The World History Shelf
Battles of the Wars of the Roses
David Cohen
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399083102, $36.95, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Battles-Wars-Roses-David-Cohen/dp/1399083104
Synopsis: The War of the Roses (1455-1487) saw a series of bloody battles d= uring one of the most turbulent periods of English history. The houses of L= ancaster and York fought for control of the crown, devastating the nobility=
and bringing an end to the illustrious Plantagenet dynasty.
Starting with an overview of the politics and events that culminated in the=
wars, "Battles of the Wars of the Rose" by historian David Cohen is new hi= story focuses on the seventeen battles that took place around the country b= etween 1455 and 1487. It considers the causes, course and result of each ba= ttle, beginning with the first battle of St Albans on 22 May 1455, which wa=
s won by the Yorkist faction lead by Richard, Duke of York.
The bloodiest battle ever known on English soil at Towton on 29 March 1461,=
and the victory there of the first Yorkist King Edward IV is described her=
e in vivid detail. The battle of Tewkesbury on 4 May 1471 saw the death of = Edward Prince of Wales, the last male heir of the Lancastrians, and the sub= sequent murder of King Henry VI at the Tower of London. The defeat and deat=
h of King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485 marked th=
e end of the Plantagenet dynasty. The last battle of the Wars of the Roses = was at East Stoke on 16 June 1487 where the first Tudor King Henry VII crus= hed the Yorkist revolt.
The final chapter of "Battles of the Wars of the Rose" is devoted to the my= stery of the Princes in the Tower, who disappeared at the Tower of London d= uring the reign of King Richard III in 1483, and the suspects to their like=
ly murders.
Written with the most up-to-date archaeological and documentary research, a=
nd including many images of the main protagonists, battle sites, maps and g= enealogical charts, "Battles of the Wars of the Rose" offers fascinating ne=
w insights into the Wars of the Roses.
Critique: In addition to an informative Introduction, "Battles of the Wars =
of the Rose" is further informatively enhanced by historian David Cohen wit=
h the inclusion of numerous black/white illustrations, a one page Bibliogra= phy, a one page listing of Primary Sources, and a six page Index. Exception= ally well written, organized and presented, "Battles of the Wars of the Ros=
e" is highly recommended for both community and academic library 15th Centu=
ry English History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. I=
t should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and=
non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Batt= les of the Wars of the Rose" is also available in a digital book format (Ki= ndle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: David Cohen (
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/David-Cohen/a/= 4646) is a retired Civil Servant (Ministry of Justice) with a degree in soc= ial sciences from Leicester University. He is a member of the Royal Histori= cal Society and has studied this period of history for over 40 years. He re= gularly visits key battle sites such as St Albans, Barnet, Tewkesbury and B= osworth, and runs the popular 'Wars of the Roses and Medieval History' grou=
p, alongside fellow historian Sharon Bennett Connolly, contributing article=
s on the various battles of the Wars of the Roses and its main protagonists=
..
Henry VIII's Imprisoned Women: The Women of the Tower
Neha Roy
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399095761, $36.95, HC, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Henry-VIIIs-Imprisoned-Women-Tower/dp/1399095765
Synopsis: The year is 1534. Henry VIII sits on the throne of England. He ha=
s set aside his first wife, Queen Katharine of Aragon, and has married a se= cond time. The marriage to Anne Boleyn brings a new wave of Reformation in = England dividing the people and even leading to arrests and executions -- e= ven those of some noteworthy people. The stories of imprisoned women, inclu= ding Henry's two queens, who were persecuted, condemned and ultimately exec= uted are fully explored with the publication of "Henry VIII's Imprisoned Wo= men: The Women of the Tower" by historian Neha Roy.
Alice Tankerville, the first woman to escape the infamous Tower of London, = albeit for a short while; Elizabeth Barton, The Nun of Kent and the only wo= man to be dealt the dishonor of having her head spiked on London Bridge; Qu= een Anne Boleyn, whose fall was as tragically spectacular as her rise to fa= me; Margaret Pole, the last living Plantagenet princess who was denounced a=
s a traitor and met a merciless end in her twilight years; Queen Katheryn H= oward, whose daring yet seemingly foolish decisions ultimately led to her d= ownfall; and finally, Anne Askew, the brave Protestant who gained infamy as=
the only woman to be racked at the Tower.
