oakpast aug 2012 (52 Ergebnisse)

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A tragic legend of the way WestThe story of the Donner Party is a tragic and infamous episode in the history of the 19th century pioneer migrations that crossed continental America. In May 1846 eighty-seven pioneers set out westward from Missouri headed for new lives in California. Persuaded to take an allegedly quicker route through Utah and Nevada, by someone who had never travelled that route by wagon train, they attempted the so-called 'Hastings Cutoff.' The extra weight of the wagons slowed the party's progress and instead of reaching their destination by September they found themselves grinding to a halt in the Sierra Nevada mountains in November, with winter already upon them. As the temperature dropped and snow began to fall, the group took shelter around a small lake, but their supplies were running low. In December a party of fifteen men and women struck out on snowshoes in an attempt to reach California on foot; more than half of them died of exposure and starvation, the survivors resorting to cannibalism. The first rescue party found the remnants of the lake-side group huddled in its encampment in February 1847. Of the original party only forty seven survived to reach California, all in an advanced state of emaciation and most, it is judged, had by that time resorted to eating human flesh. The reports of cannibalism spread to the public at large and elevated this episode into a compelling horror story. The fascination with the story of the Donner Party, with all its macabre connotations, has endured to the present day.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A witness to the Armenian GenocideThis is an unusual and riveting account by a young American mother who was living in Ottoman Turkey in both 'Constantinople' and Tarsus in Armenia during the opening years of the twentieth century. This was period of turmoil-a time of several cholera outbreaks, the war between Turkey and Italy, the Balkan War and the unrest that eventually led up to the conflagration that was the First World War. Helen Gibbons found herself enmeshed in many of these historic events, but the most significant and terrifying ordeal came with the massacres of the Armenian people by the Turks which turned into nothing less than genocide. The twentieth century has seen many examples of 'ethic cleansing,' each appalling episode seeming by its horror to eclipse the last. So it is perhaps unsurprising that the suffering of the Armenian people one hundred years ago has been relegated to the dusty corners of the public consciousness for all but those who had a direct connection with it. It is always right that these crimes against humanity should be returned to the spotlight of the present. In this book the account is made particularly poignant by the eyewitness recollection of one who lived through those days of terror and personal danger.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The Women of the Great WarIt has been a salient feature of twentieth century warfare that the industrial nature of conflict, combined with the huge number of men required and the numerous machines and armaments involved, has meant that industry has-of necessity-had to increase its capacity to keep the fighting forces constantly and consistently supplied. Yet each conflict has inevitably drained the places of industry of the very workforce it required to function effectively. The solution in both World Wars has been for women to step forward to fill the roles formally undertaken by men who were by then enlisted into the armed services. Of course, women invariably proved themselves to be equal to the tasks assigned to them and indeed without them wartime industrial production would inevitably have been compromised to the point of peril for the military outcome. The work was invariably hard and often dangerous, but women on the home front have long been regarded as the essential, if largely unsung, heroines of the war effort. The principal benefit of this book is that it not only describes the activities of women in the workplace, but that it includes many photographs of women at work, demonstrating the multitude of weapons, armaments, equipment and vehicles they manufactured during the First World War. This concise Leonaur edition includes two books-that were originally so short as to not have seen re-publication in modern times-for good value.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - At war against the Russians in the Victorian eraThis book, originally entitled, The Life of James O'Malley, gave few clues as to its content. In fact, it is an engaging eye-witness account of the war in the Crimea, with all of its attendant privations, savage violence and disease, as experienced by an ordinary British infantryman, told in simple but graphic detail. O'Malley joined the Leicestershire regiment, the 17th Foot-known proudly as the Royal Bengal Tigers-following exemplary service in India. The regiment was stationed in O'Malley's native Ireland and he there enlisted and learned the fundamentals of a good soldier of the grenadier company. The Crimean War saw his regiment sent to the trenches before Sebastopol and O'Malley's descriptions of the conflict there will strike all readers of military history as tellingly reminiscent of the trench warfare of the Great War some 60 years later. The British Army during this campaign was woefully ill equipped to fight a campaign in the Crimea, as most students will know, and O'Malley's descriptions of the conditions he and his comrades endured particularly from the encroaching winter are most poignant. O'Malley's book was poorly produced in its original edition and has been substantially re-worked by the Leonaur editors for modern readers. The original title of the work perhaps guaranteed its comparative obscurity so it will be welcomed as a new addition to the libraries of those interested in the period.