Böcker utgivna av Pen & Sword Books Ltd

A fully illustrated guide to sixty top multiplayer titles, offering game details, facts, and tips for competitive play.Video games can be truly rewarding experiences whether you're knocking Bowser into a fiery inferno, scrapping seconds off a lap time around Silverstone to turn it into a record breaker, or solving a head-scratching Picross puzzle after a quiet and focused half hour. When that accomplishment happens to involve besting a friend sitting on the very same couch or a stranger (or ninety-nine for that matter) halfway round the world it's made all the more sweeter. Knowing you've bested not just the video game, but another hungry competitor too.So put on your meanest game face as The Best Competitive Multiplayer Games guides you through sixty of the best multiplayer titles around. From burning rubber across Rainbow Road to deceiving and hunting your friends aboard a space ship, there's plenty of ways to flex your gaming skills (not to mention ample chance to celebrate with your favourite victory dance). Featuring games released over the past thirty years and covering all sorts of genres including online shooters, face kicking fighters, score-chasing puzzlers and a few unexpected surprises too, this fully illustrated guide includes detailed explanations of every entry, fascinating facts and what makes them a top candidate to settle a score with friends or rivals.

Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing, and Christopher Lee's shared history and impact on horror films through social upheavals and fame.Boris Karloff, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee: three middle-class Englishmen whose names are synonymous with the history of the horror movie. Karloff was born in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and Lee, the youngest, died in 2015, when Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch.Most books about movie stars focus solely on the films but this ingeniously linked biography of Karloff, Cushing and Lee describes the cataclysmic social and political upheavals which shaped them along with the film industries of Britain and Hollywood. During their lifetimes they saw magnificent theatres repurposed as cinemas, which were in turn transformed into bingo halls as television became the medium which posed a threat to the movies, but would ultimately save their careers and make their classic films accessible to younger generations.The three had much in common. They were born within a few miles of each other - Karloff in Camberwell, Cushing in Croydon and Lee in Belgravia. None of them had a happy childhood and they struggled at school. They all wanted to act, which was not the sort of career that their backgrounds had equipped them for. Curiously, they were all middle aged before they became not simply well known, but world famous.All three are forever associated with the two key stories from which the horror genre emerged - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula - stories with universal and contemporary resonance. They knew that they were typecast and, with some reservations, accepted it and never stopped working. They knew that while we smile at horror films they play into our deepest anxieties about the modern world. Since their deaths, the horror film - often written off - has seen a resurgence and a critical appreciation which, in part, relies on the worldwide affection for these three great stars of the screen.

William Phipps, a self-made treasure hunter and royal governor, rose to prominence but faced controversy in seventeenth-century Boston.William Phipps' rise to fame and fortune was meteoric. His short and hectic life was punctuated with many unlikely achievements, of which raising treasure from the wreck of a Spanish galleon was the most famous. For this, he was knighted. Locating his Spanish prize was no fluke. Phipps had worked on the project for years. As in all his endeavours, success was achieved mainly by force of character. His determination and drive saw him become, in turn, a shipwright, a mariner, treasure hunter, merchant, general, an admiral, an Indian fighter and a reforming royal governor.Born a backwoodsman, Phipps became one of the wealthiest and most influential men in seventeenth-century Boston. He mixed with members of the colony's most prestigious families, whose members were clerics, magistrates, merchants, and lawmakers. But he was never fully accepted as their equal.Boston was a victim of its own ultra-Puritan origins. Its ruling families were entrenched and committed to its drawn-out (and until this point largely unsuccessful) campaign for independence from England and English laws. Appointed by an English king to govern the province of Massachusetts Bay, Phipps brought his pugnacious, overbearing, no-nonsense approach to bear. He had his admirers, but he also made many enemies. These included his own deputy governor, who thought himself belittled when Phipps put a stop to the hanging of Salem's 'witches'.There were sufficient detractors to persuade the Lords of Trade to investigate, and Phipps was recalled to London to answer his critics. There was no investigation and no hearing. Phipps did not survive long enough. He died in London, his life ended by a flu-like infection. He was just forty-four. Phipps had been a champion for his ungrateful New England colony and even after death an inspiration for a new generation of English inventors and investors. He ignited interest in diving and diving bells, and in new means of finance and investment.

