Piers Brendon

No empire has been larger or more diverse than the British Empire. At its apogee in the 1930s, 42 million Britons governed 500 million foreign subjects. Britannia ruled the waves and a quarter of the earth's surface was painted red on the map. Yet no empire (except the Russian) disappeared more swiftly. Within a generation this mighty structure collapsed, often amid bloodshed, leaving behind a scatter of sea-girt dependencies and a ghost of an empire, the Commonwealth, overshadowed by Imperial America. It left a contested legacy: at best a sporting spirit, a legal code and a near-universal language; at worst, failed states and internecine strife. Full of vivid particulars, brief lives, telling anecdotes, comic episodes, symbolic moments and illustrative vignettes, The Decline and Fall of the British Empire is popular history at its scholarly best.

The Decline and Fall of the British Empire, 1781-1997

In a work of breathtaking scholarship and scope, "The Dark Valley" is a magisterial overview of the clouded and turbulent pause between the two World Wars. Brendon expertly takes readers through a decade dominated by the Great Depression, political unrest, and social upheaval. of photos. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

A Panorama of the 1930s

The Dark Valley

'From beak to tail feather and from flipper to fin, this is a book that will long be known, read and savoured.' - James W. Muller, Chairman of the Board of Academic Advisers of the International Churchill SocietyWinston Churchill was known for his great love for and admiration of animals. In fact, one of Churchill's key characteristics was his fascination with the animal kingdom - creatures of all sorts were a crucial element in his existence. He was amused, intrigued and enchanted by, sometimes even besotted with a vast menagerie, from his pet budgerigar, dogs, cats, fish, butterflies, to his own lion, leopard and white kangaroos kept at London Zoo, and even more unusual species. Dwelling and walking amid flora and fauna was Churchill's ideal form of existence - 'The world would be better off if it were inhabited only by animals' - and he signed his letters home as a boy 'The Pussy Cat'. In this fascinating biography, Dr Piers Brendon looks deeper into Churchill's love of the animal kingdom, and at how animals played such a large part in his everyday life. We encounter the paradox of the animal-loving-hunter: he hunts foxes yet keeps them as pets, he likes fishing but loves fish; along with the man who used analogies to animals time and time again in his speeches and writings. The picture that emerges shows another side to the great man, showcasing his wit, wisdom and wayward genius from a different perspective and shedding new and fascinating light on the man voted The Greatest Briton.

His Life Through Animals

Churchill's Bestiary

Phillip Whitehead

A biography of the British royal family, based on research for a TV documentary of the same name. It tells the story of the House of Windsor from its foundations in 1917 to the turn of the new century. Drawing on private and personal reminiscences from George V to Prince Charles, the book shows how the monarchy has recreated itself down the ages. It looks at the power the family had to survive crises like World War I, the abdication of Edward VIII, royal divorces and the death of Princess Diana. There is also an examination of the role of the media, and their part in creating regal matriachs like Queen Mary and the Queen Mother to the creation of Princess Diana as a popular icon.

A Dynasty Revealed

The Windsors

In a work of breathtaking scholarship and scope, "The Dark Valley" is a magisterial overview of the clouded and turbulent pause between the two World Wars. Brendon expertly takes readers through a decade dominated by the Great Depression, political unrest, and social upheaval. of photos.

Fingersmith

A WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD NOTABLE BOOK After the American Revolution, the British Empire appeared to be doomed. Yet it grew to become the greatest, most diverse empire the world had seen. Then, within a generation, the mighty structure collapsed, a rapid demise that left an array of dependencies and a contested legacy: at best a sporting spirit, a legal code and a near-universal language; at worst, failed states and internecine strife. The Decline and Fall of the British Empire covers a vast canvas, which Brendon fills with vivid particulars, from brief lives to telling anecdotes to comic episodes to symbolic moments.

'After my death,' George V said of his eldest son and heir, 'the boy will ruin himself within twelve months.' The forecast proved uncannily accurate. Edward VIII came to the throne in January 1936, provoked a constitutional crisis by his determination to marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson, and abdicated in December. He was never crowned king. In choosing the woman he loved over his royal birthright, Edward shook the monarchy to its foundations. Given the new title 'Duke of Windsor' and essentially sent into exile, he remained a visible skeleton in the royal cupboard until his death in 1972 and he haunts the house of Windsor to this day. Drawing on unpublished material, notably correspondence with his most loyal (though much tried) supporter Winston Churchill, Piers Brendon's superb biography traces Edward's tumultuous public and private life from bright young prince to troubled sovereign, from wartime colonial governor to sad but glittering expatriate. With pace and panache, it cuts through the myths that still surround this most controversial of modern British monarchs.

The Uncrowned King

Edward VIII (Penguin Monarchs)

Explores a time dominated by the Great Depression, political unrest, social upheaval, repression, and the coming of World War II and profiles key figures of the era.

A Brief Life

Winston Churchill

From the advent of the horseless carriage to the age of the stretch limousine, the Royal Automobile Club has been known as the Parliament of motoring. This volume provides a centenary history of the club. It is a record of the work of the institution, tracing the journey of the car through 100 years of Britain's national life.

The Story of the Royal Automobile Club

The Motoring Century

Our Own Dear Queen

'From beak to tail feather and from flipper to fin, this is a book that will long be known, read and savoured.' - James W. Muller, Chairman of the Board of Academic Advisers of the International Churchill Society Winston Churchill was known for his great love for and admiration of animals. In fact, one of Churchill's key characteristics was his fascination with the animal kingdom - creatures of all sorts were a crucial element in his existence. He was amused, intrigued and enchanted by, sometimes even besotted with a vast menagerie, from his pet budgerigar, dogs, cats, fish, butterflies, to his own lion, leopard and white kangaroos kept at London Zoo, and even more unusual species. Dwelling and walking amid flora and fauna was Churchill's ideal form of existence - 'The world would be better off if it were inhabited only by animals' - and he signed his letters home as a boy 'The Pussy Cat'. In this fascinating biography, Dr Piers Brendon looks deeper into Churchill's love of the animal kingdom, and at how animals played such a large part in his everyday life. We encounter the paradox of the animal-loving-hunter: he hunts foxes yet keeps them as pets, he likes fishing but loves fish; along with the man who used analogies to animals time and time again in his speeches and writings. The picture that emerges shows another side to the great man, showcasing his wit, wisdom and wayward genius from a different perspective and shedding new and fascinating light on the man voted The Greatest Briton.

Examines the contradictory interpretations of Dwight David Eisenhower's effectiveness as a leader and analyzes his paradoxical personality--one possessed of strong passions but a weak character, noble instincts but irresolute will, and generous impluses b

Piers Brendon

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