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Two accounts of men of the Legion during the First World WarThe French Foreign Legion has earned its reputation in acts of heroism and aggression, in tenacious actions of resistance and in the spilling of much blood. It has always been recognised as a home for the dispossessed, criminals and soldiers of fortune, so among its ranks could be found hard men from a multitude of backgrounds and numerous nations. The Legion has been typified by the fierce loyalty of its men, its esprit de corps and its undying allegiance to the nation which had taken them under its protection. France has, however, always exacted a high price for its patronage. The Legion has habitually been asked to demonstrate that it is equal to its laurels and it has constantly been placed in the 'post of honour'-that bloody ground where the fighting is hardest and death more certain. In the warfare of the Western Front during the Great War that likelihood of annihilation was multiplied by the lethal nature of the battleground and losses were horrendous for Legion regiments-sometimes as high as one man killed out of three or four engaged. Yet still men flocked to the Legion's ranks. This book offers accounts of the experiences of two such men as they fought for the cause of France in the trenches. Each piece is comparatively short so they have been joined together in this special Leonaur good value edition.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - At war in Spain against Napoleon's French ArmyAny student of the military history of Great Britain during the 19th century will be aware of the name Napier. This was a remarkable family. Colonel George Napier married Lady Sarah Lennox who bore him eight children among them three sons who had particularly significant military careers and who during the Napoleonic Wars came to be known as 'Wellington's Colonels.' Charles served in the Peninsular War with the 50th Foot, became a general and is notable for the subjugation of Scinde on the Indian sub-continent. William served under Wellington in the 43rd Foot as part of the Light Division in the Peninsula, but is most remembered for his superlative history of the Peninsular War. This book concerns the Peninsular War experiences of George Napier. Originally titled, Passages in the Early Life of General Sir George Napier,K.C.B., it recounts the life on campaign, march, camp and field of battle not of a senior officer, but a regimental major who served under both Moore and Wellington and who was active at the sharp end of war as part of the famous Light Division. George Napier was a fine, educated and sensitive man who was able to put his experiences into words in the most compelling and literate way, whilst giving the reader insights into his personality which revealed him to be a warrior of the most honourable, courageous but humane kind. Napier led his regiment, the 52nd Foot, in its assault on the fortifications at Ciudad Rodrigo and there lost an arm when he was seriously wounded. It goes without saying that this book is an essential addition to every library of the Peninsular War.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The war in the air the British flyers knewThis collection of anecdotes, accounts and reports of the activities of the R. F. C. during the First World War on the Western Front was originally published under the title, Thrilling Deeds of British Airmen by Eric Wood. The original title, perhaps, gives the potential reader some indication as to the tone of this book since it was written during the conflict itself and predictably is jingoistic in its style. So, given the partiality of the author, readers should not look to this work for 'a well-rounded view.' Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that there is a paucity of material available on warfare in the air during this period and for many readers interested in the subject all works which add new information are welcome. In that Woods' book does not disappoint, he recounts a number of incidents concerning strafing raids, the bombing of enemy targets, attacks on Zeppelins, the activities of the Coastal Patrol and the aerial attacks on shipping, which do not necessarily appear elsewhere in print. Woods also provides accounts of notable aviators including Warneford, V. C. This pot-pourri of vignettes of British airmen during the first aerial war offers much of interest and is recommended for reading enjoyment.