A comprehensive guide to the actors who played companions, featuring biographies, interviews, and show history.The Doctor wouldn't be half the Time Lord they are, without some assistance. But how much do you know about the people who played the companions?This book is the first of its kind. It's your comprehensive guide to the actors who have played Doctor Who companions over the years.Inside, you will find biographies of every companion actor who has been in Doctor Who. There are complete chronologies of companion arrivals and departures through the show's history, enriched with original interviews with some of the cast.As an encyclopaedia, it is packed with dates, details and knowledge, a valuable reference source for any Doctor Who fan.As a guide, this book also offers a personal perspective on the show and explores what these talented, hard-working professionals brought to the show. The author traces its origins in 1963, through the ensuing decades, and takes you right up to the most recent serials. Doctor Who: An Encyclopaedia of Companion Actors is a testament to the actors and a meticulously-crafted love-letter to the show.

Explores the history and decline of branch railways in north Wales, focusing on their construction, operation, and eventual closures.This book complements the author's previous book on the Chester and Holyhead Railway and completes the story of railways associated with the London and North Western Railway in north Wales. It does so by breaking down developments to three districts working from east to west across the region. The book examines the background to the construction of the branch lines in the context of relevant wider railway developments. It provides an account of the operation of each of the lines with reference to significant incidents on the railway and the relationship of the branch to the communities it served.The dominance of railways peaked around 1914 so the book analyses the process of decline from that status. That decline was relatively rapid and featured several rounds of closures of stations and branches, culminating in the notorious Beeching cuts of the 1960s that eventually left north Wales with fewer than fifty miles of branch railways - under 20% of the original total.The book has maps and tables that provide an overview of the detail contained in the text and the 150 photographs. The book concludes with an overview of the railway system in north Wales. It reflects on how reductions might have been made without depriving so much of the region of a presence on the network, and how the railway policies adopted by private companies and the later nationalized industry paid too little attention to the relationship between the region and its trains.

Explores the Parthian period, detailing their cavalry-dominated forces, tactics, and victories against Rome.Throughout most of the classical period, Persia was one of the great superpowers, placing a limit on the expansion of its Western rivals. Until the conquest by Alexander the Great, the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the greatest the world had yet seen, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Himalayas. After the collapse of Alexander's empire and that of his Seleucid successors, the Parthians once more established Persia as an independent power and it remained the most formidable rival to the Roman empire for the next seven centuries, until Persia, by then under the Sassanids, was overwhelmed by the Islamic conquests. Yet, the armies of ancient Persia have received relatively little detailed attention, certainly in comparison to those of Rome. This long-awaited second volume of Dr Kaveh Farrokh's comprehensive trilogy on Persian armies focuses on the Parthian period. An acknowledged expert on the military history of ancient Persia, the author draws on the latest research and archaeological evidence.In the late third and early second centuries BC, the Parni, a semi-nomadic tribe of Iranian herdsmen, ejected the Seleucids from the province of Parthia, and from that power base expanded to dominate the region. Led by the Arsacid dynasty, their cavalry-dominated armies proved a match for Rome's legions, most notably humiliating them at Carrhae in 53 BC. Relying chiefly on the winning combination of swift horse-archers and heavily-armoured cataphracts, they thwarted repeated Roman attempts at eastward expansion over the next two and half centuries. Kaveh Farrokh examines in unprecedented detail their weapons, armour and equipment, the composition of their armies, their tactics and strategies. A rich array of illustrations complements the text to present a complete portrait of one of the ancient world's great military powers.

A detailed biography of Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, exploring his military reforms, campaigns, and influence on Byzantine success.Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas: TheWhite Death of the Saracens is the first ever English-language biography of the man who broke the stranglehold of Islam over Byzantine Rome so that by the year 968 his forces could invade the Muslim lands virtually unopposed. This was the result of his military reforms and remarkable gifts as a military commander. The text provides thorough analysis of how he reformed military equipment, tactics and strategy to achieve this. The ambushes, battles and military campaigns are discussed in unprecedented detail. Special attention is also paid to the influence of the ascetic Christian lifestyle of Nikephoros on the morale of the armed forces.In spite of his religiosity, Nikephoros was a military man through and through, and the civilian population of the Empire were constantly reminded of this. Soldiers were billeted in Constantinople and showered with favours and Nikephoros even pressured the Church to declare soldiers who died in combat as martyrs. Ilkka Syvänne meticulously explores the relationship between the Church and armed forces in the emperor's policies. Of course Nikephoros had his human weaknesses which led to his untimely assassination. Why and how this happened is also analysed in detail. The assassination of Nikephoros deprived the Byzantine Romans of their 'Bearer of Victory', but his military reforms and campaigns had paved the way for Byzantine Rome to reach its apogee under his immediate successors.

