writing of " The Lord of the Rings" & provide the reader with numerous additional scenes together with rare maps & illustrations which never made it into the final book including the epilogue in its entirety." ...

J.R.R. Tolkien is famous for his literary creation exemplified in The Hobbit" " The Lord of the Rings" & " The Silmarillion". He also produced a vast amount of further material that expands upon the mythology & numerous stories of Middle-Earth & which gives added life to the thous&-year war between the Elves & the evil spirit Morgoth & his terrifying lieutenant Sauron. It was to this task of literary construction that Tolkiens youngest son & literary heir Christopher applied himself to producing the series of twelve books " The History of Middle-Earth". This hardback edition edition brings together the final three volumes of " The History of Middle-Earth": " Morgoths Ring" " The War of the Jewels" & " The Peoples of Middle-Earth". It features dozens of rare maps & illustrations drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien." ...

A History of Modern Britain confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age rival idealisms came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism celebrity & self-gratification. In each decade political leaders think they know what they are doing but find themselves confounded. Every time the British people turn out to be stroppier & harder to herd than predicted. Throughout Britain is a country on the edge -- first of invasion then of bankruptcy then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War & later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital & migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political & economic stories but deals too with comedy cars the war against homosexuals Sixties anarchists oil-men & punks Margaret Thatcher's wonderful good luck political lies & the true heroes of British theatre. ' Superb colourful outspoken fresh & richly entertaining. Don't miss' The Times ' Lively full of rich anecdotes & sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences' Sunday Telegraph ...

Iain Hampsher-Monks lucid & accessible history of modern political thought is the introduction which many have been waiting for providing a thorough guide to the ideas & writings of major political thinkers from Hobbes to Marx (including a full account of The Federalist papers). The authors aim throughout is to incorporate the benefits of modern scholarship of the historical school with its emphasis on historical & political circumstances as a key to meaning. Recognizing that for most students time will not allow detailed study of the historical & political contexts of particular works Hampsher-Monk provides here the background necessary for the readers to situate the writings of key thinkers in relation to wider currents in intellectual & political history. ...

Mr Polly is an ordinary middle-aged man who is tired of his wifes nagging & his dreary job as the owner of a regional gentlemans outfitters. Faced with the threat of bankruptcy he concludes that the only way to escape his frustrating existence is by burning his shop to the ground & killing himself. Unexpected events however conspire at the last moment to lead the bewildered Mr Polly to a bright new future after he saves a life fakes his death & escapes to a life of heroism hope & ultimate happiness. ...