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The Great War in the Middle EastThose with any interest in the First World War know that its principal field of conflict was in Europe, where from the English Channel coastline to the Balkans it became a grinding stalemate of attrition. However, this was a war between imperial powers and during the nineteenth century, to one degree or another, each had gained and secured dominions and colonies all over the globe. Thus the war truly did embrace the world. Each side had its allies and Germany had forged close ties with the now declining Turkish Ottoman empire. The Turkish influence spread over the Middle East around its own homeland, into Mesopotamia and through Syria to the Holy Land. All combatants were aware of the value of the Suez Canal in Egypt as a route to the east. It was a vital lifeline for men and material to be defended or taken at all costs. The stage was inevitably set for one of the Great War's most interesting 'sideshow' campaigns. The Palestine Campaigns are particularly interesting to military students because they were fought over hard terrain-often desert-and because in a time of wire and trenches this was a comparatively fluid campaign that gave opportunities for the last great manoeuvres of cavalry ever to take place on the field of battle. This concise account was written shortly after the war by an eyewitness to many of the events described and thus is an excellent entry point for those for whom the history of this theatre of war has become a subject of new interest.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Amazon-the river of mysteryThe Amazon is known to everyone as one of the world's great waterways. Its interest and allure is enhanced because it is also in one of our planet's most mysterious regions. The Amazon jungle is massive, often dense and impenetrable and occupies huge portions of the South American continent-very much 'the New World' and one of the last places on earth to feel the impact of Western civilization. Even today it hides its secrets well and we know that there are likely to be more hidden tribes, fauna, flora and archaeological sites yet to be discovered. This exotic landscape was first invaded by Europeans in the 15th century and the events of those tragic and turbulent times as Europeans collided with the ancient civilizations established there are recorded within the pages of this book. The exploration of the great Amazon continues today, and Amazonia entrances explorers and travellers alike, just as it has done for almost 500 years. This is an interesting account of one of our last frontiers and is recommended for your reading pleasure.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A rare treasure of ghostly tales from the Victorian eraShropshire born James Hain Friswell (1825-78) was a prolific author of the Victorian age. A noted defender of the Christian faith, much of his non-fiction output quite naturally concentrated on religious matters. He also contributed to a number of journals of his time, wrote non-fiction on a plethora of subjects and penned a number of novels and short stories. He was especially regarded in his own time for his efforts to improve the quality of literature for young readers. In this special Leonaur edition is Friswell's small, but select, collection of the ghostly and other worldly fiction. Here is Ghost Stories and Phantom Fancies, a dozen or so pieces (including a poem) to please aficionados of supernatural fiction as it was a written during its golden age including, 'The Dead Man's Story,' 'The Black Madonna,' 'The Oxford Ghost,' 'A Phantom of the Du Barry' and others. This comparatively concise work published in 1858 is, of course, rare on the antiquarian market so the Leonaur editors are pleased to be able to represent it to modern readers as part of our Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction series.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Three individual narratives in a single, value for money volumeThis book contains three remarkable and fascinating true life accounts of naval adventure from the early years of the 19th century, which though short in length, and therefore unlikely to ever see republication individually, are still invaluable primary sources and of essential interest to both students of the history of the age of sail and general readers alike.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Armoured cars in the African bushThe subject of this book will need little by way of explanation to recommend it to interested readers. First, it concerns the First World War in Africa as it was fought between the respective British and German colonies in the west and east of the continent. While the focus of the Great War was on the Western Front, these 'sideshow' campaigns have an irresistible allure for students of the period due to the exotic nature of their terrain and circumstances. Second, the book was written by the commander of a distinctive and unusual unit, No 1 Squadron of the Royal Naval Armoured Car Division. The activities of early armoured car squadrons, which saw good service in those theatres where fluidity of manoeuvre was still possible, has remained of particular interest to military history students of the period in part because many of the vehicles were the magnificent Rolls-Royce armoured cars which have become iconic. This is an invaluable first hand account by an eyewitness-connected to those who directed pivotal events-who was in a position to understand the broader picture. Recommended in every way.