Ebooks de historia, página 56 de 2167

From the revolutionary use of drones to staged coups, child abduction and psychological warfare, the war in Ukraine is like no other. It is a new form of total war, combining traditional military force with all the non-military tools of the Russian state. The 2022 invasion was just the next stage of a conflict that Russia has been fighting since 2005, using all the tactics at its disposal to control Ukraines politics and wreak havoc.Combining over a decade of research, astute analysis and powerful stories from the front line, and including striking photographs of the people and scenes he encountered along the way, Bob Seely has written the authoritative guide to this new form of conflict. Travelling extensively throughout Ukraine, Seely meets figures such as Panoushka, the sniper who continues to fight despite the loss of her fiance, and Ksenia, the seventeen-year-old who journeyed through Russia searching for her abducted younger brother. Above all, Seely argues that understanding Moscows new total war is critical because Russia considers itself at war with the West as well as Ukraine, directing some of the tactics used there against us.Insightful, gripping and at times moving, this book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the unconventional methods Russia and other authoritarian states will use to challenge the West for global supremacy and undermine our beliefs, power and influence.

George Carman QC was, and perhaps still is, Britains most famous lawyer within living memory. Equally feared and respected, he made his name as an erudite and incisive advocate largely in the field of libel. Coming to prominence with his superb defence of disgraced former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe on a charge of conspiracy to murder, Carman subsequently defended many well-known faces from the worlds of entertainment, sport, politics and business, including Ken Dodd, Richard Branson and Elton John.Away from court, Carman was a complex and private yet not unsociable man. In 1986, he met barrister Karen Phillipps and, although she turned down his immediate marriage proposal, the two would have a close platonic relationship for the rest of Carmans life.Carman intended to write his memoirs but became too ill to complete the book and died in 2001. Using his papers, press cuttings and court transcripts along with the testimonies of some of those who saw him in action and her own extensive memories of her close friend Phillipps presents a portrait of this eminent advocate through the cases that made him famous. All the drama of the courtroom world that Carman belonged to is here, along with some of the best and most entertaining theatre the English justice system has ever seen.

Richie Hogan stands among the legends of hurling, a seven-time All- Ireland senior medallist and a recipient of multiple individual awards. With Kilkenny hurling in his blood, Richie didnt just dream of greatness he relentlessly pursued it. Every day, he strategised on how to reach the pinnacle of the sport he cherished and, once there, how to remain at the top.Richies illustrious career brought him moments of profound triumph and heart-wrenching defeat. But his success was no accident; it was the result of unwavering focus. Every decision from his education to his career and lifestyle was shaped by his dedication to hurling.In this candid account, Richie unveils the story of his extraordinary journey. He shares his obsession with upholding the highest standards in the Kilkenny team under the legendary Brian Cody, the defining moments on the field, and the challenges and injuries that almost derailed his path. This is an unflinching look inside one of the greatest hurling teams ever assembled, as told by one of its most iconic leaders.

The death of John Smith on 12th May 1994 was one of those events which sticks in the memory. He was cut down at the moment that it looked as if he was set to become the next Prime Minister after a long political career and after successive electoral defeats for his party.This book, published to mark the thirtieth anniversary of his death, offers a comprehensive assessment of his leadership of the Labour Party, with chapters written by academic experts, on their chosen fields, and by those who knew him as advisers, MPs and journalists.There are two themes running through the book. The first seeks to examine the extent to which there was a John Smith effect in terms of politics and policy and assess whether he succeeded in establishing his own agenda or simply followed that of his predecessor. The second examines the extent to which Smith was a representative of Old Labour or New Labour.

For almost half a century, Bertram Mills Circus was a household name throughout Britain among both children and adults and its Director, Cyril Bertram Mills, was one of the best-known and most influential names in the countrys entertainment business.But for forty years, Cyril Mills had also enjoyed a top-secret and wide-ranging career in British intelligence: obtaining the best aerial intelligence on Nazi rearmament for MI6 before the Second World War; becoming the first case officer to monitor the best double agent (Garbo) of the war after joining MI5; and working part-time during the Cold War for MI5 or 6 or both without being paid a penny.Remarkably, no word of Millss secret career appeared in public until he was over eighty. Nobody suspected that the glamorous world of pre-war circus entertainment had been an extraordinarily fitting rehearsal for the lethal arena of deception and surveillance. In this remarkable true story, Christopher Andrew, best-selling official biographer of MI5, brings to life one of the most surprising and fascinating tales of espionage ever told.