It seems fair to suggest that Bernard Law Montgomery remains a controversial and divisive figure, even fifty years after his death. Some see him as the greatest military commander and strategist of his generation, others as a deeply flawed character, solely responsible for all the ills that befell the troops under his command. In some estimates he was responsible for ponderous and overly cautious campaigning where he was unable or unwilling to admit to anything that might be construed as a failure. In others that he brilliantly conserved meagre manpower resources whilst overwhelming a series of consummate opponents.Added into the mix is Montgomery's singular character. He seems able to engender some form of adoration in some and the deepest loathing in others. Certainly, he could come across as abrasive and egotistical, abrupt and inclined toward condescension. At the same time, he was a committed and dedicated professional soldier who was widely respected and adept at nurturing junior officers. This account, then, is an opportunity to look in-depth at the three pivotal years that took him from El Alamein to the Baltic and projected him to world attention. To achieve this the reader is guided through the environment in which his tactical headquarters operated, its organisation and equipment whilst overlaying the campaigns it fought and, most particularly, the sometimes fractious relationships on which much of the history that is handed down is based.

Explore the evolution of Britain's roads, from ancient trackways to modern highways like the M1 and M25.Highways of Britain. The M1, the M6 and M25. How did we end up in this position? Chris Cooper takes us through the evolution of our road system starting with iron age track ways and moving on via Roman roads, medieval roads, turnpikes and the coaching era to something we might recognise today. We go from trying to plot a trackway from one hill fort to another, to following the entire course of a Roman road. We use a coaching era timetable to get from London to rural North Yorkshire and we follow the course of a 17th century strip map. Turnpike toll booths, stagecoaches and coaching inns all feature. Up to more modern times, what to look for to tell if your road was once different. This book also gives detailed explanations of many of the things we see on many of today's roads.

In July 1936 a military revolt brought civil war to Spain; it erupted into a bitter political contest and a brutal land war which have been well covered by historians - a less appreciated dimension of the conflict was the crucial role played by the navies of both sides. This new book describes and explores the naval operations that played out over thirty-eight months and spread well beyond the seas of Spain. Spanish guns thundered off the English coast and as far south as the Bay of Guinea. Submarines lurked in the Aegean, waiting to torpedo ships bringing supplies from the Black Sea. To the west, operations extended into the Atlantic as warships searched for blockade runners and moved between the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. The book begins by describing of the Spanish navy pre-war, then covers the generals' revolt of July 1936 and its effect in the fleet. Subsequent chapters deal with the naval war as it unfolded. It describes Franco's attempts to move the battle-hardened Spanish troops in Africa to the Spanish mainland, then shifts focus to the northern Spanish coast, where an isolated Republican enclave depended on the sea to receive weapons, food, and fuel. The author then pursues a split narrative, interweaving developments in the north and the Mediterranean and following the war to its conclusion. Significant actions fought between the two navies are all covered in detail. In addition, the book describes the crucial roles played by the British, French, German, and Italian navies in the Spanish struggle. Throughout, the author challenges the common view that the Republican navy was incompetent and inert. Based on primary as well as secondary sources, in both the English and Spanish languages, this book sheds genuinely new light on the Spanish navies of this civil war era and brings into focus their significance in the broader struggle.

Dorothy L. Sayers: the name conjures images of Lord Peter Wimsey's sleuthing adventures, and masterful translations of Dante. Yet, she was more than a literary luminary of the interwar Golden Age of crime fiction; she was a trailblazer, a feminist, and a scholar, whose influence resonates to this day. In this new biography, delve into the complexities of Sayers' life and legacy. From her iconic status as one of the 'Queens of Crime' alongside Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh, to her thought-provoking explorations of feminism and Christian philosophy. Through thematic analysis of Sayers' writings and beliefs, the author illuminates the depth and breadth of her influence. From her incisive fiction and scholarly interests to her contributions as an advertising copywriter where she penned the line, 'Guinness is good for you', Sayers left an indelible mark on literature and beyond. As a crime writer, historian, and poet, Wade brings his own passion and expertise to this rich investigation. Join him on a journey through the life and works of Dorothy L. Sayers, and discover the enduring legacy of a true literary icon whose influence is rich and productive, mainly in her fiction, but also in many other areas of life.