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - London men at war against the BoersThe turn of the 19th century to 20th was a time of popularity for the military volunteer movement in the British Empire. When the Anglo-Boer War broke out the City Imperial Volunteers quickly filled its ranks with the men of the City of London anxious to serve their country in South Africa. The venture was supported by the Lord Mayor and the popularity of London's effort had widespread appeal. All manner of men hurried to join the C. I. V's ranks and many of them were professionals from the city's law firms and financial institutions, artists, writers or gentlemen of private means. The author of The Riddle of the Sands, Erskine Childers was one of their number. This book is comprised of the journal entries of the officer commanding the regiment and it follows the C. I. V's wartime experiences from recruitment to its return home. The C. I. V was well regarded on campaign and earned the praise of peers and senior officers alike. This book delivers its information in the sober manner one might expect of its author in the circumstances, but is nevertheless essential source material about each part of the unit-the infantry, mounted infantry, cyclists, medical staff etc. Included as an appendix is a substantial honour role that will be of special interest to genealogists.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - An American eagle with British wingsReaders interested in the personal experiences of the resolute and brave young men who ventured into the air to fight the first aerial combats will discover much to reward them in this book. The author joined the R. F. C in 1914 to fight Germany following its invasion of Belgium and advance into France at the beginning of the First World War. However, he was, in fact an American much taken with the idea of adventure as well as the righting of wrongs. Roberts' first experience of air fighting for the British flying corps was as an observer manning a machine gun and his descriptions of battling enemy aircraft and his accounts of his various 'kills' make gripping reading. Eventually he graduated to the pilot's cockpit where he became an accomplished exponent of the dogfight; this did not come without some cost, Roberts lost many comrades and was seriously wounded himself. This account is highly recommended since it brings to life through many anecdotes the first hand experiences of one who was there. This book is one of a very small number by early military aviators and will be a valuable addition to the library of anyone with an interest in the subject.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The conquest of the air-and beyondThis interesting book, which includes photographs and diagrams, describes the early years of man's attempts to gain mastery of the air. It chronicles the first, rudimentary attempts at flight in balloons to their ultimate development including their use during the Great War. Next came the age of the dirigible including, of course, the mighty Zeppelin. Allied dirigibles of the First World War are also considered. Most significant, however, was the development of powered, heavier than air, winged, machines and in this account they are described from their genesis with the Wright brothers to their use in the first great conflict which led to the creation of the air forces of the world. German and Allied aircraft are discussed, together with their various uses, applications and the deeds of the intrepid young men who flew them. There are not many accounts of the early days of aviation in peace and war so any addition to their number is welcome. This book was written before the potential of the aircraft had been fully realised and is an interesting perspective on how the first pilots, aircraft designers, manufacturers and visionaries saw them and their future in the opening decades of the twentieth century. An essential addition to any library of early aviation, this book is recommended.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A ferocious conflict between Mongol and SamuraiThe Japanese word 'Ghenko' is the term employed for the Mongol invasion of Japan. The event was an immensely significant one for the Japanese and it remained so for centuries because, in part, the defeat of the invaders was attributed to divine intervention. There can be little doubt that Japan's salvation had much to do with the fact that they are an island race and in that they have much in common with other islanders, Great Britain among them, who on more than one occasion might claim the sea as their principal and most powerful ally. Indeed. the author of this book draws parallels with Britain and the Spanish Armada. The Mongols had rapidly risen to power during the 13th century and had created an unstoppable empire that spread over huge areas of land from the Yellow Sea of Asia to the Danube in Europe. Although massively stronger than the Japanese, the Mongols attacked the Japanese islands, attempting domination by invasion and yet were repulsed with finality. To modern students of military history the contents of this book has a compelling allure, since there can be no doubt that in the Mongol warrior and the Japanese Samurai there resided a martial spirit and expertise which, perhaps inevitably, could not both exist in the same sphere, but which in collision could not fail to instigate conflict of the most singular kind. This account of the clash between the ultimate warriors of their day analyses this time of warfare in superb detail. An essential addition to the library of anyone interested in the warfare of the East.