The remarkable life of Alexander the Great, one of thegreatest military geniuses of all time, vividly told by one of theworld's leading exp erts in Greek history. With all theintensity, insight, and narrative drive that made The Spartans sucha hit with critics and readers, Paul Cartledge's Alexander theGreat: glowingly 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. Cartledge, the distinguished scholarand historian long acknowledged as the leading internationalauthority on ancient Sparta and Greece, brilliantly evokesAlexander's remarkable political and military accomplishments,leads us along the geographical path of his victorious armies, andcompellingly charting the tremendous field of this warrior hero'sinfluence. Alexander's legacy has had an astounding impact onmilitary tacticians, scholars, and statesmen—in his own lifetimeand in ours. In various countries and at various times he has beenseen as

For the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, The Library ofAmerica re-issues the memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant and WilliamTecumseh Sherman in a handsome, newly designed case. An ailingGrant wrote his Personal Memoirs to secure his family'sfuture. In doing so, the Civil War's greatest general won himself aunique place in American letters. John Keegan has called it"perhaps the most revelatory autobiography of high command to existin any language." The Library of America's edition of Grant's Memoirs includes 175 of his letters to Lincoln, Sherman, andhis wife, Julia, among others. Hailed as a prophet of modern warand condemned as a harbinger of modern barbarism, William T.Sherman is the most controversial general of the Civil War. "War iscruelty, and you cannot refine it," he wrote in fury to theConfederate mayor of Atlanta, and his memoir is filled with dozensof such wartime exchanges and a fascinating account of the famousmarch through Georgia and the Carolinas.

On 2 August 1944, Winston Churchill mocked Adolf Hitler in theHouse of Commons by the rank he had reached in the First World War.'Russian success has been somewhat aided by the strategy of HerrHitler, of Corporal Hitler', Churchill jibed. 'Even military idiotsfind it difficult not to see some faults in his actions'. AndrewRoberts' previous book "Masters and Commanders" studied thecreation of Allied grand strategy; "The Storm of War" now analyzeshow Axis strategy evolved. Examining the Second World War on everyfront, Roberts asks whether, with a different decision-makingprocess and a different strategy, the Axis might even have won.Were those German generals who blamed everything on Hitler afterthe war correct, or were they merely scapegoating their formerFuhrer once he was safely beyond defending himself? The book isfull of illuminating sidelights on the principle actors that bringtheir characters and the ways in which they reached decisions intofresh focus.

The successor to theauthor's Eyewitness to America gathers together two hundredsnippets from the diaries, letters, memoirs, and reporting ofwitnesses to the settlement of the West, from Balboa to GeorgiaO'Keeffe. Reprint.

As a young boy he re-enacted historic battles with toysoldiers, as a soldier he saw action on three continents, and asthe Prime Minister only a direct edict from King George VI couldkeep him from joining the troops on D-Day. Churchill's War Lab reveals how Churchill's passion for militaryhistory, his unique leadership style, and his patronization ofradical new ideas would lead to new technology and new tactics thatwould save lives and enable an Allied victory. No war generatedmore incredible theories, more technical advances, more scientificleaps, or more pioneering work that lay the foundation for thepost-war computer revolution. And it was Churchill's doggeddetermination and enthusiasm for revolutionary ideas that fuelledthis extraordinary outpouring of British genius. From the coauthorof Cold War comes an exciting new take on Churchill's warleadership and the story of a complex, powerful and inventive warleader.

Shattering long-held myths and misunderstandings, author BraytonHarris traces the development of the submarine through an era inwhich writers of fiction saw the merits better than mostprofessionals-until the Germans almost won World War I. He coversthe professional and political arrogance that delayed antisubmarinedevelopment for so long that German submarines almost won World WarII as well, and examines post-war progress toward the truly awesomesubmarine of today. Along the way, Harris explores the shifting moral issues of"unrestricted" naval warfare, outlines the hundred-year search foran effective underwater power plant that culminated in the nuclearreactor, and raises important questions about the future. Afascinating exploration of the steps and stumbles duringdevelopment, a rousing tribute to those who fought and died, and apowerful study of the submarine's impact on America, The NavyTimes Book of Submarines is an unparalleled source forunderstanding the great "hunters of the deep.

The liberation of Europe and the destruction of the ThirdReich is a story of courage and enduring triumph, of calamity andmiscalculation. In this first volume of the Liberation Trilogy,Rick Atkinson shows why no modern reader can understand theultimate victory of the Allied powers without a grasp of the greatdrama that unfolded in North Africa in 1942 and 1943. Beginningwith the daring amphibious invasion in November 1942, An Army atDawn follows the British and American armies as they fight theFrench in Morocco and Algeria, and then take on the Germans andItalians in Tunisia. Battle by battle, an inexperienced andsometimes poorly led army gradually becomes a superb fightingforce. Central to the tale are the extraordinary but falliblecommanders who come to dominate the battlefield: Eisenhower,Patton, Bradley, Montgomery and Rommel.