Explores how gravestones offer valuable genealogical and social history insights, aiding family research and uncovering hidden stories.Everyone dies, it's the one certainty in life. Whilst burials have been taking place for thousands of years, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the start of the gravestone boom as public graveyards became commonplace and personalised gravestones became more financially viable. The information provided on gravestones and monuments make them a valuable primary source for anyone wanting to trace their family history. They can provide details that are not available in the official records, holding clues to break down brick walls, but also work hand in hand with original records and documents.Taking an in depth look at what our ancestors left behind on their gravestones and monuments, Amanda Leedham advises the reader how to record this information, and explores how it can aid family research and paint a picture of our ancestors' lives. From exploring the types of occupations listed, to how family ties are portrayed, and from child mortality, to the perception of women, this book is also a great insight into social history. In addition, the author looks into the beliefs and fears of the period in terms of burial, such as bodysnatchers and being buried alive, and how the depiction of death changed and burial traditions developed. The evidence that the graves give us for how people died, from illness to things such as accidents or murder, is also explored.With meticulous research into military graves, the author looks at the different types of military gravestones and the difference between personal graves and the Commonwealth War Graves in Britain. There is also large case study on how graves can help with our ancestors' sense of place and belonging. All of this is complemented with official documents, records, and extensive use of the national and local newspapers to show how important gravestones can be.

Presents a compelling case for Lechmere as Jack the Ripper, challenging long-held theories with modern analysis.Investigating Charles Lechmere: Was he Jack the Ripper? takes readers on a journey back to the chilling Autumn of 1888, when the streets of London were gripped by fear as Jack the Ripper stalked his victims through the shadows of the East End. But amidst the fog of history and speculation, one new name comes to light: Charles Lechmere.In this meticulously researched book, Neil Norman unveils a compelling case for Lechmere as the infamous Ripper, challenging conventional wisdom and overturning decades of speculation. Drawing on modern profiling techniques and historical context, the author paints a vivid portrait of late Victorian London, where poverty and desperation provided fertile ground for a killer to thrive.With its blend of historical insight, forensic analysis, and relentless pursuit of the truth, this book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the enigma of Jack the Ripper and the dark underbelly of Victorian society. With hundreds of suspects put forward over the decades, could the Ripper have been hiding in plain sight all along?

Embark on a fascinating journey with The History of Handheld Game Consoles, a thorough exploration of the history, impact and legacy of handheld gaming. Featuring consoles that revolutionised the way we play, this book not only charts the evolution of iconic devices from the humble Game Boy to modern technical marvels such as the Steam Deck, but it also offers a deep dive into the technical workings that made each system a beacon of innovation in portable gaming.The book includes a unique collection of photographs, contributed by a passionate global community of passionate gamers. These real, unseen images provide an authentic glimpse into the world of handheld gaming, capturing moments of joy, competition, and the sheer love of gaming. Explore detailed examinations of classic games for each handheld console, offering insights into their development, impact, and legacy.From the pixelated adventures of Mario on the Game Boy to the immersive experiences on the Nintendo Switch and the innovative ground-breaking capabilities of the Steam Deck, The History of Handheld Game Consoles delves into how these portable powerhouses have shaped the gaming landscape. Join us on this journey through gaming's portable evolution and celebrate the handheld consoles that have brought endless hours of entertainment into the palms of our hands.

In 1969, Elton John and Bernie Taupin gave the world Empty Sky, a heady mix of rock, folk, rhythm and blues, jazz, psychedelia, and classicism that announced the arrival of one of the most potent creative teams in the history of popular music. In the fifty-five years since that release, Elton's astounding output of thirty-one studio albums, nine soundtrack albums (ten if you count the unreleased Lestat!), and three collaboration albums has enchanted new generations, as grandparents who grew up with "Your Song" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" on their turntables have shared their love of Elton with parents who played "Sacrifice" and "The One" on their cd players who in turn are sharing it with their children who know The Lion King soundtrack by heart and dance to "Cold Cold Heart" in their bedrooms through Spotify playlists and YouTube remixes.Elton John: Album by Album takes you on a guided journey through those forty-four albums that have engaged three full generations of music lovers, exploring the history behind the production of each, uncovering the hidden stories and meanings of each track, and delving into the musical nuts and bolts of Elton John's unique gift for conveying the meaning of Bernie Taupin's lyrics through his unrivalled and almost otherworldly sense of tonal architecture.Whether you have been spinning Elton records since the days of "Lady Samantha", or found your way to his work in the post-Rocketman revival of appreciation for his legendary career, Elton John: Album by Album has what you need to navigate your way through the vast richness of his recorded catalogue, allowing you to answer such questions as "How did Ray Cooper make a gong sound like a spaceship?", "Why is "Ego" in Lokrian mode anyway?" and "Just what is the Pilot, and why would anybody want to be taken there?"