Uma notável biografia de uma cidade fascinanteDo Alcorão a Shakespeare, esta cidade dos três nomes – Bizâncio, Constantinopla, Istambul – foi o centro do mundo, durante grande parte da sua história,

The tempestuous years of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. An insiders account of the rivalries and battles that eventually brought down the Conservative government.The Best of Enemies is the political diaries of Norman Fowler, one of the most significant politicians of the late twentieth century. Covering the entire Thatcher/Major era from the formers election in 1979 to the latters defeat in 1997 during which time Fowler held prominent positions in the Cabinet. As Transport Secretary he was responsible for making seat belts compulsory and later, as Health Secretary, he worked to draw public attention to the dangers of Aids. He was Chairman of the party from 199294.His diaries observe both Prime Ministers, and their Cabinet colleagues, at close quarters and Fowler brings his training as a journalist to bear on them. The diaries are full of insights and anecdotes and they resonate powerfully with the situation facing the Conservative Party today, including industrial strife, waning authority and a Labour Party looking like a government in waiting.The entries raise other issues that remain unresolved. They range from the effect that a ministers private sexual conduct should have on their career to whether an entirely hands-off approach to industrial strategy is in the national interest.Fowlers diaries provide a ringside seat to the struggles of their time. These are not the diaries of an ex-minister seeking to justify their own record. They are the story of how two Prime Ministers rose and fell and caused their party to split apart, told by someone who was there.

The Irish Civil War ended in 1923. Eighty years on, documentary-maker Tom Hurley wondered if there were many civilians and combatants left from across Ireland who had experienced the years 1919 to 1923, their prelude and their aftermath. What memories had they, what were their stories and how did they reflect on those turbulent times?In early 2003, he recorded the experiences of 18 people, conducting 2 further interviews abroad in 2004. Tom spoke to a cross section (Catholic, Protestant, Unionist and Nationalist) who were in their teens or early twenties during the civil war. The chronological approach he has taken spans 50 years, beginning with the oldest interviewees birth in 1899 and ending when the Free State became a republic in 1949.Last Voices of the Irish Revolution.

The welcome given to refugees from fascist Europe is part of our fond nostalgia for Britains role in the Second World War, nestling in our imagination next to images of evacuees clutching teddy bears, and milkmen picking their way through bomb rubble during the Blitz. But there is a darker side to this story. Then, as now, there was great suspicion, resentment and fear towards new arrivals, much of it kindled by the tabloid press. Then, as now, politicians dealt with a reluctance to accommodate refugees by hiding behind bureaucratic hurdles and obfuscation.Many of the 10,000 Kindertransport children who arrived here in the late 1930s have warm memories of the kindness they were shown, but half a million refugees were refused entry and most of them died as a result. And those who were accepted found their troubles far from over. While Britain fearfully awaited invasion in 1940, 30,000 Jews were interned as enemy aliens and some were sent off to the colonies on dangerous and sometimes fatal voyages. Nor were Jews the only refugees clamouring for the thin gruel of public sympathy. Those fleeing fascism and civil war elsewhere in Europe found that whether they were met with kindness or hostility depended on the locals political affiliations and newspapers of choice.Interweaving personal testimonies with historical sources, Paul Dowswell casts a fresh eye on the wartime era, painting a vivid picture of what life was really like for Britains refugees.

"As well as being one of the leading political journalists of his generation, Andy McSmiths varied life has brought him into contact with a huge variety of people, high and low, whom he describes with an acute eye for character. His book Strange People I Have Known is a fast-paced and entertaining read that brings deep insight into British political life." Bill Browder"A fascinating memoir which gives a revelatory insiders account of the biggest political names from the past few decades, interwoven with evocative reflections on the many colourful characters who have peppered McSmiths own life." Pippa Crerar"An addictive memoir that fizzes with anecdotes. If you like top-level political gossip and insights written with panache, look no further." Gary Gibbon***Westminster and Whitehall are secret worlds, hidden to most. But working as a lobby journalist, former Labour Party staffer Andy McSmith has had exclusive access to our top politicians for decades. Here, he shares his personal encounters with the great and the good of the British political landscape, revealing what they are really like behind the scenes.With witty and perceptive flair, he describes encounters such as flying to Tokyo with Margaret Thatcher, the last Prime Minister who would walk fearlessly into a room full of journalists, unprotected by special advisers; dining with Sir Edward Heath, a man who knew how to hold a grudge, in his home in Salisbury; observing Gordon Brown and Tony Blair as new MPs, sharing a cramped office in Parliament and collaborating like brothers; and working with Boris Johnson back when he had an ambition to be something more than just a journalist.Filled with vivid portraits of those at the heart of British politics over the past forty years, Strange People I Have Known is a memoir of a life well lived and an insiders account of the inner workings of government.

