Gordon Kerr

Informative, fascinating and extremely well-researched...Gordon Kerr's book is a mini masterpiece' - ABC Brisbane Situated at the crossroads of three continents, the Middle East has confounded the ambition of conquerors and peacemakers alike. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all had their genesis in the region but with them came not just civilisation and religion but also some of the great struggles of history. A Short History of the Middle East makes sense of the shifting sands of Middle Eastern History, beginning with the early cultures of the area and moving on to the Roman and Persian Empires; the growth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; the invasions from the east; Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes; the Ottoman Turks and the rise of radicalism in the modern world symbolised by Islamic State.

From Ancient Empires to Islamic State

A Short History of the Middle East

Beginning in the 1830s and ending with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the Victorian Era saw the British Empire--the largest the world had seen--dominate the world. British ingenuity in the fields of technological development and the heavy industry of its Industrial Revolution led to Britain being dubbed "the workshop of the world" while its Royal Navy policed the world's oceans helping to create what has become known as a "Pax Britannica." This book details the sweeping social and economic changes that took place during this period but also examines the events of the time and the lives of the eminent Victorians who contributed so much to British success--men and women such as Florence Nightingale, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Charles Darwin. This is the story of the greatest period in British history, a period that still resonates in today's Britain.

A Short History of the Victorian Era

Having conquered the world's taste buds and established itself as a staple in our daily lives, coffee has mirrored the moods and movements of society for centuries - yet, how much do we know about its history? In his riveting new book, Gordon Kerr investigates the fascinating history behind the global obsession with coffee, from its Ethiopian origins to the legends, myths, geographical locations, and somewhat eccentric characters that have helped make it the staple that it is today. Proliferating high streets, towns, and cities across Europe, coffee has become increasingly popular in recent years and has succeeded in creating new and exciting hubs of commerce, news, and debate, where deals could be done and revolution could be incited. Yet, despite coffee's very modern role, its origins stretch back to the days of intrepid travelers and merchants, who told tales of this new and exotic beverage. Following the growth in popularity through to the 21st-century explosion of coffee shop culture, A Short History of Coffee lifts the Styrofoam lid on both the business of coffee, as well as the pleasures that it brings its drinkers.

A Short History of Coffee

The Magic Bean

First brought to life by master of horror H.P. Lovecraft, Cthulhu is an iconic figure that has inspired imagination and terrified generations. In this exciting new book, punchy text describes how fantasy art, literature, movies and even games have been influenced by the power of Cthulhu, accompanied by powerfully atmospheric artworks.

Dark Fantasy, Horror and Supernatural Movies

Cthulhu

The Timetraveller's Guide to Georgian London (Time-Travellers Guide)

During this time of conflict and suspicion, it is perhaps more important than ever to understand the beliefs and philosophies of other cultures. A Short History of Religion provides a useful guide to the world's most popular religions - Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism - describing their origins and history, beliefs, worship and sacred writings, but also investigates many of the smaller and lesser known religions as well as newer movements such as Scientology, Wicca and Raëlism. Praise for Gordon Kerr 'Factual and even-handed, Kerr presents a fair-minded introduction of basic Chinese history' - Booklist 'Thoroughly rewarding' - Travelmag 'Informative, fascinating and extremely well-researched...Gordon Kerr's book is a mini masterpiece' - ABC Brisbane

A Pocket Essential Short Introduction to Religion

A Short History of the Vietnam War explains how the United States became involved in its longest war, a conflict that, from the outset, many claimed it could never win. It details the escalation of American involvement from the provision of military advisors and equipment to the threatened South Vietnamese, to an all-out shooting war involving American soldiers, airmen and sailors, of whom around 58,000 would die and more than 300,000 would be wounded.

A Short History of the Vietnam War

Provides an overview of Chinese history, investigates the Chinese view of the world, and examines the nations movements, aspirations, and philosophies that have molded it and allowed its emergence as a superpower.

