John Darwin won the Wolfson History Prize for his book After Tamerlane: The Rise & Fall of Global Empires". In " Unfinished Empire" he examines the enormous influence of the British Empire. It has shaped the world in countless ways: repopulating continents carving out modern nations imposing its own language technology & values. For perhaps two centuries its existence expansion & final collapse were the single largest determinant of historical events. Now that it has gone it seems to us baffling that such a strange entity should ever have existed. What was the dynamic that led to English-speakers standing on the shores of the Pacific controlling the worlds sea transport & creating a financial system that revolutionized the worlds economies? John Darwins provocative & richly enjoyable new book is an attempt to make us see anew how diverse strange & in many ways chaotic the British Empire really was controlled by a range of interests often at loggerheads with each other & as much driven on by others weaknesses as by its own strength. By understanding the different phases of imperial conquest the wildly different types of colonist (with soldiers & farmers merchants & government officials often barely on speaking terms) & what made the Empire ultimately collapse in ruins " Unfinished Empire" is a surprising original & often critical account of an extraordinary phenomenon. Reviews: "A breadth of perspective few other imperial historians can boast. The British Empire really does look different in the light of it... Breadth of vision fizzing ideas & a brilliant style as well as superb scholarship... It deserves to supplant every other book on this topic including
- though my publisher & bank manager wont thank me for saying this
- my own. It is British imperial history at last without hang-ups; the one weve been waiting for". (Bernard Porter " History Today"). "A brilliantly perceptive analysis of the forces & ideas that drove the creation of an extraordinary enterprise... Bringing together his huge erudition scrupulous fairness & elegant prose Mr Darwin has produced a wonderfully stimulating account of something that today seems almost incredibly yet was in historical terms only yesterday. It is also a much-needed antidote both to the leftish consensus of the past 50 years that Britains empire was unrelievedly awful...and the recent triumphalist revisionism of more conservative historians". (" Economist"). " Engrossing... What Darwin adds to this subject is a rare wonderful capacity for comparison... Seeing the imperial experience in the round like this does gives us a clearer more subtle appreciation of the range of power & violence at play. It raises the historical writing on empire to another level". ("BBC History Magazine"). " Balanced original & impressive... Subtle...intelligent". (" Literary Review"). " Comprehensive... Darwins erudition allows him to skirt around the narrow orthodoxies of apologist v critic & provide an insightful account of Britains unlikely period of global hegemony". (" Sunday Times"). " How incredibly refreshing it is when as distinguished an historian as John Darwin...writes something as thoughtful well-researched & persuasive as " Unfinished Empire" which explains the half-millennium-long expansion of Britain across the globe in terms that genuinely make sense... The authors deep familiarity with all the key sources of this vast subject allows him to pluck examples for his arguments from across the centuries & continents... Best of all...is the thought that Darwins book might at long last herald the victory of the post-Marxist phase of imperial historiography & not a moment too soon". (Andrew Roberts " Sunday Telegraph"). Book of the Week About the author: John Darwins interest lies in the history of empires both their rise & fall. He has written extensively on the decline of Britains empire & teaches imperial & global history at "

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A newly reissued edition of Agatha Christie's ' Mary Westmacott' novel a Crime of the Heart novel about a woman on the verge of suicide. ' In Celia we have more nearly than anywhere else a portrait of Agatha.' Max Mallowan Bereft of the three people she has held most dear
- her mother her husband & her daughter
- Celia is on the verge of suicide. Then one night on an exotic island she meets Larraby a successful portrait painter & through a long night of talk reveals how she is afraid to commit herself to a second chance of happiness with another person yet is not brave enough to face life alone. Can Larraby help Celia come to terms with the past or will they part her outcome still uncertain?

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The popular paperback edition of this fascinating collection of stories which continue the tales of The Lord of the Rings & The Silmarillion & contains an alternative version of The Children of Hurin. Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring & provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background & new stories from the twentieth century's most acclaimed popular author. The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth & comprises such elements as Gandalf's lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand & an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan. Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall & all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards the Palantiri & the legend of Amroth. The tales were collated & edited by JRR Tolkien's son & literary heir Christopher Tolkien who provides a short commentary on each story helping the reader to fill in the gaps & put each story into the context of the rest of his father's writings. ...

Classic hardback edition of this fascinating collection of stories featuring Tolkiens own painting of the dragon Glaurung on the cover which continues the tales of The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings & The Silmarillion & contains an alternative version of The Children of Hurin. Unfinished Tales is a collection of narratives ranging in time from the Elder Days of Middle-earth to the end of the War of the Ring & provides those who have read The Lord of the Rings with a whole collection of background & new stories from the twentieth centurys most acclaimed popular author. The book concentrates on the realm of Middle-earth & comprises such elements as Gandalfs lively account of how it was that he came to send the Dwarves to the celebrated party at Bag-End the emergence of the sea-god Ulmo before the eyes of Tuor on the coast of Beleriand & an exact description of the military organization of the Riders of Rohan. Unfinished Tales also contains the only story about the long ages of Numenor before its downfall & all that is known about such matters as the Five Wizards the Palantiri & the legend of Amroth. The tales were collated & edited by JRR Tolkiens son & literary heir Christopher Tolkien who provides a short commentary on each story helping the reader to fill in the gaps & put each story into the context of the rest of his fathers writings. ...