Hailed on publication in 1957 as "probably the only book published this year that will outlive the century," this is a brilliant of the idea that there are fixed laws in history and that human beings are able to predict them.

In the first two volumes of his bestselling LiberationTrilogy, Rick Atkinson recounted how the American-led coalitionfought through North Africa and Italy to the threshold of victory.Now he tells the most dramatic story of all - the titanic battlefor Western Europe. D-Day marked the commencement of the Europeanwar's final campaign, and Atkinson's riveting account of that boldgamble sets the pace for the masterly narrative that follows. Thebrutal fight in Normandy, the liberation of Paris, the disasterthat was Market Garden, the horrific Battle of the Bulge, andfinally the thrust to the heart of the Third Reich - all thesehistoric events and more come alive with a wealth of new materialand a mesmerizing cast of characters. With the stirring finalvolume of this monumental trilogy, Rick Atkinson's remarkableaccomplishment is manifest. He has produced the definitivechronicle of the war that unshackled a continent and preservedfreedom in the West.

The Cardinal's Hat is the fascinating story of how Ippolitod'Este, the second son of Lucretia Borgia, acquired the covetedcardinal's hat and became the Archbishop of Milan. Working withIppolito's letters and ledgers, recently uncovered in an archive inModena, Italy, Mary Hollingsworth has pieced together a fascinatingand undeniably titillating tale of this Renaissance cardinal andhis road to power and wealth in sixteenth century Europe.

A magnificent history and an exceptional visual book on themost intriguing city in the world-newly translated and completelyredesigned. Steeped in a history of great loves, political intrigues, andfervent religiosity, Venice is one of the most romantic andmagnetic cities of the world. The splendidly and profuselyillustrated volume, newly translated and completely redesigned,tells the story of Venice through its art-during its period ofgrandeur as an independent city-state, from the eighth to theeighteenth centuries. Alvise Zorzi reveals the growth of Venicefrom a small fishing village to a bustling metropolis whose,cultural, political and economic dominance extended over the entireMediterranean world. In selecting the more than 340 full color illustrations, Zorzihas brought together a sumptuous collection of paintings anddrawings, photographs and engravings. In addition, speciallycreated diagrams explain the distinctive techniques and styles ofVenetian architecture, ship-building and glass-

We meant well to the Americans-just to punish them with a fewbloody noses, and then to make laws for the happiness of bothcountries," said George III. The ensuing uprising led to thecreation of the United States, the most powerful country in themodern world. Robert Harvey, whose most recent book Liberators was brilliantlyreviewed on both sides of the ocean, challenges conventional viewsof the American Revolution in almost every aspect-why it happened,who was winning and when, the characters of the principalprotagonists, and the role of Native Americans and slaves. In atime when the history of the United States is beingreconsidered-when David McCullough's John Adams and StephenAmbrose's Band of Brothers top the bestseller lists-Harveycreatively studies this seminal event in the making of the UnitedStates. He takes a penetrating look at a war that was both viciousand confused, bloody and protracted, and marred on both sides byincompetence and bad faith. He underscores the effect of theRevolution on

This is the definitive visual guide to 5,000 years of Britishhistory. "The History of Britain Ireland" traces the keyevents that have shaped the British Isles. From the Elizabethan ageof Shakespeare to the Iraq and Afghan wars of the 21st century,this beautifully illustrated book offers a definitive visualchronicle of the most colourful and defining episodes in Britishhistory. Packed with visually arresting illustrations and clear,concise text, you can now explore the long and fascinating story ofthe British Isles. It includes profiles of key people in historysuch as Geoffrey Chaucer, Alfred the Great, Charles Dickens, QueenElizabeth I and Winston Churchill. "The History of Britain Ireland" is ideal as a family reference for the home as well as akey history companion for schools.

Robert Greene’s first two groundbreaking guides, The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction, espouse profound, timeless lessons from events in history to help readers vanquish an enemy or ensnare an unsuspecting victim. Now, with The 33 Strategies of War, Greene has crafted an important new addition to this ruthlessly unique series. Structured in Greene’s trademark style, The 33 Strategies of War is a brilliant distillation of the strategies of battle that can help us gain mastery in the modern world. It is the I Ching of conflict, the contemporary companion to Sun-tzu’s Art of War.

A sweeping, first-of-its-kind history of the creation ofmodern Italy The birth of modern Italy was a messy affair. Inspired by a smallgroup of writers, intellectuals, and politicians, Italy struggledin the first half of the nineteenth century to unite all Italiansunder one rule, throwing aside a multitude of corrupt old rulersand foreign occupiers. In the midst of this turmoil, Italianpoliticians felt compelled by a “force of destiny” hideously atodds with Italian reality. After great sacrifice Italy was finallyunified -- and turned out to be just as fragile, impoverished, andbackward as it had been before. The resentments this created led toItaly’s destructive role in World War I, the subsequent rise ofMussolini and authoritarianism in the 1920s and ’30s, and thenation's humiliating defeat in World War II. This haunting legacydeeply informs the Italy of today. Christopher Duggan skillfully interweaves Italy's art, music,literature, and architecture with its economic and social real