During the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944, Kampfgruppe Peiper ran out of fuel in the small village of La Gleize, surrounded and caught in a vice-like grip by three elite American divisions: the 82nd Airborne Division, the 3rd Armored Division and the 30th Infantry Division. Behind it, 1. SS Panzer-Division 'Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler' did everything it could to come to its rescue and resume the offensive. A race against time ensued between the Americans, who wanted to annihilate the fighting group of one of Germany's most famous SS commanders, and the German soldiers who tried to come to the rescue of their brothers in arms. The clash between these units of seasoned veterans resulted in a bloody melee around the perimeter of La Gleize. Would Peiper be able to pull through once again?

Shortly after their rise to power, the Nazis established specific Arbeitslager (labour camps) which housed Ostarbeiter (eastern workers), Fremdarbeiter (foreign workers) and other forced labourers who were rounded up and brought in from the east. These were distinct from the SS-run concentration camps.The use of forced labour grew significantly in 1937 due to rearmament requirements and again after the outbreak of warThe invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 further heightened demands for labour and the availability of new workers in areas under Nazi occupation. Vast numbers were deported to forced labour camps, where they worked either producing war materials or on construction projects.As in the Nazis' view, inmates were slaves pure and simple and replaceable with others, there was a complete disregard for the health of prisoners. Required to work long hours with little or no time for rest or breaks they were subject to insufficiencies of food, equipment, medicine and clothing. As a result of these conditions and brutal treatment, death rates were shockingly high.By 1945, more than fourteen million people had been exploited in the network of hundreds of forced labour camps that stretched across Nazi-occupied Europe. In true Images of War series style, this superbly illustrated book graphically describes the growth of the slave camp system and the conditions inflicted on the luckless labour force.

Roy Lane's exceptional wartime journey spans from the Battle of Britain to Burma's 'Operation Thursday, ' marked by fate and courage.This is the story of an exceptional young man whose war-time experience was long, considerable and so unusual as to be almost unique.Roy Lane joined the RAF in 1938 as soon as he was old enough. He trained to fly Hurricanes - single-seater fighter-planes. His war-time journey took him from the Battle of Britain via McIndoe's pioneering plastic surgery to the Merchant Ships' Fighter Unit and the so slow-moving Atlantic and Arctic convoys. In 1942 he commanded a small RAF base at Archangel on the White Sea. Posted to India in 1943, he volunteered to become the Air Liaison Officer attached to Brigadier Bernard Fergusson's Chindit Brigade. Its secret mission, 'Operation Thursday' would take it hundreds of miles on foot through the jungle-covered mountains of North-West Burma to the hoped-for turning point in the land war with Japan.Roy, the eldest, had two brothers Richard and Peter who also became airmen and a sister, Diana, who joined the WAAF later in the war. The family home was in Southampton, soon to be very much in the front-line of the war with Germany.Roy's letters from Burma urged his family to keep them to supplement the material he was gathering for 'my book' in his diaries. His five war diaries were last seen in the late 1960s in the bottom a wardrobe in Southampton. Searching for them uncovered much that was unknown, unexpected and sometimes extraordinary. Private letters, official correspondence, newspaper cuttings and personal recollections reveal moments of high drama - a family house destroyed by a bomb; a plane crashing in flames - good times; friends and family, some long lost.The 'logic of war', the context, is explored to explain why there and why then? The interplay of fate and chance brings the story to its cruel conclusion.

Churchill loved horses, army, hunters and polo ponies. This book investigates his less appreciated but highly successful ownership of racehorses from 1949 when his first runner, Colonist II, won at Salisbury in September, until his last in October 1964 at Newmarket when Honeycomb was unplaced. Churchill died three months later.Although Churchill only owned 40 horses, they competed in 394 flat and 30 National Hunt races, of which they won 70 on the flat and 8 over jumps. Considering how relatively few horses ran in his colours, he had a remarkably high percentage of good or well above average ones, notably Colonist II, High Hat, Vienna, Dark Issue, Welsh Abbot, Tudor Monarch on the flat and the good hurdler Sun Hat.The book devotes separate chapters to each of these horses and includes details of all his horses' 424 starts and lists the 78 winners in chronological order.