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Napoleon's Egyptian adventure by an Egyptian historianIt is a fascinating and compelling aspect of the character of Napoleon Bonaparte that as his star accelerated towards its zenith, his imagination and ambition for his own potential and those of the French revolutionary spirit he represented knew almost no limits. He saw the dominance of Europe and the Mediterranean region as but a gateway into the world at large with a limitless resource of lands, assets, trade and political influence not only for the taking but within the scope of his abilities to win. This found a French expeditionary force on the shores of Egypt, embarked upon what many regarded then and since as a romance, an adventure -an invasion with no real purpose, no logical place to go and no objective to achieve. An army determined to make its way by traditional force was accompanied by 'savants' concerned with expansion of knowledge and culture. It was a heady mixture and almost certainly doomed to disaster. Nelson, a British army, domestic discord and the truculent native population of a harsh oriental land far from home, hurried failure on its way. For the military historian the subject is entirely compelling. What makes this concise book interesting is that the era is considered here by an Egyptian historian who presents unique perspectives which will flesh out accounts by the French invaders or indeed those by modern historians from the West. This book originally brought the status of the Egyptian people up to date at the time the author wrote the his work, but since that was at the close of the nineteenth century and the sands of the middle east have shifted considerably since, the Leonaur editors have excised that element of the piece and this book is now confined to a single subject-that of a Napoleonic period history.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A famous female soldier of the Revolutionary WarThere have been few notable women who have joined their nations colours to fight in its causes on the battlefield. Fewer still have actually donned the uniform of a soldier and in the guise of men fought in in the ranks. Several nations have notable examples. The English have their 'Mother Ross' who fought as a dragoon during Marlborough's campaigns and there are several examples from both sides of the American Civil War. Deborah Sampson also felt her nation's call, in her case the emergent United States of America at the time when the young country rose to shake off the shackles of colonialism. In 1778, aged just 18 years old, young Deborah disguised herself in male attire and attempted to join the ranks of Washington's Continental Army. Fearful she had been discovered she failed to report for duty; but in 1782 under the name of her late brother, Robert Shurtliff Sampson, she finally achieved her objective. She found herself posted to the distinctively uniformed ranks of the light company of the 4th Massachusetts Regiment. Deborah fought in several skirmishes before her first battlefield engagement at Tarrytown during which she was wounded in the thigh and cut about the head. Afraid of discovery, she treated herself with penknife and twine. Her gender was discovered in 1783 by a doctor who was treating her for a fever though he did not reveal his discovery. Deborah Sampson's true identity was never formally acknowledged right up to the point she was honourably discharged in October 1783. This book was originally published under the title The Female Review. Life of Deborah Sampson, the Female Soldier in the War of the Revolution.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A concise history of a cataclysmic European conflict in the 17th centuryThe Thirty Years' War was fought between 1618-1648 and is widely recognised as being one of the most destructive wars ever fought. More people lost their lives in this conflict, as a percentage of the total population at the time, than in the conflicts of the twentieth century. Fought principally in central Europe-and mostly over terrain now in modern day Germany-the war involved more than fifteen nation states. Forces were divided broadly on religious grounds, between Protestants and their allies and the Catholics of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain but also with elements of the Ottoman Turkish Empire. Self evidently this was a long, bloody conflict the causes of which were many and complex. Dynasties were born in its tumult, great men were brought to the fore and some, like Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, would perish before its conclusion. The campaigns and battles of the Thirty Years' War have inspired historians across the centuries to the present day to write about them and many highly regarded works concerning the war have been published. This concise book takes a different approach; it sets out to give an understanding of the events and personalities involved and is an ideal overview for both specialists and those new to the subject.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A rare and highly regarded collection of the ghostly and strangeThe author of this collection of tales of the supernatural, Lady Bessie Kyffin-Taylor, undertook few forays into the realms of the fiction of the ghostly and other worldly and the result is this book of seven short stories, From out of the Silence. Originally published in an undated edition, but believed to have been released around 1920, the collection appeared just two years before the author's death. Kyffin-Taylor's style is judged by some to be reminiscent of the acclaimed writer of supernatural tales E. F. Benson, and must therefore be of interest to any aficionado of the genre, because the comparison elevates the quality of these tales into heady company. That said, one might mourn the fact that Kyffin-Taylor's output was so small. So concise a volume, published so long ago and with such an uncertain history must be a rare find indeed on the antiquarian market, and so the Leonaur editors are doubly pleased to make it more widely available by including it in the Leonaur Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction series.