Renowned in her time for being the most beautiful woman inEurope, the wife of two kings and mother of three, Eleanor ofAquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. At atime when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanormanaged to defy convention as she exercised power in the politicalsphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons. In thisbeautifully written biography, Alison Weir paints a vibrantportrait of this truly exceptional woman, and provides new insightsinto her intimate world. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived a long life ofmany contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and inthis stunning narrative, Weir captures the woman— and the queen—inall her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizingpageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue,she recreates not only a remarkable personality but a magnificentpast era.

National Bestseller New York Times Editors’ Choice Winner of the PEN Hessell Tiltman Prize Winner of the Duff Cooper Prize Silver Medalist for the Arthur Ross Book Award of the Council on Foreign Relations Finalist for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award For six months in 1919, after the end of “the war to end allwars,” the Big Three—President Woodrow Wilson, British primeminister David Lloyd George, and French premier GeorgesClemenceau—met in Paris to shape a lasting peace. In this landmarkwork of narrative history, Margaret MacMillan gives a dramatic andintimate view of those fateful days, which saw new politicalentities—Iraq, Yugoslavia, and Palestine, among them—born out ofthe ruins of bankrupt empires, and the borders of the modern worldredrawn.

Mann is well aware that much of the history he relates isnecessarily speculative, the product of pot-shard interpretationand precise scientific measurements that often end up beingradically revised in later decades. But the most compelling of hiseye-opening revisionist stories are among the best-founded: thestories of early American-European contact. To many of those whowere there, the earliest encounters felt more like a meeting ofequals than one of natural domination. And those who came later andfound an emptied landscape that seemed ripe for the taking, Mannargues convincingly, encountered not the natural and unchangingstate of the native American, but the evidence of a suddencalamity: the ravages of what was likely the greatest epidemic inhuman history, the smallpox and other diseases introducedinadvertently by Europeans to a population without immunity, whichswept through the Americas faster than the explorers who broughtit, and left behind for their discovery a land that held only ashadow of the thrivi

In this intimate narrative journey, Hoffman returns to herPolish homeland and five other countries--Hungary, Romania,Bulgaria, and the two nations of the former Czechoslovakia--tovividly portray a landscape in the midst of change. "Alert andintuitive."--The Washington Post. Author readings.

“WEIR’S BOOK OUTSHINES ALL PREVIOUS STUDIES OF HENRY.Beautifully written, exhaustive in its research, it is a gem. . . .She succeeds masterfully in making Henry and his six wives . . .come alive for the reader.” –Philadelphia Inquirer Henry VIII, renownedfor his command of power and celebrated for his intellect, presidedover one of the most magnificent–and dangerous–courts inRenaissance Europe. Never before has a detailed, personal biographyof this charismatic monarch been set against the cultural, social,and political background of his glittering court. Now Alison Weir,author of the finest royal chronicles of our time, brings tovibrant life the turbulent, complex figure of the King. Packed withcolorful de*ion, meticulous in historical detail, rich inpageantry, intrigue, passion, and luxury, Weir brilliantly rendersKing Henry VIII, his court, and the fascinating men and women whovied for its pleasures and rewards. The result is an absolutelyspellbinding read.

有关苯教的宇宙观、其世界相、世界的构造及其位置、神袛及人类起源神话及其繁衍、各氏族的始祖及派系与其分布情况、地域的分布、各氏族的风俗文化及其起源、外国的列举及其地理、应用一些重要的历史书书名、有关苯教的重要人物、受到佛教影响的痕迹等等。从另一个角度来看，它是一本西藏文学史及民族风俗史上也具有研究价值的宝贵古文献。跟《卓浦文献》比较起来，《黑头凡人的起源》显得一样重要，是不可缺少的一本研究西藏历史等的重要古文献。《苯教古文献之汉译及其研究》作者金东柱以融会哲学、宗教、历史与文献学的方法来研究此文献，显得新颖、完整和全面，很有见地。