From Ancient Dynasties to Economic Powerhouse

A Short History of China

Mapping the Trail of a Crime is packed with gripping cases, fascinating forensic science and intriguing photographs. Follow the experts as they solve some of the world's most chilling crimes, using the latest science of geographic profiling. Why do some serial killers kill only in their own homes or only in the homes of their victims? Why do some kidnappers and rapists travel far and wide to commit their crimes while others stick close to home? This fully illustrated collection of true crime stories explores a range of well-known criminal cases from a fascinating perspective. It explores the chilling and audacious crimes of infamous serial killers, rapists, and child molesters, implementing the latest geographic profiling methods used by forensic experts. (Geographic profiling is a technique that analyzes the locations of a connected series of crimes and has proven to help investigators determine patterns and anticipate where future crimes may occur or where evidence from past crimes may be found.) Each case explores the criminal's pattern of behavior, gives an overview of the significant incidents of the crime, provides a timeline of how the crime progressed, and includes a map that charts the geography of each case. Exploring the most notorious cases of our day in this unique way provides a novel perspective and gripping narrative. You'll learn how observing such geographic patterns helped investigators catch the most infamous of criminals. The cases include: Deadly visitors Richard Trenton, also known as "The Vampire of Sacramento," killed people in their homes between 1977 and 1978. Richard Ramirez, also known as, "The Night Stalker," murdered people in their homes in Los Angeles and San Francisco between 1984 and 1985. Home and Away Jeffrey Dahmer killed and cannibalized 17 people between 1977 and 1978. Arthur Gary Bishop, child killer and molester, lured young boys to his apartment in Salt Lake City from 1979 to 1983. Transports of Death David Berkowitz, also known as The Son of Sam, killed people in their cars from 1976 to 1977. Aileen Wuornos killed seven men, all of whom had picked her up as she was hitchhiking between 1989 and 1990. Nomads Ted Bundy killed women throughout Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado from 1974 to 1978. Robert Black, serial killer, child molester, and rapist, abducted and killed young girls across the UK from 1982 to 1986. In a Lonely Place Andrei Chikatilo, a Russian mass murderer and rapist, abducted and killed children in the woods from 1978 to 1990. Robert Pickton, serial killer of approximately 26 women, killed mainly prostitutes and drug users and buried them on his farm between 1997 and 2001.

How Experts Use Geographic Profiling to Solve the World's Most Notorious Cases

Mapping the Trail of a Crime

Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This book covers the major cities and regions, and also reveals the gorgeous alleys and churches, the little farmhouses, the tiny shops and picturesque villages that create the impression of ageless grace.

From Charlemagne to the Treaty of Lisbon

A Short History of Europe

The Partisan Heart

Capital punishment was abolished for murder in Great Britain in 1969, but remained as the punishment for high treason until as recently as 1998, demonstrating how seriously we take the crime of betraying your country. But even with the threat of the noose hanging over them, many still chose the path of treachery during the cataclysmic events of last century. British Traitors examines the lives and motivations of a number of the perpetrators of this most heinous of crimes, following the footsteps of Fascist traitors such as William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) and John Amery to the gallows, investigating what drove men such as Wilfred Macartney and John Herbert King to betray their country during the war to end all wars and delving into the mysterious web of espionage and subterfuge surrounding the Cambridge Spy Ring that spied for the Soviet Union from the nineteen-thirties until the early nineteen-fifties. People commit treason for many reasons - some seek adventure, some seek reward, some are motivated by political philosophy, while others are sucked into it by their own foolishness. British Traitors provides a fascinating look at the lives and impulses of those who chose to betray their country.

Betrayal and Treachery in the Twentieth Century

British Traitors

It takes charisma and inspiration to lead any group of people. Leaders who Changed the World explores the lives and careers of such extraordinary individuals as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Some have slogged and suffered in order to change the world for the better, while others, like Adolf Hitler or Osama Bin Laden have only succeeded in damaging humanity. Throughout history there have only been a handful of people capable of supreme leadership. What lessons can be learned from their triumphs and failures? Read the words and actions of some astonishing leaders and learn exactly how they changed the world. Leaders include Plato, Buddha, Alexander, Hannibal, Julius Caesar, Jesus Christ, Boudicca, Attila the Hun, Muhammad, Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, Genghis Khan, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Horatio Nelson, Napoleon Bonaparte, Duke of Wellington, Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, Fidel Castro, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Martin Luther King, Mao Zedong, Nelson Mandela, John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama

The extraordinary inspiration of those who create history

Leaders Who Changed the World

What is Europe? Firstly, of course, it is a continent made up of countless disparate peoples, races and nations, and governed by different ideas, philosophies, religions and attitudes. Nonetheless, it has a common thread of history running through it, stitching the lands and peoples of its past and present together into one fabric.