In this book, Boris Grundl shows how he took his destiny into his own hands at the absolute lowest point in order to lead his life self-determined and freely. For the convinced optimist, the greatest happiness today lies in inspiring other people to develop their potential. A moving book about mental strength and personal development and the story of an incredible life. He is in his mid-twenties and a hopeful top athlete when it happens: an accident - and Boris Grundl is paraplegic. But he doesnt give up. He is the first wheelchair user to complete his studies in sports science. He becomes a wheelchair seller and rises to become marketing and sales director in a large corporation. Along the way, he becomes one of the best wheelchair rugby players in the world. Today he is a successful business coach and impresses with his authenticity.

The courageous pilots of the Royal Air Force who faced the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, affectionately known as the Few, are rightly hailed as heroes. Recently, efforts have been made to recognise the thousands who supported RAF operations behind the scenes. And yet one group remains missing from the narrative: the Womens Auxiliary Air Force. WAAFs worked within the Dowding System, the worlds most sophisticated air defence network. Throughout the Blitz, they used radar to aid Fighter and Bomber Commands in protecting Britains civilians. WAAFs were also behind the discovery of the terrifying German V-weapons. Their work was critical ahead of the Normandy landings and they were present in their hundreds at Bletchley Park. In this thrilling book, Sarah-Louise Miller celebrates their wartime contribution to British military intelligence. Hidden behind the Few but vital to their success, WAAFs supplied the RAF with life-saving information. Here, for the first time, is their story.

"What we have been missing" Henry Kissinger***If the United States does not lead, there will be no leadership. If the US instead turns inward, there will be a price to be paid later. George H. W. BushMarking thirty years since the end of George H. W. Bushs presidency, Robin Renwick paints a warm, affectionate portrait of a President who sought to unify rather than divide his country, and whose staunch belief in diplomacy strengthened cooperation around the world.A True Statesman explores Bushs core belief in the United States as the indispensable nation in helping to deal with world crises, charting his efforts to end the Cold War, secure the reunification of Germany and drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait.Extending beyond Bushs time in office, it also reflects on US foreign policy over the past three decades, examining the consequences of his successors differing approaches to Americas role on the world stage.Incisively written by a former British Ambassador to Washington, this insider account offers fresh insights into both the 41st President and Americas foreign policy from IranContra to Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Winner of the Best Non-Fiction by a Parliamentarian category at the Parliamentary Book Awards 2023With a Foreword by Lord Hague of RichmondThe Intelligence Corps is one of the smallest and most secretive elements of the British Army. It has existed in various guises since the early twentieth century, but it was only formally constituted in July 1940. In this book, Michael Ashcroft tells the astonishing stories of some of its most courageous and ingenious figures, who have operated all over the world from the First World War to the present day.Whether carrying out surveillance work on the street, monitoring and analysing communications, working on overseas stakeouts, receiving classified information from a well-placed contact or interrogating the enemy in the heat of war, a hugely diverse range of people have served in the Corps, often supplementing their individual professional skills with original thinking and leadership in the name of the Crown. This book pays tribute to them and shows why, in the words of the 1st Duke of Marlborough, No war can be conducted successfully without early and good intelligence.

Of the twenty chapters that make up these Memoirs, seventeen appear here in print for the first time, unearthed by the editors from the Harvard Archive. They include intense depictions of Lowells mental illness and his efforts to recover, and conclude with reminiscences of other writers - T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Ezra Pound, John Berryman, Anne Sexton, Hannah Arendt, and Sylvia Plath. Memoirs demonstrates Lowells expansive gifts as a prose stylist and provide further evidence of the range and brilliance of his achievement.

LIFE. SEX. RACE. POWER. FREE SPEECH. PROTEST. PRIVACY. DEMOCRACY. SOVEREIGNTY. DEATH.Society shapes law and law shapes society.We like to imagine that progress comes about when Parliament spots a looming groundswell in public opinion and responds by changing the laws that govern our daily lives. This is not always true.In this fascinating book, Inigo Bing unravels ten legal cases in which the decisions of judges or a jury either heralded a shift in outlook or forced Parliament to respond to simmering social change.Some of these cases demonstrate the role judges have in defending our civil liberties against overweening executive power, articulating inherent unwritten rights Parliament would prefer to keep quiet about. Others explore what happens when rapid technological or social change outpaces government, placing urgent ethical dilemmas in the lap of the court. All of them have had a lasting impact on the society we inhabit.Taken together, these stories provide a powerful insight into eighty years of British social, political and cultural history, illustrating why legal cases are just as important to making our world as laws written by Parliament or grassroots changes within society.