The origins of the Panzerkampfwagen Panther (sd.kfz. 171) beganwith the experimental series VK20 and VK30, designed by Daimler-Benz starting from September 1939, which continued their development until reaching the first prototype of the Panther, the Versuchs-Panther V1, completed by M.A.N. by the end of 1942.The design of the Panther had to ensure superiority over the Russian T-34 and KV-1 tanks, this superiority was based on its 75mm gun, boosted by the excellent quality of the German optics and the 80mm inclined front armor, being the first German tank to adopt this design improvement. Unlike the Tiger and the King Tiger, which were heavy tanks organised on independent battalions, the Panther was destined to fully equip all Panzer divisions, replacing the pre-war Pz.Kpfw.III and Pz.Kpfw.IV designs. Production capacities, however, were not capable of fulfilling this objective.The Germans classified the Panther as a medium tank though it was considerably heavier than the T-34 and Sherman tank in the Allied armies. More than 130 small and medium sized companies participated in the production program of the Panther.Going through several variants from the D, A, and G, the Panther is considered one of the best tanks of WW2, with a combination of armor, speed and armament more than a match for most Allied tanks.

"...we were bad-ass motherf*ckers in the baddest place in the universe. I understood how inane that macho-thinking was but as I soared high above the jungle with the cool air in my face I was as caught up in it as the rest of them."One of the most dangerous occupations during the Vietnam War was walking point, a role Ed Mann took on and specialized in. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam as an infantry soldier in the famed 1st Air Cavalry Division from June of 1969 to June of 1970. Mann was wounded several times, receiving several decorations including the Silver Star, while experiencing the extreme hardships of the war with his fellow soldiers. He would continue to walk point for his entire tour, becoming more like the jungle as the days turned into weeks and months.Mann acknowledges the conflicting emotions he felt during his time in Vietnam - "I was repulsed by the senselessness and savagery of the war and I was saddened by the price it exacted but I was seduced by it too; proud to be performing an important role in a deadly fight for survival and lured by the adrenaline rushes."An intensely immersive, gritty, and tension-filled account of his experience that will transport you to the war in the jungle in a way that sets it apart from other Vietnam memoirs.

The definitive guide to The Godfather's Sicilian filming locations, blending history, lore, and film analysis for fans and travelers alike.Honour and dishonour. Loyalty and betrayal. Love and loss. Exile. Revenge. Light and dark. This, set against the background of mountaintop villages, baroque churches, and the sun-drenched landscapes of Sicily, makes The Godfather film series a work of enduring art considered by many to be the greatest films of all time. The cinematic heritage of the films' locations is as visually and historically savoury as an Italian feast, as sweet as cannoli.Yet a formal guide to follow in the films' footsteps has never been published! Much of the online information is fragmented, incomplete and often completely wrong. This book changes that, explaining the in-depth history and exact locations of the film sites and tailored to both tourists and film connoisseurs alike. Written by a Mediterranean archaeologist and well-studied Godfather superfan of several decades, everything needed for a Godfather aficionado to experience Sicily for themselves is included.This book is an extensively researched and trusted resource for both the traveller (armchair or otherwise) and anyone interested in understanding the history and lore surrounding the filming locations. It may even inspire casual tourists to convert into Godfather film fans themselves. Film facts and scene analysis are presented and suggested side trips are included along with tidbits of cultural information and over 100 photos.

The History & Fundamentals of Knife Combat is the first installment of the most comprehensive and practical book on knife fighting and edged weapon combat that has ever been written. Spread out over two volumes, it serves to introduce the reader to every element of knife and edged weapon combat. In this volume you will be introduced to the history and development of knives and edged weapons throughout the ages, how the perception of society towards the knife changed and altered over time, and how tribes, cultures, and fighting forces all over the globe have relied upon this lethal tool for thousands of years.The reader will also be introduced to a vast number of various knives and edged weapons, either historic or modern, as they become familiar with the various designs and their unique applications. The book delves deep into human anatomy as it exposes the arterial and muscular structures of the body and those parts most suitable as a target to strike as well as the fundamentals of knife and edged weapon combat as basic strikes, footwork, movement, weapon retention, and accessibility are covered.This volume serves as a strong and profound introduction into the world of knife combat tactics and will swiftly and vastly increase the readers knowledge and skill. Whether you're a military operator, martial arts student, or simply a history or edged weapon enthusiast, you will find that this book has plenty to offer you.