Through the lives of these women, we are provided a glimpse into the reign =
of Henry VIII, the capricious monarch who changed the face of England forev= er. Of special note is that "Henry VIII's Imprisoned Women: The Women of th=
e Tower" also delves into the history of the Tower of London, provides a br= ief glimpse into the life of Tudor women, and insights into the lives of so=
me noteworthy people of that era.
Critique: Along with an eleven page List of People Mentioned in the Book, s= even pages of Endnotes, a section of black/white illustrations, a two page = Bibliography and Sources, a four page Author's Note, and a three page listi=
ng of Acknowledgments, historian Neha Roy;'s "Henry VIII's Imprisoned Women=
: The Women of the Tower" is an exceptional work of scholarship -- making i=
t a enduringly welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, profess= ional, community, college, and university library 16th Century British Hist= ory and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for stude= nts, academia, historians, and non-specialist general readers with an inter= est in the subject that "Henry VIII's Imprisoned Women: The Women of the To= wer" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Neha Roy (
https://www.facebook.com/author.neharoy) is an ed= ucational content writer, and her short stories have been published in her = local Bengali society's annual magazine and online on her Wattpad page. It = was her grandfather who introduced her to the world of books and, later, hi= story. He made her fall in love with history by narrating anecdotes from th=
e past and his life experiences. She recently forayed into non-fiction when=
she started a blog on the Plantagenets and the Tudor dynasty, and the vari= ous Tudor books, podcasts and websites available opened up a whole new worl=
d. Her Twitter and Instagram handles are @withtudors
Carthage at War: Punic Armies c. 814-146 BC
Josha R. Hall
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781473885387, $42.95, HC,
https://www.amazon.com/Carthage-War-Punic-Armies-814-146/dp/1473885388
Synopsis: The Carthaginians are well known as Rome's great enemy in the thr=
ee Punic wars and that Hannibal, (the Carthaginians greatest general), is a=
legendary name in history. While narrative histories of the Punic wars (es= pecially the second) and biographies of Hannibal abound, there have been fe=
w studies dedicated to detailed analysis of Carthaginian armies and warfare=
throughout the city-state's entire existence.
With the publication of "Carthage at War: Punic Armies c. 814-146 BC", hist= orian Joshua Hall puts that right with his in-depth study of their tactics,=
equipment, unit organization, army composition and operational effectivene= ss. Importantly, while the Second Punic War is rightly given prominence, th=
is is not at the expense of the many earlier wars Carthage waged as she bui=
lt and then defended her empire.
Drawing on all the available archaeological and literary evidence, "Carthag=
e at War: Punic Armies c. 814-146 BC) shows the development of Carthage's f= orces and methods of warfare from the ninth century BC to the city's demise=
.. The result is the most in-depth portrait of the Carthaginian military cur= rently available in English.
Critique: Opening with an informative General Introduction, "Carthage at Wa=
r: Punic Armies c. 814-146 BC" is enhanced for scholars with the inclusion =
of an eleven page Bibliography, fifty-two pages of Notes, and a seven page = Index. A seminal study of rigorous, meticulous, exceptional research, "Cart= hage at War: Punic Armies c. 814-146 BC" must be regarded as a core and cri= tically important addition to personal, professional, community, and academ=
ic library Roman/Carthaginian Military History collections and supplemental=
curriculum studies lists. Impressively written, organized and presented, i=
t should also be noted that "Carthage at War: Punic Armies c. 814-146 BC" i=
s also readily available to students, academia, and non-specialist general = readers with an interest in the subject in a digital book format (Kindle, $= 25.00).
