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Illustrated Book – The Wars of the Roses: the medieval art of Graham Turner
The Wars of the Roses – in the second half of the 15th century – was one of the most dramatic and tumultuous periods in English history. Since first being inspired by a visit to Bosworth battlefield nearly 30 years ago, renowned historical artist Graham Turner has built a worldwide reputation for his depictions of this troubled era, with his paintings and prints hailed by historians and art critics alike for their dramatic atmosphere and attention to detail. This new study chronicles the history of the wars alongside more than 120 of Turner’s paintings and drawings, bringing the turbulent conflict vividly back to life.
The Wars of the Roses: the medieval art of Graham Turner, Graham Turner, Osprey Publishing, hbk, 288pp (£35), ISBN 978-1472847287
Endgame 1944: How Stalin won the war
Operation Bagration was the Soviet Union’s equivalent of D-Day: more than two million Red Army soldiers smashed through 500,000 beleaguered German troops, finally avenging their defeat in Operation Barbarossa three years earlier. In Endgame 1944, Jonathan Dimbleby grippingly describes how Stalin’s army effectively won the war – giving him the authority to occupy Eastern Europe once it was over.
Endgame 1944: How Stalin won the war, Jonathan Dimbleby, Royal Octavo, hbk, 576pp (£25), ISBN 978-0241536711
Finis Britanniae: A military history of late Roman Britain and the Saxon conquest
The decline of Roman rule in Britain was one of the most disruptive periods in the country’s history, ending centuries of relative stability. In this new analysis, Murray Dahm uses a wide array of sources to explore how Angle, Jute, Saxon, and other military invaders took advantage of Rome’s absence, and in their own way shaped the Britain of modern times.
Finis Britanniae: a military history of late Roman Britain and the Saxon conquest, Murray Dahm, Amberley, hbk, 288pp (£22.99), ISBN 978-1398118270
Normandy: the sailors’ story – A naval history of D-Day and the Battle for France
Normandy: the sailors’ story – A naval history of D-Day and the Battle for France, Nick Hewitt, Yale University Press, hbk, 448pp (£20), ISBN 978-0300256734
D-Day was the most complex amphibious operation in history, involving some 7,000 ships – but the wider naval campaign around it has been forgotten. Nick Hewitt describes the violent sea battle, which mirrored the fighting on land, involving all kinds of vessels, from sleek destroyers to frail plywood landing craft.
Agent Zo: the untold story of fearless WWII resistance fighter Elzbieta Zawacka
Elzbieta Zawacka was one of the most formidable resistance fighters of her time. As the only woman to join the elite Polish Special Forces, she played a leading role in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising and the subsequent liberation of her country. Later, the Communist regime not only imprisoned her, but also ensured her story remained hidden. Clare Mulley corrects the record.
Agent Zo: the untold story of fearless WWII resistance fighter Elzbieta Zawacka, Clare Mulley, Orion, hbk, 224pp (£22), ISBN 978-1399601061
NATO: A new history of the world’s most important alliance
For more than 70 years, NATO’s stated aim has been world peace. But how did NATO get to where it is today, and what does its future hold? Sten Rynning traces its history from the aftermath of WWII, through Cold War diplomacy and a growth in membership, to the contemporary challenges presented by Russia, China, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
NATO: A new history of the world’s most important alliance, Sten Rynning, Yale University Press, hbk, 368pp (£20), ISBN 978-0300270112
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