In Absolute War, acclaimed historian and journalist ChrisBellamy crafts the first full account since the fall of the SovietUnion of World War II's battle on the Eastern Front, one of thedeadliest conflicts in history. The conflict on the Eastern Front, fought between the SovietUnion and Nazi Germany between 1941 and 1945, was the greatest,most costly, and most brutal conflict on land in human history. Itwas arguably the single most decisive factor of the war, and shapedthe postwar world as we know it. In this magisterial work, Bellamyoutlines the lead-up to the war, in which the fragile alliancebetween the two dictators was unceremoniously broken, and examinesits far-reaching consequences, arguing that the cost of victory wasultimately too much for the Soviet Union to bear. With breadth ofscope and a surfeit of new information, this is the definitivehistory of a conflict whose reverberations are still felttoday.

“American History Revised is as informative as it isentertaining and humorous. Filled with irony, surprises, andlong-hidden secrets, the book does more than revise Americanhistory, it reinvents it.” —James Bamford, bestselling author of The Puzzle Palace, Body of Secrets, and TheShadow Factory This spirited reexamination of American history delves into ourpast to expose hundreds ofstartling facts that never made it intothe textbooks, and highlights how little-known peopleand eventsplayed surprisingly influential roles in the great Americanstory. We tend to think of history as settled, set in stone, butAmerican History Revised reveals a past that is filled withironies, surprises, and misconceptions. Living abroad for twelveyears gave author Seymour Morris Jr. the opportunity to view hiscountry as an outsider and compelled him to examine Americanhistory from a fresh perspective. As Morris colorfully illustratesthrough the 200 historical vignettes that make up this book, muc

Turkey, write journalists Nicole and Hugh Pope in this well-madenarrative history, is a land that defies easy categorization, amelange of elements "European, Western, Eastern, Islamic,fascistic, anarchic" that has always been something of an enigma tooutsiders. After decades of stagnation, it is now emerging as anation of central importance in Eurasian geopolitics, as it was inthe days of the Ottoman Empire. The authors describe the growth ofthe modern Turkish state in the aftermath of World War I, when thatempire, defeated by the Allied powers, splintered into some 30independent states. Led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his so-calledYoung Turks, the postwar state sought to curb the growth of Islamicfundamentalism, to introduce some measure of democracy into aformerly autocratic system, and to secure a place for Turkey in theconstellation of world powers. They were only partly successful;Atatürk, the authors contend, "led Turkey on the path ofWesternization, but left it stranded half-way to fulldemocratizat

American history has never seen a more tumultuous or moresignificant year than 1863. During this crucial time the tide ofthe Civil War turned inexorably from the Confederacy to the Union,with momentous consequences that are still being felt today. It wasa year of upheaval unparalleled in our national experience: twelvemonths of searing brutality and ennobling sacrifice, 365 stirring,dramatic days that changed our country forever. Integrating the events of this epochal year into a panoramicnarrative, Joseph E. Stevens presents a grand portrait of the Unionand Confederacy at war. He captures two nations struggling todefine the American experiment and create a new understanding offreedom on the bloody battlefields of Stones River,Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, andChattanooga. He also traces the astonishing political, economic,and social transformations that marked 1863 as a watershed. 1863 features a remarkable cast of characters: larger-than-lifeleaders li

Two of the most influential figures in American history. Twoopposing political philosophies. Two radically different visionsfor America. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were without question twoof the most important Founding Fathers. They were also the fiercestof rivals. Of these two political titans, it is Jefferson—–therevered author of the Declaration of Independence and our thirdpresident—–who is better remembered today. But in fact it isHamilton’s political legacy that has triumphed—–a legacy that hassubverted the Constitution and transformed the federal governmentinto the very leviathan state that our forefathers fought againstin the American Revolution. How did we go from the Jeffersonian ideal of limited governmentto the bloated imperialist system of Hamilton’s design? Acclaimedeconomic historian Thomas J. DiLorenzo provides the troublinganswer in Hamilton’s Curse. DiLorenzo reveals how Hamilton, first as a delegate to theConstitutional Convention and

Includes a complete copy of the Constitution.Fifty-five menmet in Philadelphia in 1787 to write a document that would create acountry and change a world. Here is a remarkable rendering of thatfateful time, told with humanity and humor. "The best popularhistory of the Constitutional Convention available."--LibraryJournal From the Paperback edition.