Editorial Note: Joshua Hall (
https://www.joshobrouwers.com/contributors/jos= hua-r-hall) majored in History at Western Oregon University, then moved to = Cardiff University, Wales, to complete his an MA in Ancient and Medieval Wa= rfare (specializing in warfare in ancient Sicily) and a PhD in ancient hist= ory on warfare in Archaic Italy. He currently resides in his home state of = Oregon and continues to research and write about the ancient world. He has = remained at Cardiff as a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant while working towa= rds his PhD on warfare in Archaic Italy.
The Army of the Roman Republic
Michael M. Sage
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399020244, $29.95, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Army-Roman-Republic-Period-Julius/dp/1399020242
Synopsis: From the moment its last king was expelled (traditionally in 753 = BC), the Roman republic had to fight for its very survival. Centuries of al= most continuous warfare saw Rome's armies evolve in response to a wide vari= ety of threats which were met with mixed fortunes though always with ultima=
te success. As defense of the homeland turned to territorial expansion, Rom=
an forces also had to adapt to sustained campaigns in varied terrain and cl= imates, not to mention the changes in the Roman republic itself.
With the publication of "The Army of the Roman Republic: From the Regal Per= iod to the Army of Julius Caesar", historian and academician Michael Sage t= races the development of the republic's army from its foundation (having fi= rst set the context of their regal antecedents), down to the time of its mo=
st famous leader, Julius Caesar. The transition from clan-based forces, thr= ough the Servian levy and the development of the manipular and cohortal leg= ion is examined along with the associated weapons, tactics and operational = capabilities.
We also see how the legions shaped up against the challenges of successive = enemies from the Celts and Samnites, the Carthaginians and the hitherto-dom= inant Hellenistic armies based on the Macedonian-style pike phalanx.
Critique: Originally published in a hardcover edition in 2018, "The Army of=
the Roman Republic: From the Regal Period to the Army of Julius Caesar" by=
Professor Michael Sage is now available in paperback, as well as in a digi= tal book format (Kindle, $14.99). Informatively enhanced for the reader wit=
h the inclusion of a ten page Bibliography, thirty-four pages of Notes, and=
an eleven page Index, "The Army of the Roman Republic" is especially recom= mended to the attention of students, academia, and non-specialist general r= eaders with an interest in the subject, as well as a community Roman Histor=
y collections and academic supplemental curriculum Roman Military History s= tudies lists.
Editorial Note: Michael Sage (www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Michael-Sage/a/1842) =
is an emeritus professor and former head of the Department of Classics at t=
he University of Cincinnati. He has also taught at the University of Waterl=
oo in Canada and at the University of California at San Diego. He received = his B. A. in anthropology and M.A. in history from the University of Michig=
an and his Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Toronto. He has publish=
ed numerous articles and encyclopedia articles on many aspects of ancient h= istory, including Roman imperial history and biography as well as ancient m= ilitary history. He has also published books on St. Cyprian, the third cent= ury AD bishop of Carthage, on the Roman historian Tacitus and on Greek as w= ell as on Greek and Roman warfare.
The Trojan War as Military History
Manousos E. Kambouris
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399094467, $42.95, HC, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Trojan-War-Military-History/dp/1399094467
Synopsis: With the publication of "The Trojan War as Military History", aut= hor and historian Manousos Kambouris' starting point is the fact that the I= liad, notwithstanding the fantastical/mythological elements (the involvemen=
t of gods and demigods), is the earliest detailed description of warfare we=
have. Stripping away the myths, Kambouris analyses the epic and combines i=
t with other textual and archaeological evidence to produce a coherent narr= ative of the conflict and of Bronze Age warfare in the Aegean.
"The Trojan War as Military History" presents the most detailed analysis cu= rrently possible of Mycenaean Greek armies, including their composition and=
organization, their weaponry, their armor and tactics, and those of their = enemies.
Kambouris finds sophisticated combined-arms forces blending massed infantry=
with missile troops and chariots, employing open battle, deception and spe= cial operations in what amounted to total war. His detailed examination of = the mechanics of Bronze Age combat is enriched by his use of insights from = experimental archaeology using replica equipment.