A Pocket Essential

Short History of Europe

World Serial Killers investigates the fiendish crimes of butchers like Fritz Haarman selling human meat on the streets of Hanover, Germany, Edinburgh body-snatchers Burke and Hare and Alberto De Salvo, the notorious Boston Strangler. Read the accounts of deranged real-life monsters such as Charles Manson, Ted Bundy and Jack the Ripper as well as the stories of many other serial killers from around the world. Contents: Europe – Burke and Hare, Jack the Ripper, Henri Landru, Fritz Haarmann, Marcel Petiot, Peter Kürten, Peter Manuel, Joachim Kroll, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, Fred and Rosemary West, Harold Shipman. North America – H.H.Holmes, Albert Fish, The Lonely Hearts Killers,The Boston Strangler, Charles Manson, Ed Kemper, Ted Bundy, Son of Sam, The Hillside Stranglers, Clifford Olson, Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, Tommy Lynn Sells, Cary Stayner. South America – Pedro Alonso López, Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos, Adolfo de Jesús Constanzo, Juana Barraza. Australia – Eric Edgar Cooke, William the Mutilator Macdonald, Paul Charles Denyer, Ivan Milat, The Snowtown Murderers, John Wayne Glover, Peter Dupas, Catherine and David Birnie.

They kill for the thrill

World Serial Killers

British Traitors explores the lives and motivations of a number of the traitors who betrayed their country during the twentieth century. From Kim Philby to Lord Haw-Haw, Wilfred Macartney to George Blake, the book Investigates what drives a person to commit that most heinous of crimes - treason.

Africa. The cradle of civilisation. From the dawn of human time in prehistoric Africa right through to the so-called 'Arab Spring' of 2011, Gordon Kerr offers a comprehensive introduction to the sprawling history of this enormous continent. He begins with the origins of the human race and the development of stone age technology, through ancient and medieval times and the significance of the Arab presence, the Muslim states and the trans-Saharan trade. Kerr continues with the rise and fall of nation states and kingdoms prior to the arrival of Europeans , Ghana, the Kingdoms of the Forest and Savanna, Yoruba, Oyo, Benin, Asante, Luba, Lunda, Lozi and many others, on to the beginning of the slave trade, and the European conquest and colonization of sub-Saharan Africa, the 'Scramble for Africa'. Finally moving onto the often bitter struggles for independence from that period of colonization and exploitation, Kerr concludes with an assessment of Africa in the 21st century.

From the origins of the human race to the Arab Spring

A Short History of Africa

A Short History of the First World War tells the story of this cataclysmic event. It begins by describing the background to war, the international rivalries and conflicts of the previous decades that led to the nations of Europe forming virtual armed camps, the relentless build-up of military and naval hardware that characterized the early years of the 20th century and the great figures that tried to prevent conflict or enthusiastically pushed for it. Each year of the war is dealt with in its own chapter, the battles, various battlefronts and important incidents described and analyzed for their impact on the conduct of the war. The war on the home front is also considered, both in the case of the Allies and the Central Powers. Finally, the book examines the last acts of this 'war to end all wars', providing accounts of the Russian Revolution, the decisive entry of the United States into the hostilities and the efforts of the Paris Peace Conference after the armistice to apportion blame and punish the losers.

Land, Sea and Air, 1914-1918

A Short History of the First World War

What is Europe? Firstly, of course, it is a continent made up of countless disparate peoples, races and nations, and governed by different ideas, philosophies, religions and attitudes. Nonetheless, it has a common thread of history running through it, stitching the lands and peoples of its past and present together into one fabric and held together by the continent's great institutions, such as the Church of Rome, the Holy Roman Empire, the European Union, individual monarchies, trade organisations and social movements. Europe, however, is also an idea. From almost the beginning of time, men have harboured aspirations to make this vast territory one. The Romans came close and a few centuries later, the foundations for a great European state were laid with the creation of the Holy Roman Empire - an empire different to any other in that it enjoyed the approval of God, through the Church in Rome. Napoleon overreached himself in attempting to create a European-wide Empire - as did Adolf Hitler. Now, however, Europe is as close as it ever has been to being one entity, yet we Europeans still cling to our national independence. In A Short History of Europe Gordon Kerr provides a coherent map of the jumbled history of Europe and the European idea that has brought us to this point.

Gordon Kerr

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