“Admirers of FDR credit his New Deal with restoring theAmerican economy after the disastrous contraction of 1929—33. Truthto tell–as Powell demonstrates without a shadow of a doubt–the NewDeal hampered recovery from the contraction, prolonged and added tounemployment, and set the stage for ever more intrusive and costlygovernment. Powell’s analysis is thoroughly documented, relying onan impressive variety of popular and academic literature bothcontemporary and historical.” – Milton Friedman , Nobel Laureate, Hoover Institution “There is a critical and often forgotten difference betweendisaster and tragedy. Disasters happen to us all, no matter what wedo. Tragedies are brought upon ourselves by hubris. The Depressionof the 1930s would have been a brief disaster if it hadn’t been forthe national tragedy of the New Deal. Jim Powell has proventhis.” – P.J. O’Rourke , author of Parliament of Whores and Eat theRich “The material laid out in this book desperat

Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Bernard Bailyn brings us a bookthat combines portraits of American revolutionaries with a deftexploration of the ideas that moved them and still shape oursociety today.

What is fascism? Many authors have proposed definitions, butmost fail to move beyond the abstract. The esteemed historianRobert O. Paxton answers this question for the first time byfocusing on the concrete: what the fascists did, rather than whatthey said. From the first violent uniformed bands beating up“enemies of the state,” through Mussolini’s rise to power, toGermany’s fascist radicalization in World War II, Paxton showsclearly why fascists came to power in some countries and notothers, and explores whether fascism could exist outside theearly-twentieth-century European setting in which it emerged. The Anatomy of Fascism will have a lasting impact on ourunderstanding of modern European history, just as Paxton’s classicVichy France redefined our vision of World War II. Based on alifetime of research, this compelling and important book transformsour knowledge of fascism–“the major political innovation of thetwentieth century, and the source of much of its pain.”

Writing with passion and intelligence, Said retraces thePalestinian Hejira, its disastrous flirtation with Saddam Hussein,and its ambitious peace accord with Israel. Said demolishes Westernstereotypes about the Muslim world and Islam's illusions aboutitself, leaving a masterly synthesis of scholarship and polemicwith the power to redefine the debate over the Middle East.

“What is the scene or incident in European history that youwould like to have witnessed-and why?” In this companion to I Wish I'd Been There: Twenty HistoriansBring to Life the Dramatic Events that Changed America , some ofour finest historical writers now turn their attention to Europe,with lively and detailed accounts of some of the most dramaticevents in history. Guided by peerless scholars such as PaulKennedy, John Keegan, Ross King, Freeman Dyson, and KatherineDuncan-Jones, readers will be transported to the signing of MagnaCarta, the Versailles Conference, the German surrender in WWII onLuneburg Heath, and other key turning points in the drama ofEuropean history. These essays encompass two millenia and an entirecontinent, addressing issues of politics, law, religion, peace andwar, science and the arts, and social change, all telescoped intofinely observed narratives. The result is an historical pageant ofcharacters and episodes that will attract and delight all readersof history.