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Colonial warfare on the Dark ContinentThe British Empire rapidly spread it's influence throughout the globe during the nineteenth century. Predictably these intrusions rarely found favour with the indigenous populations and so, inevitably, the imperial interests of power and commerce were reinforced by the imposition of military and naval might courtesy of the British Army and the Royal Navy. British interests in West Africa proved to be no exception to the rule and the so called 'Ashanti Wars' were fought with varying degrees of savagery and through eight campaigns from 1806 until 1900. This book is about the Third Anglo-Ashanti War which was fought during 1873-74. Garnet Wolseley, commanding a force of British, West Indian and local forces marched against the Ashanti who had invaded British territory. The campaign gained particular notoriety because it occurred during the golden age of newspaper correspondents and was covered by both G. A. Henty and Henry Morton Stanley. It made Wolseley's reputation and he became a household name. The conflict was made singular by the nature of the terrain-often thick jungle-across which it was fought and by it's exotic protagonists and this makes it a subject of particular interest for students of the colonial wars in the Victorian era. The outcome of the war was, perhaps, predictable and the British both occupied the enemy capital Kumasi and then burnt it down as an object lesson. This book is particularly useful because the author was an eyewitness to the storming of Amoaful by the Black Watch, the storming of Ordahsu by the Rifle Brigade and the fall of the capital.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The men who really made the West wildThe author of this book of collected anecdotes of the American West when it was at its wildest after the American Civil War, was well qualified for the task for he lived through its dangerous and exciting days and knew many of its most renowned characters personally. He was a cattleman and ranch owner, becoming in later life an enthusiastic author and this book is one of several which draw upon his western experiences. Those fascinated by the period will find much of interest here, Indian fights and fighters, the deeds of the trailblazers, the pioneer days of the great cattle drives, cowboys and the adventures of famous (and infamous) exponents of what some refer to as 'triggernomitry.' These larger than life men hail from both sides of law and some-particularly smitten with 'triggerfingeritis' as the author describes it-were driven to acts of terrible violence almost irrespective of the cause. Clay Allison, Boone May, Captain John Smith and a host of other six-gun killers all feature within these pages. Bronson was a widely travelled man and his western accounts are accompanied by interesting episodes from the days of balloon flight and from another frontier-that of darkest Africa. A highly entertaining read-which focuses on several characters who may be new to those interested in the subject-from an authentic voice.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - First to the battle line in the First World WarAs the nineteenth century turned to the twentieth Britain could boast a well trained regular European army and one which was-regiment for regiment-considerably better than most. It was finely tuned and fundamentally suited to the kind of warfare the British Empire had fought since Waterloo. In a war of attrition in the industrial age all that could be hoped of it was that it would buy the nation time with its blood, so that other resources of men and material could be brought into the fight. The British Expeditionary Force which landed in Europe in 1914 consisted of six infantry divisions and five cavalry brigades. The 7th Division arrived in October 1914. Most students of the period know of the outstanding performance of the British regulars in the first engagements of the war. Casualties mounted through the Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, at Le Cateau, the Maine, the Aisne, at La Bassee and at Ypres. By the end of 1914 the 'old' British Army as it had quickly come to be known had been all but annihilated. The time of fluidity had passed and the war became a grinding stalemate of trenches, mud and wire. From the British perspective, the men who fought the remaining three years of war were Kitchener's New Army supported by troops from the far flung empire. Great feats of heroism and extraordinary acts of fortitude had been performed by the first seven divisions and the achievements of the 'Contemptible Little Army' as it battled to stem the rapid advance of the German tide had become a legend of the Great War. This book tells their story.