"Rejected Addresses; Or, The New Theatrum Poetarum" is a satirical work by Horace Smith and James Smith that humorously imagines how famous poets would have approached the task of writing addresses for the opening of the new Covent Garden Theatre. The book features a series of parodies, each mimicking the style of a different poet, showcasing the Smith brothers' wit and literary prowess. Through clever imitation, they not only entertain but also critique the poetic conventions of their tim...

In "Interludes: Being Two Essays, a Story, and Some Verses," Horace Smith masterfully intertwines prose, poetry, and reflective essays to create a rich tapestry of literary exploration. The book showcases Smith's dexterity with language, employing a style that oscillates between whimsy and profound introspection. Set within the Romantic context of the early 19th century, Smith's work reflects the era's fascination with emotion and individual experience, while engaging with broader philosop...

Rejected Addresses; Or, The New Theatrum Poetarum is a brilliant anthology that presents a tapestry of parodic and satirical literary pieces, deftly exploring the art of imitation and critique within its pages. With a keen focus on the transformation of classical and neoclassical themes, the collection offers a range of literary styles including pastiches and parody that skillfully mimic prominent poetry and prose of the era. The anthology stands out in its ability to capture the zeitgeist...

In "Interludes: Being Two Essays, a Story, and Some Verses," Horace Smith presents a multifaceted work that blends essays, fiction, and poetry into a cohesive exploration of themes such as human nature, society, and the complexities of personal experience. Smith's literary style is marked by eloquent prose and a delicate balance of humor and introspection, drawing from the Romantic era'Äôs emphasis on emotion and individualism. The essays offer keen observations while the narrative interle...

Throughout my life I have sought adventure over the face of the world and its waters as other men have hunted and fought for gold or struggled for fame. The love of it, whether through the outcropping of a strain of buccaneer blood that had been held in subjection by generations of placid propriety or as a result of some freak of prenatal suggestion, was born in me, deep-planted and long-rooted. Excitement is as essential to my existence as air and food. Through it my life has been prolong...

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made his name and cemented his literary reputation as the master of detective fiction with the Sherlock Holmes tales, but his wide-ranging interests led him to produce a remarkable array of books over the course of his career. This is his meticulously researched account of England's war with the Boers in South Africa, which he wrote while the conflict was still underway.

‘This is a battle piece of the finest kind, detailed, authentic and largely written from original documents. Mr. Leasor has a formidable gift of narrative. Never has this story of hate, violence, courage and cowardice been better told.’ Cecil Woodham-Smith in the New York Times A year after the Crimean War ended, an uprising broke out in India which was to have equal impact on the balance of world power and the British Empire's role in world affairs. The revolt was ag...

From the bestselling author of Destiny of the Republic, this thrilling biographical account of the life and legacy of Winston Churchill is a "nail-biter and top-notch character study rolled into one" (The New York Times).At the age of twenty-four, Winston Churchill was utterly convinced it was his destiny to become prime minister of England. He arrived in South Africa in 1899, valet and crates of vintage wine in tow, to cover the brutal colonial w...

Redcoat is the brilliant story of the common British soldier from 1700 to 1900, based on the letters and diaries of the men who served and the women who followed them.Delving into the history of the period – charting events including Wolfe's victory and death at Quebec, Wellington's Peninsular War, Waterloo, the retreat from Kabul and the Sikh wars – celebrated military historian Richard Holmes provides a comprehensive portrait of a fallible but extraordinarily successful fighting ...

Sahib is a magnificent history of the British soldier in India from Clive to the end of Empire, making full use of personal accounts from the soldiers who served in the jewel in Britain’s Imperial Crown.This is a stunning account of Indian soldiering in peace and war, from the barrack rooms to the cavalry swirling across open plains. Bestselling military historian Richard Holmes not only illuminates the lives and feelings of the men who served, but also those of the women who follo...

Written in 1894, just 15 years after the war, this is James Grants excellent military history of the Zulu War of 1879. From the British disaster at Isandhlwana to face-saving at Rorkes Drift and the final humiliation of the Zulu nation at Ulundi, this is the contemporary view of how the events were conveyed to the public of Great Britain.Featuring original engravings from the Illustrated London News and the Graphic, this book was written during the height of the British Empire, and the triump...