This book surveys all the Soviet/ Russian aircraft that either remained 'paper projects' (the work progressed no further than the design documents or even merely a design proposal) or were abandoned at the prototype construction stage. Over many years the authors have unearthed a mass of unpublished material on these aircraft projects. These include such aircraft as the Isayev/ Shevchenko 'bi-monoplane' fighters with retractable lower wings developed in the 1930s early Soviet jet fighter projects of the Second World War period the twin-boom fighters & attack aircraft developed by Semyon M. Alekseyev in the late 1940s Aleksandr S. Yakovlev's high-altitude 'balloon killer' fighters developed in the mid-1950s specifically for use against NATO reconnaissance balloons the jet fighters of the Antonov design bureau which specialised primarily in transports & airliners the various unbuilt fighter & bomber projects of Artyom I. Mikoyan Pavel O. Sukhoi Vladimir M. Myasishchev & Roberto Bartini. Wherever possible images of the aircraft are shown including pictures of models line & cutaway drawings from the project documents giving the readers the maximum available information on Soviet aircraft projects developed over a large time scale. The book is richly illustrated with numerous photos drawings & diagrams as well as colour side views of the unbuilt aircraft which will be of interest not only to the numerous Soviet/ Russian aviation enthusiasts but also to scale modellers. ...

Since Jenny arrived at Waverly Academy & set out on her mission to become it shes certainly made an impact! From stealing her roommates boyfriend to making enemies of the notorious Tinsley Carmichael shes always given the girls something to talk about. But old rivalries are about to make way for new friendships as Dumbartons residents embrace the sharing-is-caring vibe at the newly founded Women of Waverly club. There are some pretty juicy topics up for discussion & even juicier topics being kept under wraps. For now... ...

Unforgettable French uses tried-&-tested memory tricks based on sound & idea associations to teach & reinforce major points of French grammar from the basics up to GCSE level to learners of all ages. Unforgettable French is full of tried-&-tested memory tricks based on sound & idea associations to help you to engage your memory & remember key grammatical points. Using memory tricks to explain the ...

We only get one life so we owe it to ourselves to see as much of this beautiful world as possible. For many of us lying on a beach for two weeks each year is just not enough any more. We want to see ancient monuments extraordinary scenery endangered wildlife foreign cultures architecture & art
- places that give us the chance to grow & expand our horizons. Unforgettable Places to See Before You Die will help you search out some of these essential destinations & experiences. International travel writer & photographer Steve Davey has drawn on his years of experience in selecting forty of his favourite places. Some such as the Taj Mahal & the Alhambra are relatively well-known but most such as the incredible temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia & the amazing sand dunes of Dead Vlei in the Namib desert are very much off the beaten track. Some such as Venice or New York involve relatively comfortable journeys whilst others present more of a challenge
- crossing the wilderness to see the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela in Ethiopia for example or trekking for nine days at altitude to see the stunning Himalayan scenery around Makalu in Nepal. Although there are plenty of tips for travellers this is not a travel guide & is certainly not definitive but it will introduce you to a host of spectacular locations all of which can be visited in a holiday of two weeks or less. Beautifully illustrated throughout with specially commissioned photographs this is a book that will inspire you to think beyond the walls of your room & take time out to visit some of the worlds truly unforgettable places.

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He was the first black heavyweight champion in history (1908-15) & the most celebrated
- & most reviled
- African American of

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They were the team from nowhere... In 1961 when Don Revie became manager of Leeds United they were a struggling Second Division club. By 1974 they had won two League Championships the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (twice) the FA Cup & the League Cup & players like Jack Charlton & Billy Bremner were household names. Yet this was a team that inspired not admiration not grudging respect but a deep & visceral loathing matched only by the bellicose devotion of their own supporters. The undeniable artistry of players like striker Alan Clarke was overshadowed by a ruthless
- & thoroughly modern
- professionalism symbolised by the scything tackles of Norman Hunter. The new Leeds
- especially in the intimidating arena of Elland Road
- took no prisoners. At the heart of their outlaw status was the eccentric superstitious personality of Revie himself. Clad in his lucky blue suit a man for whom team-building meant rounds of carpet bowls here reigned less a football manager than in his own estimation the head of the family. But whenever his great Leeds United side were let off the leash
- the 7-0 humiliation of Southampton is enshrined in Match of the Day mythology
- their brilliance was compelling. So compelling it was almost cruel. The Unforgiven" is the full story of the most defiantly unconventional team in British football. The book is reissued to coincide with the release of BBC Films adaptation of David Peaces bestselling " The Damned United" (9780571224333)
- starring Michael Sheen as Brian Clough & adapted by Peter Morgan (The Queen). It

Includes:: a new chapter detailing the aftermath of the Revie era
- including Brian Cloughs infamous 44 days at Elland Road; Revies tenure as England manager; & his continuing influence on Leeds fortunes to this very day."









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