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Britain's German Army at WarThe Hessian became something of a 'bogey-man' to the revolutionary period American citizen. Already outraged at the treatment they had received at the hands of the government of the country which they could not fail to regard as a motherland, this new enemy-a veritable viper in the bosom-had the temerity to unleash not only savages upon them, but foreign troops-foreign speaking mercenaries-to subdue its own aggrieved people. This is the stuff that good propaganda is made of and unfortunately, in wartime, events will inevitably occur that underline the brutality of the enemy irrespective of his hue or uniform. Mercenary service was very well known and widely practiced up to and during the 18th century, though the Americas had little opportunity to see anything of it to that date. Furthermore, a German sat on the throne of England and the young men of central Europe offered the Hanoverian household military service until the Napoleonic Wars when the King's German Legion became highly regarded for its performance in both the Peninsular War and during the Waterloo campaign. This book, written by a German historian, seeks to redress the balance of popular opinion by a re-examination of the activities of German troops under British command during the American War of Independence. Naturally, it is a partial view, but readers may be surprised to learn of the deeds of these troops who, for all that may be said against them, were acknowledged by both sides to be the finest of soldiers.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The story of the Royal Navy at war with the BoersAs students of the history of Royal Navy will appreciate, there were no major sea battles fought by the British in over a century between the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic era and the Battle of Jutland during the Great War. The burgeoning British empire was concerned with expanding its global influence and the task of the navy was principally to support the more generally employed land based forces in a multitude of smaller campaigns. However, it was quickly appreciated that the expertise of sailors and marines could be invaluable on the battlefield, particularly with regard to their expertise as gunners. So naval brigades had been in action from the 1820s in a dozen conflicts, including the Indian Mutiny, the Crimean War and the Zulu War, before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa at the turn of the twentieth century. This book describes the activities of the big guns ashore and in action on the veldt. Of particular note is the service of the sailors from HMS Powerful at Ladysmith-a feat of arms that is still commemorated in 'the field gun run' at the Royal Tournament. This is a well regarded overview of an unusual subject and an interesting addition to any library on colonial warfare or British naval history. Another Leonaur book, The Naval Brigade in Natal by C. R. N. Burne, a companion to this present volume, is an eyewitness account of the Royal Navy during the Boer War.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A classic memoir of life on the western frontierThe author of this well known and well regarded work begins her story of army life as a young officer's wife on the western frontier with all the naivety and trepidation one might expect. She was married to an army officer of the 18th U. S Infantry, George Washington Grummond and their post was to be the far flung outpost of Fort Phil Kearney, Wyoming, which was soon to be the centre of the maelstrom which was 'Red Cloud's War.' Grummond was one of the ill-fated detachment who rode out of the fort to the 'Fetterman Massacre' of 1866 and thus, by disobeying orders, put himself into the history books as a participant in the worst disaster suffered by the U. S Army at the hands of the Plains Indian tribes until George Armstrong Custer-together with elements of the 7th Cavalry-was eradicated at Little Big Horn some 10 years later. Frances Grummond, as the author was at the time, was widowed and understandably distraught. She was comforted by the post commander's wife, Margaret Carrington who wrote, Ab-sa-ra-ka-Home of the Crows. Margaret Carrington died in 1870 and Mrs Grummond subsequently became the second wife of Colonel Henry B. Carrington. This book is an essential work on the Indian Wars of the mid-nineteenth century in America, it provides valuable insights into army life and also recounts a notable incident in American frontier history. An essential component of any library of the subject as well as being an engrossing and fascinating view of how women of the time dealt with extraordinary danger and adversity.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Napoleon's gorgeous centaur-the life of MuratJoachim Murat has come to epitomise the beau ideal cavalryman. Indeed, in the decades following the Napoleonic era, as a horse soldier excelled to extraordinary prominence, the name of Murat was often considered as analogous. In reality nobody could come close in stature and performance. Murat was one of many young men who saw the French Revolution as an opportunity to prosper in influence, power, status and wealth. An unabashed self publicist, his gorgeous uniforms were singular and exceptional even in an age when the dandy in military uniform was the norm. His ambition was insatiable and in this was the root of his downfall, for he lacked the intelligence and moderation to consolidate his advantages. Yet, Murat rose to be a soldier of the highest rank, through marriage a member of Napoleon's own family, he was elevated to the aristocracy as Duke of Berg and in time crowned King of Naples. Though, like many of his calling, he was no military mastermind Murat was a reliable lieutenant to Napoleon often achieving-through deeds of daring-far more than other senior officers could for their emperor. Above all there could be no doubt about the quality of Murat's personal courage. He led from the front and latterly rode into the fiercest melees armed only with a riding crop. Though he came from a different and lesser mould than his master Napoleon, Murat fatally shared his weakness for conceits and hubris and, as with Napoleon himself, poor judgment ended his career ignominiously before a firing squad of his former subjects. Atteridge's biography is a well regarded classic and is highly recommended.