Advance praise for The Memoirs of Catherine the Great “Superb. The translation of the Memoirs is fluid, accessible, andidiomatic, while remaining accurate and as delightful as theoriginal. Students will heartily enjoy this excursion into thehistorical and literary world of the great empress.” –Cynthia Hyla Whittaker, professor and chair, Department ofHistory, Baruch College/CUNY “Several translations of the memoirs of Catherine the Great havebeen published before, but none of them can compare with thislatest edition. Mark Cruse and Hilde Hoogenboom have produced amasterpiece. Their translation fairly sings, capturing withstunning virtuosity all the beguiling wit and charm that make thesememoirs one of the most fascinating works ever penned by a Europeanmonarch.” –Douglas Smith, editor and translator of Love and Conquest:Personal Correspondence of Catherine the Great and Prince GrigoryPotemkin “Catherine the Great’s memoirs are a classic

Less than 100 years after its creation as a fragile republic,the United States more than quadrupled its size, making it theworld's third largest nation. No other country or sovereign powerhad ever grown so big so fast or become so rich and sopowerful. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Richard Kluger chronicles thisepic achievement in a compelling narrative, celebrating the energy,daring, and statecraft behind America's insatiable land hungerwhile exploring the moral lapses that accompanied it. Comprehensiveand balanced, Seizing Destiny is a revelatory, often surprisingreexamination of the nation's breathless expansion, dwelling onboth great accomplishments and the American people's tendency toconfuse opportunistic success with heaven-sent entitlement thatcame to be called manifest destiny.

Paul Cartledge, one of the world’s foremost scholars ofancient Greece, illuminates the brief but iconic life of Alexander(356-323 BC), king of Macedon, conqueror of the Persian Empire, andfounder of a new world order. Alexander's legacy has had a major impact on military tacticians,scholars, statesmen, adventurers, authors, and filmmakers.Cartledge brilliantly evokes Alexander's remarkable political andmilitary accomplishments, cutting through the myths to show why hewas such a great leader. He explores our endless fascination withAlexander and gives us insight into his charismatic leadership, hiscapacity for brutality, and his sophisticated grasp ofinternational politics. Alexander the Great is an engagingportrait of a fascinating man, and a welcome balance to the myths,legends, and often skewed history that have obscured the realAlexander.

Africa has witnessed the birth of many important developmentsin history. Human evolution, including the use of fire, foodproduction via plant cultivation and animal domestication, as wellas the creation of sophisticated tools and hunting weapons fromiron took place in Africa. Other historical events such as theslave trade, which played a critical role in Western economicpower, the rise of Islam as one of the world's dominant religions,and colonization and struggles for independence occurred on Africansoil. Africans and Their History chronicles in fascinating detailAfrican history from prehistoric times through the present. Thisconcise and authoritative overview of the diverse peoples andsocieties of Africa now covers recent events, including theemergence of a free South Africa and its landmark enactment of aconstitution that recognizes even more rights than the Americanconstitution. The dynamic history and the relationship Africanshave with the rest of the world is revealed in Africans and TheirHistory

The author of the New York Times bestseller This Is Your Brain on Music reveals music's role in the evolution of human culture-and "will leave you awestruck" (The New York Times) Daniel J. Levitin's astounding debut bestseller, This Is Your Brain on Music, enthralled and delighted readers as it transformed our understanding of how music gets in our heads and stays there. Now in his second New York Times bestseller, his genius for combining science and art reveals how music shaped humanity across cultures and throughout history. Dr. Levitin identifies six fundamental song functions or types-friendship, joy, comfort, religion, knowledge, and love-then shows how each in its own way has enabled the social bonding necessary for human culture and society to evolve. He shows, in effect, how these "six songs" work in our brains to preserve the emotional history of our lives and species. Dr. Levitin combines cutting-edge scientific research from his music cognition lab at McGill University and work i

For this rousing,revisionist history, the former head of exhibitions at England'sNational Maritime Museum has combed original documents and recordsto produce a most authoritative and definitive account of piracy's"Golden Age." As he explodes many accepted myths (i.e. "walking theplank" is pure fiction), Cordingly replaces them with a truth thatis more complex and often bl... (展开全部) For this rousing, revisionist history, the formerhead of exhibitions at England's National Maritime Museum hascombed original documents and records to produce a mostauthoritative and definitive account of piracy's "Golden Age." Ashe explodes many accepted myths (i.e. "walking the plank" is purefiction), Cordingly replaces them with a truth that is more complexand often bloodier. 16 pp. of photos. Maps. From the Hardcover edition.