A visually stunning collection that brings the soldiers'experience to vivid photographic life- includes a DVD. The Aviation Photographic Unit was a military unit unlike anyother in World War II. Founded and led by legendary photographerEdward Steichen, the photographers in this unit gave Americans onthe home front memorable and dramatic images of the people fightingthe Navy's battles in the Pacific theater. Beginning with just halfa dozen intrepid shutterbugs and expanding to ten battle-seasonedphotographers, the unit covered everything from early aircraftraids to amphibious landings to the surrender in Tokyo Bay. With anestimated 14,000 images in the collection of the National Archives,the work of this talented photographic unit is historicallysignificant not only as a visual record of the war, but also forits influence on generations of postwar photographers. Faces of Waris a tribute to the vision of Edward Steichen, as well as the menwho served under him, and most importantly to their subjects

With striking visuals from the Library of Congress'unparalleled archive, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ILLUSTRATED TIMELINEOF THE CIVIL WAR is an authoritative and engaging narrative of thedomestic conflict that determined the course of American history. Adetailed chronological timeline of the war captures the harrowingintensity of 19th-century warfare in first-hand accounts fromsoldiers, nurses, and front-line journalists. Readers will beenthralled by speech drafts in Lincoln's own hand, quotes from thelikes of Frederick Douglass and Robert E. Lee, and portraits of keysoldiers and politicians who are not covered in standard textbooks.The Illustrated Timeline's exciting new source material and lucidorganization will give Civil War enthusiasts a fresh look at thisdefining period in our nation's history.

The Road to Serfdom remains one of the all-time classics of twentieth-century intellectual thought. For over half a century, it has inspired politicians and thinkers around the world, and has had a crucial impact on our political and cultural history. With trademark brilliance, Hayek argues convincingly that, while socialist ideals may be tempting, they cannot be accomplished except by means that few would approve of. Addressing economics, fascism, history, socialism and the Holocaust, Hayek unwraps the trappings of socialist ideology. He reveals to the world that little can result from such ideas except oppression and tyranny. Today, more than fifty years on, Hayek's warnings are just as valid as when The Road to Serfdom was first published.

From the preeminent Hitler biographer, a fascinating andoriginal exploration of how the Third Reich was willing and able tofight to the bitter end of World War II. Countless books have been written about why Nazi Germany lostWorld War II, yet remarkably little attention has been paid to theequally vital question of how and why it was able to hold out aslong as it did. The Third Reich did not surrender until Germany hadbeen left in ruins and almost completely occupied. Even in thenear-apocalyptic final months, when the war was plainly lost, theNazis refused to sue for peace. Historically, this is extremelyrare. Drawing on original testimony from ordinary Germans andarch-Nazis alike, award-winning historian Ian Kershaw explores thisfascinating question in a gripping and focused narrative thatbegins with the failed bomb plot in July 1944 and ends with theGerman capitulation in May 1945. Hitler, desperate to avoid arepeat of the "disgraceful" German surrender in 1918, was of coursecritical to t

An innovative and intriguing look at the foundations ofWestern civilization from two leading historians. The influence of ancient Greece and Rome can be seen in everyaspect of our lives. From calendars to democracy to the verylanguages we speak, Western civilization owes a debt to theseclassical societies. Yet the Greeks and Romans did not emerge fullyformed; their culture grew from an active engagement with a deeperpast, drawing on ancient myths and figures to shape vibrantcivilizations. In The Birth of Classical Europe, the latest entry in the PenguinHistory of Europe, historians Simon Price and Peter Thonemannpresent a fresh perspective on classical culture in a book full ofrevelations about civilizations we thought we knew. In thisimpeccably researched and immensely readable history we see theancient world unfold before us, with its grand cast of charactersstretching from the great Greeks of myth to the world-shapingCaesars. A landmark achievement, The Birth of Classical Europeprovides

This classic remains one of Karl Popper's most wide-ranging and popular works, notable not only for its acute insight into the way scientific knowledge grows, but also for applying those insights to politics and to history.

The fifty most important speeches of all time: their context,history, and meaning for our world The speeches remembered by history are rarely remembered incontext; but it was almost always the context, not the speechitself, that made each address so significant. Terry Golway hasselected fifty speeches that changed the world through the sheerpower of their oratory. From Moses to Mandela and others fromacross time and around the world, Golway's selections are eachilluminated with an insightful essay setting the speech squarely inits historical contexts and detailing its impact and consequences.In doing so, Golway allows us to fully understand their importanceand effect. Including speeches from Jesus, Mohammed, Cicero, Pericles,Cromwell, Washington, Pope Urban II, John Winthrop, Kennedy,Emperor Hirohito, Barbara Jordan, Ho Chi Minh, Khrushchev,Robespierre, Patrick Henry, Queen Elizabeth I, Reagan, Mandela,FDR, Hitler, Churchill, Barack Obama and many more, this book is anhistoric achievement.