Neutral for fifty years in his work for the BBC, now he tells us what he thinks and thought about all those prime ministers, presidents, elections and scandals.
The pioneering struggle of early C20th women gardeners, who were excluded from the profession on account of their sex by such august bodies as the RHS. Fiona Davidson's previous book was The... read more
An account of the many Scots involved in Arctic exploration, including the search for the North-West Passage: in particular John Ross, James Clark Ross, John Richardson, John Rae and their h... read more
This intriguing analysis shows how the British secret services grew from the real threat of Queen Victoria's assassination, and intensified during the Abdication crisis.
Portraits, tapestries, sculpture, armour, manuscripts and objects from this artistically cosmopolitan court: Flemish weavers, German painters, Florentine sculptors... all in the service of d... read more
By examining their individual backgrounds, Clark shows that Ramsay MacDonald's new cabinet represented a radical departure in its representation of Britain's social classes.
Unjustly ejected from the Liberal government in 1915 as a 'German sympathiser', Haldane's influence on many of our institutions was great, and lasting.
The 'special relationship' was dreamt up by Churchill to keep Britain afloat geopolitically when faced with the loss of empire. Buruma takes a shrewd look at Churchill and FDR, JFK and Macm... read more
The dismantling of the welfare state in the UK was well under way before the Covid assault. Bunting has been researching this for five years, speaking to nurses, doctors, palliative care tea... read more
Borman's careful research shows that Anne's tragedy, intellect and family had a profound influence on Elizabeth throughout her life. A dazzling turn of the Tudor prism.
More ships were lost to shipwreck than in battle during the Napoleonic Wars. This is a valuable study of the Hydrographic Office and its intrepid sailors, who gathered the intelligence that ... read more
An elegant exploration of how British Prime Ministers, from Eden to Blair and beyond, have engaged in the Middle East under the misconception that they could help solve disputes because they... read more
Ambassador for Henry VIII, Lord Protector of Edward VI, queen-maker and marriage broker for Mary, Paget continued to wield influence at Elizabeth I's court. He kept his head - by a whisker -... read more
Before the East India Company took hold, the dazzling Mughal courts received a raggle-taggle caravan of C16th and C17th merchants, priests and adventurers.