Biography: historical, political & military

Born in Chicago in 1897, 'Chips' Channon settled in England after the Great War, married into the immensely wealthy Guinness family, and served as Conservative MP for Southend-on-Sea from 1935 until his death in 1958. Born in Chicago in 1897, 'Chips' Channon settled in England after the Great War...

The First English Translation of the Wartime Diaries of the Eldest Daughter of Nicholas II, the Last Tsar of Russia, with Additional Documents of the PeriodIn August 1914, Russia entered World War I, and with it, the imperial family of Tsar Nicholas II was thrust into a conflict they would not su...

At the end of his life, Lenin wrote 'we didn't know everything', acknowledging the dilemmas he faced on the road to revolution in 1917 and beyond. In this unusual exploration of the crises that Lenin overcame, the decisions he made, and actions that he took, Tariq Ali reveals an insightful politi...

The true story of a British soldier escaping a prisoner of war camp two-hundred times to meet with a love interest, smuggling radio parts back into the camp which allowed for the BBC to reach the prisoners there. An incredible tale of one man's adversity and defiance, for readers of The Tattooist...

Mathilde Carre's involvement in the Interallie affair during the Second World War in which Carre compromised over a hundred members of the Interallie network is examined here in terms of what might have motivated Carre, the psychology at play, and how her actions impacted those close to her. Math...

After decades in the hands of malevolent players and two years of disastrous leadership, the Conservative party stands at the edge of the abyss. From the humiliation of Liz Truss's 49-day premiership to the shameful, self-serving drift of Rishi Sunak's time in office, 'Downfall' is the story of a...

Heather Richardson's astonishing fragmentary celebration of her aunt, Kathleen Hutchinson, whose life was cut tragically short aged just 14. A Dress For Kathleen is a labour of love from niece to the aunt she never met. Every sentence sparkles. `Every family has shadow people, the ones who slippe...

Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston and Countess of Bristol, went on trial in Westminster for bigamy in April 1776, the story drew more attention in society than the American War of Independence. Now, in Catherine Ostler's evocative biography, we get to see the full story of how Elizabeth ca...

Richard of Bordeaux & Henry Bolingbroke were first cousins, born just three months apart. Their two lives were from the beginning entwined. When they were still children, Richard was crowned King Richard II with Henry at his side, carrying the sword of state: a ten-year-old lord in the service of...

In November 1922, a new door to the ancient past was opened. The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun would be the most astonishing of the young century, revealing the ruler's sarcophagus and a treasure trove of artefacts: chariots and model boats, board games and paintings, a coffin made of pure...