The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry fought in WWII across diverse terrains, demonstrating extraordinary bravery, sacrifice, and resilience.From 1939 to 1945, units of The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry were involved in some of the fiercest battles of the Second World War. From the snowy wastes of Scandinavia to the deserts of North Africa, and from the mountains of Italy to the steaming jungles of Asia, the men of the KOYLI fought against the forces of all three of the dictatorships that came so close to conquering the world.Before taking part in the fighting, three battalions of KOYLI had left the regiment to become 53rd, 57th, and 94th Anti-Aircraft Regiments within the Royal Artillery, and 149th Armoured Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps. Thus, the KOYLI comprised five infantry battalions during the period of the world conflict. They were ordinary men from the quiet towns and villages of Yorkshire, who suddenly found themselves thrown into a deadly fight against the mightiest military machine the world had ever seen, and their story is one of incredible hardship, bravery, and sacrifice in some of the most daunting and inhospitable places on Earth.Illustrated throughout with over 100 photographs and maps, this new history offers a unique and detailed look at one of the Second World War's most extraordinary regiments.

At the start of 1967, Jim Wagner shipped out to Vietnam. As a UH-1D Huey crew chief and door gunner, Wagner was part of the 9th Aviation Battalion that would ferry infantry of the 9th Infantry Division into and out of combat in III Corps Tactical Zone in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam. Interdicting the movements of Viet Cong kept Wagner and his unit in near constant combat with the author accumulating over 1800 air hours on combat operations. Day to day, Wagner flew direct support, combat assault, medical Evac, or low level aerial recon missions for platoon or company sized elements of the 9th Division. Wagner experienced it all, from the surreal of flying over Nancy Sinatra at a USO concert to secret missions flying special forces across the border into Cambodia to the Tet Offensive.

By 1940 the Allies had fallen behind the Axis powers in parachute design and research. Other than as a means of escape from a doomed aircraft, the British regarded parachuting as of little military value. All that changed when the Germans used paratroops, the Fallschirmjäger, to devastating effect in the invasion of the Low Countries, and Churchill demanded immediate action. The call went out for men who would be prepared to risk their lives testing parachutes, jumping and landing techniques.Charles Agate was a 34-year-old schoolteacher with a taste for adventure when he joined a pioneering group of mavericks at RAF Ringway in Manchester. The breath-taking risks they took alongside the essential work of the women of the WAAF changed the course of the war and the face of airborne warfare. Their work though often came at a terrible cost.Between 1941 and 1945 Agate and his fellow Parachute Jump Instructors (PJIs) completed thousands of jumps, often from low altitude or using prototype parachutes. They jumped carrying heavy kit bags, had sandbags strapped to their legs, and landed in deep freezing water. They also trained thousands of raw recruits for the key airborne operations of the war, as well as over 600 Special Operation Executive agents for dropping into enemy territory, frequently accompanying them as dispatchers on these hazardous flights. They were proud of the knowledge they were acquiring and imparting at Ringway, but, as the authors reveal, this led to disputes with the Americans over tactics and equipment as they prepared for the Allied invasion of France.Agate amassed a record 1,601 jumps and was awarded the Air Force Cross. He and his fellow PJIs at Ringway were also personally thanked by Churchill for their unique contribution to the war effort. His last jump, in 1946, with his flying suit stuffed with winnings won on a horse called Airborne at the Epsom Derby, was reported in the press worldwide.He acknowledged after the war that he had seen '21 good soldiers hit the deck' during training at RAF Ringway, and these tragedies, as well as the effects of risking his life on a daily basis, took a heavy emotional toll on him and many of the other PJIs. The Man Who Tested Parachutes explores Agate's 'lost' post-war years: his struggles with his mental health, and the impact on his family. It charts his journey to becoming the unconventional head teacher of a village school and his clashes with local authorities. Finally, it describes unflinchingly the last dark twist in the life of this complex man, alone in his flat overlooking the sea just before Christmas 1986.This book tells the story of an ordinary man who took extraordinary risks, and the men and women who served alongside him. It also remembers the young recruits who died before they were able to take part in the key battles for which they were being trained.