"A remarkable inside story of the war from the perspective of the Iraqi Commander-in-Chief. Fascinating, very readable, and recommended." Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor"Impossible Victory is the definitive memoir of Iraqs effort to save its people and many other would-be victims from the most destructive terrorist organisation in history." Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster, former US national security advisor and author of Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World"This book casts a historical light on a decisive era." Jean-Yves Le Drian, French minister for Europe and foreign affairs***By 2014, the world had grown weary of Iraq and its troubles. The Americans had all but gone and the media had turned its gaze towards Syria, but Iraqs problems were far from over. That same year, ISIS put Iraq back on the map as they crossed the border from Syria and rampaged through the country, kidnapping, raping and killing, all in the name of enforcing their murderous interpretation of Sharia law.Terror had arrived and was taking the region in its grip. Saddam Hussein, the occupation, sectarian war, corruption and political instability had collectively laid the groundwork for further violence, and Iraqis were about to see the worst of it.It was against this backdrop that Haider al-Abadi became Prime Minister. What would likely be the most formidable task of his life lay ahead of him: to help unify his homelands fractured military and politics and, slowly, to turn the tide on ISIS, ultimately achieving what once seemed an impossible victory.This is the definitive and fascinating true story of how the people of Iraq took on and eventually defeated ISIS, told by the countrys former Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.

The Falklands War, which may prove to be the last colonial war that Britain ever fights, took place in 1982. Fought 8,000 miles from home soil, it cost the lives of 255 British military personnel, with many more wounded, some seriously.The war also witnessed many acts of outstanding courage by the UK Armed Forces after a strong Task Force was sent to regain the islands from the Argentine invaders. Soldiers, sailors and airmen risked, and in some cases gave, their lives for the freedom of 1,820 islanders.Lord Ashcroft, who has been fascinated by bravery since he was a young boy, has amassed several medal collections over the past four decades, including the worlds largest collection of Victoria Crosses, Britain and the Commonwealths most prestigious gallantry award.Falklands War Heroes tells the stories behind his collection of valour and service medals awarded for the Falklands War. The collection, almost certainly the largest of its kind in the world, spans all the major events of the war.This book, which contains nearly forty individual write-ups, has been written to mark the fortieth anniversary of the war. It is Lord Ashcrofts attempt to champion the outstanding bravery of our Armed Forces during an undeclared war that was fought and won over ten weeks in the most challenging conditions.

Born out of the Sankey Commissions identification of the appalling living and working conditions of coal miners, the Miners Welfare Fund was established by the Mining Industry Act 1920 to improve the social conditions of colliery workers. Administered by the Miners Welfare Committee, it was totally depended on a levy on the ton of the national output of coal and, from 1926, the levy on mineral rights for its income. Despite industrial unrest, world economics, Parliamentary legislation, Parliamentary enquiries and world conflict, the Committee and, from 1939, the Commission, in collaboration with the twenty-five District Committees, doggedly pursed their statutory remits of recreation, pit and social welfare, mining education and research into safety in mines. With such a geographically dispersed organisation and a Fund without precedent, there were mistakes and misunderstandings but, despite these, there were great achievements including the Architects Branch winning international recognition for their designs of pithead baths and the Rehabilitation Service for injured miners gaining national recognition for their quality of care.With the passing of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act and the National Health Service Act in 1946, the rationale for the Miners Welfare Commission became less clear and a decision was taken in June 1951 to terminate the Miners Welfare Commission. The Miners Welfare Act 1952 brought the Fund to an end. During the thirty-one years of the Fund, nearly 30,000,000 had been allocated.

The year is 1987. Having made history by becoming the UKs first female Prime Minister and then driving out the most left-wing manifesto the country has ever seen, Margaret Thatcher faces a climactic third election campaign.Her eight years in power have been pivotal in guiding the UK back onto the path towards prosperity, and as he surveys the scene, David Young, Secretary of State for Employment, can see the fragile seeds of Thatchers government beginning to grow. But this third election threatens to destroy it all, plunging the nation back into the chaos of union militancy, the three-day week and the Winter of Discontent, when Britain ground to a halt and even the bodies lay unburied. Drafted in to run the campaign, Young knows one thing for certain: the country cannot afford to go back.Written in lucid, powerful prose, Youngs remarkable diary of the election that set the UK on course for the next thirty years invites readers into the room with the key players, including the Prime Minister herself. Full of gut-wrenching claustrophobia, tension and paranoia, Inside Thatchers Last Election reveals the personality clashes that threatened to derail the campaign from the beginning and presents a very different woman from the Thatcher we think we know.For those in the eye of the storm, there was little doubt about what was at stake: the future of Britains enterprise.