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - The most perilous post is the army-scout and spyThe author of this book, Major E. C. Downs of the 20th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry has provided the penmanship for the actual subject and principal character of this account. His name was Lorain Ruggles, a remarkable man who held the rank of corporal in the Union Army, but who was known to those who had any real idea of his true identity and purpose in the army as 'General Bunker.' Downs knew his subject well, for he met him when marching to war in the company of just ten men and enlisted him on the spot on condition that he furnish Ruggles with an Enfield rifle. This book is written in the first person as by Ruggles himself and recounts his numerous adventures during the American Civil War as a scout and spy in the service of many of the commanders of the Union, but most especially for Ulysses Grant. This most perilous of all military occupations was, of course, undertaken in civilian clothes or even on occasion in the uniform of the enemy and so discovery would result in summary execution. Ruggles a raconteur of the first rank clearly enjoyed and had an immense talent for his life on the 'knife's edge' during wartime, he recounts it within these pages with good humour and thrilling detail. An excellent Civil War account revealing a different perspective of the conflict from behind the enemy lines.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - A classic of the early history of WyomingThis well known account of army life on the western frontier, by the wife of Colonel Henry B. Carrington the post-commander of Fort Phil Kearney during 'Red Cloud's War' of 1866-68, appears in this Leonaur edition in its revised form, having been substantially enhanced by Colonel Carrington himself after his wife's death in 1870. This additional material provides much additional and valuable historical information that will interest any student of the events of the period. Colonel Carrington was a central personality in the events described in Margaret Carrington's book because, with her two children, she accompanied her husband as he built the fort and commanded the soldiers who would defend this dangerous outpost in Wyoming. She shared his experiences of the ensuing conflict and, as the fort was all but under siege by Plains Indian tribes, of the well known 'Wagon Box Fight' and more significantly the disaster that was the infamous 'Fetterman Massacre.' Margaret Carrington wrote her journals at the suggestion of General Sherman who had the foresight to consider that doing so was a useful occupation for all officers' wives. Thus we may thank Sherman for not only ensuring posterity was provided with the minute detail of life on a frontier army post often absent from first hand narratives, but also-if inadvertently-that some of the most notable events in the history of the U. S Army's struggle with the Sioux and their allies were chronicled.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Two wars-two volumes, combined into one essential first hand account of the British cavalry in IndiaReaders interested in the military history of British India during the 19th century will discover an entertaining guide in the author of this book, Daniel Mackinnon, an officer of H. M. 16th (The Queen's) Lancers. Mackinnon's good humoured, informed and philosophical personality shines through his personable narrative, revealing him to be a far thinking, humane and modern man. This makes his assessment of his experiences in the First Afghan War-as the British sought to place the puppet Shah Shuja on the throne of that inhospitable country-highly informative for the contemporary student of the region. Tellingly, Mackinnon understood how potentially dangerous the policy he was in Afghanistan to enforce was, he empathised with the Afghan people and could foresee perils inherent in an occupation of the region which hold good to the present day. The author also takes the reader on campaign with a renowned cavalry regiment with all the detail of camp, march, skirmish and battlefield that could be required by the military history student or enthusiast. Originally published in two volumes (combined in this Leonaur edition for good value), Mackinnon's narrative continues, to tell of his part in the First Sikh War, which all but broke the power the sub-continent's 'super-power,' Runjeet Singh, had forged into being and began the process by which the Punjab would finally be conquered and absorbed into the British Empire. Of course, we follow Mackinnon in company of Sir Harry Smith on campaign towards and throughout the famous battle at Aliwal, where the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers won undying fame as they charged and broke the 'squares' of Sikh regular infantry. An excellent and essential account that is highly recommended.Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.