Have you ever wondered...How the Navy and the Marines came to be ‘royal’? How Samuel Pepys helped professionalise the Navy while at the same time penning his famous diary. What the origins of everyday expressions like ‘toeing the line’, ‘showingyour true colours’ and ‘piping-hot food’ are? Marvel at the magnificent vessels that have always been the backbone of the force, from the Tudor warship Mary Rose to the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest warship ever bui...

Do You Know…Which British war leader was shot at by guerrillas in Cuba on his twenty-first birthday? Which intelligence officer turned the tide of World War One in the Middle East after being initially rejected by the Army for being too small? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this celebration of the UK’s land force. From the heroes, special forces and famous campaigns and battles that make up the British Army’s impressive history, through to the remarkable people ...

You can never know too much stuff. For example:Today, the people of earth take more photos in two minutes than they did in the whole of the nineteenth century. When the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre museum in Paris in 1911, one of the suspects was Pablo Picasso. The surface area of Russia is larger than the surface area of Pluto. This outrageously informative book is packed full of fascinating nuggets of history, science, literature, technology, sports, geography, culture and...

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, handy hints and captivating stories and quotes from the world of golf, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of hitting the fairway.

HOP ON BOARD, SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RIDE!Whether you pine for the romantic age of the steam engine, thrill at the speeds of today’ssuperfast trains, dream of travelling on the world’s great long-distance rail journeys or yearn to take the ‘Toy Train’ to Darjeeling, this book offers a fantastic, whistle-stop tour of train travel.

The Tour de France is one of the most prestigious and physically challenging sporting events in the world and is the jewel in professional cycling's crown.This pocket-sized miscellany is packed with the Tour's most memorable moments, with curious facts, amazing anecdotes and intriguing statistics from over a century of unforgettable racing.

The story revolves around the character of Douglas Van Dorn, a wealthy young man from a prestigious New York family. He is poised to inherit a considerable fortune and is expected to follow in the family's business footsteps. However, Douglas has other aspirations. He dreams of becoming a playwright and pursuing a career in the theater, which is seen as unconventional and at odds with his family's expectations.As the plot unfolds, Douglas's ambitions lead him to the world of theater, where...

1940s Science Fiction 4 - 16 Classic Science Fiction Short Stories From the 1940sThe Deadly Dust by Murray LeinsterThe Unseen Blushers by Alfred BesterSaknarth by Donald A. WollheimUndersea Guardians by Ray BradburyThe Venus Evil by Chester S. GeierThe Last Man in New York by Paul MacNamaraArena by Fredric BrownCome Home From Earth by Edmond HamiltonDouble-Cross by Frederik PohlIt Burns ...

‘Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl.’Frederick the Great‘I am the Flail of God… If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.’Genghis Khan‘Everyone's a pacifist between wars. It's like being a vegetarian between meals.’Colman McCarthyFrom Churchill to Sitting Bull, and from Agincourt to the Khyber Pass, history is rich in rousing rhetoric, inspiring quotations and heroic ...

This pocket-sized miscellany, packed with fascinating facts, handy hints and captivating stories and quotes from the world of bikes, is perfect for anyone who knows the incomparable joy of cycling.

THE HISTORY OF BRITAIN AS YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.Take a whistle-stop journey through time to discover the remarkable people, places, artefacts and events that make up the story of Britain through the ages. Discover the stomach-churning scope of Henry VIII’s voluminous diet, learn about the engineering excellence behind the Supermarine Spitfire and brush up on your knowledge of iconic British TV and radio programmes. These and many more fascinating facts are presented in this be...

A book for bike lovers.Whether for transport, leisure or sporting endeavour, cycling supports and inspires millions across the globe. This fact-filled miscellany looks at biking from its origins through to its remarkable scope and status in the present day. Covering cycling’s great races, athletes and anecdotes, Ride also provides practical tips on how to maintain your bike and improve your riding.