No less illuminating or significant than the minutiae of heroic duels is th=
e setting of the strategic context of the conflict and the geopolitical rel= ationship of the Mycenaean Greeks with their rivals across the Aegean. Seek= ing to integrate the supernatural/divine element of the Iliad within the po= wer structure and struggle of the day, Kambouris lashes the Trojan War to t=
he chariot of rationality and drags it from the mists of mythology and into=
the realm of History.
Critique: A simply fascinating, informative, thought-provoking read that is=
enhanced for its readership with the inclusion of numerous plates and illu= strations, a four page Bibliography, and a three page Index, "The Trojan Wa=
r as Military History" is an extraordinary work of original and superbly pr= esented research -- making it a particularly and unreservedly recommended c= ontribution to community, college, and university library Greek and Militar=
y History collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of=
students, academia, military history buffs, and non-specialist general rea= ders with an interest in the Trojan War history, folklore, and mythology, t= hat "The Trojan War as Military History" is also available in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $18.99).
Editorial Note: Manousos E. Kambouris has a background in scientific writin=
g, contributing chapters on a wide range of disciplines to various edited v= olumes and journals. He has been researching Ancient Greek warfare for many=
years and has published numerous articles in Archeologija Prirodne Na (Arc= haeology and Science), He has written three previous books on Marathon, Sal= amis and Xenophon's Ten Thousand. For the past 8 years he has been a histor= ical consultant to the experimental archaeology group Koryvantes, the Assoc= iation of Historical Studies. His other two volumes in this trilogy are als=
o available from Pen & Sword: The Rise of Persia and the First Greco-Persia=
n Wars and The Greek Victories and the Persian Ebb 480-79 BC. (
https://www.= pen-and-sword.co.uk/Manousos-E-Kambouris/a/4316)
Hitler's Maladies and Their Impact on World War II
Tom Hutton, MD
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttupress.org
9781682831663, $27.99, PB, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-Maladies-Their-Impact-World/dp/1682831663
Synopsis: Toward the end of World War II, Adolph Hitler's many health compl= ications became even more pronounced, making this evil man yet more erratic=
and dangerous. While the subject of Hitler's health has been catalogued pr= eviously, never has it been done so this thoroughly or with the publication=
of "Hitler's Maladies and Their Impact on World War II: A Behavioral Neuro= logist's View", with its up-to-date medical expertise by neurologist Tom Hu= tton.
Dr. Hutton's new neurobehavioral analysis of Adolf Hitler draws from a life= time of medical research and clinical experience to understand how the dict= ator's particular medical history further warped a deformed personality and=
altered Hitler's decision making.
Dr. Hutton trained under the world-renowned neuropsychologist and father of=
modern neuropsychological assessment, Dr. Alexander Luria, giving him a un= iquely qualified eye to undertake this most difficult assessment.
While many books on the subject thumb through the annals of popular psychol= ogy to understand history's most famous dictators, Dr. Hutton's analysis us=
es contemporary clinical knowledge, lucidly synthesizing medical complexiti=
es suitable for all readers. With "Hitler's Maladies and Their Impact on Wo= rld War II: A Behavioral Neurologist's View", Dr. Hutton undertakes a thoro= ugh medical history to elucidate a pivotal historical moment, examining how=
disease impacted Hitler's destructive life.
Critique: A fascinating and informative read that is occasionally enhanced = with the inclusion of black/white historical photographs, "Hitler's Maladie=
s and Their Impact on World War II: A Behavioral Neurologist's View" is a s= trongly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, and = academic library World War II History/Biography collections in general, and=
supplemental Adolph Hitler oriented curriculum studies lists in particular=
.. It should be noted for students, academia, and WWII military history buff=
s that "Hitler's Maladies and Their Impact on World War II: A Behavioral Ne= urologist's View" is also available in a digital book format $8.99).
Editorial Note: Tom Hutton, MD, PhD, (
https://tomhuttonmd.com) is an intern= ationally recognized clinical and research neurologist and educator. The pa=
st president of the Texas Neurological Society, Dr. Hutton served as profes= sor and vice chairman of the Department of Medical and Surgical Neurology a=
t the Texas Tech School of Medicine.
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Midwest Book Review
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