In the tense atmosphere of the Cold War, John Fisher, a laid-back Australian, lands a job with a shipping line in Rotterdam, blissfully unaware of the concealed financial and political schemes harboured by some of his new friends and colleagues. He soon finds himself entangled in an international scandal involving influential entities, facing relentless pressure from various quarters. Navigating the challenges of dealing with intoxicated ship captains, irritable harbour masters, and antago...

It sounds innocuous compared to war, plague and famine, but flu is actually one of the world's biggest killers. Since the first documented pandemic of an influenza-like disease in 1580, 31 worldwide influenza outbreaks have been recorded, culminating in the pandemic of 1918 that killed an estimated 50 million.This fascinating book explores the havoc caused by the world's most deadly virus - and the destruction left behind in its wake. From its initial identification by the Greek physician ...

For more than 300 years, Kensington Palace has played host to a colourful cast of kings, queens and assorted aristocratic hangers-on. A stone's throw from the bustling streets of central London, this grand building has served as the stage for some of the most dramatic and bizarre events in the history of the royal family.It was here that the young Queen Victoria was held a virtual prisoner for eighteen years; and it was here that George II installed both his wife and his mistress, ...

George Orwell once said that the British love a really good murder. He might have added that the only thing the British love more than a good murder is a really good scandal, and best of all are the sexual and political scandals that take place behind the gilded doors of Britain's royal palaces. From Edward II's intimate relationship with Piers Gaveston to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's dramatic exit from the royal family, the royal residences have seen it all.This glorious romp ...

When Gerald Grosvenor, sixth Duke of Westminster, died in August 2016 he was one of the world's richest men, his fortune estimated at just under £10 billion.Yet he hated his wealth and spent long periods suffering from severe depression, much of it brought on by a feeling that his whole life had been a failure and that his money had destroyed any chance of happiness. At the same time, he could be ruthless in running the business while often feeling he was only a mascot.Gera...

"Britain's Best Historic Sites" takes the reader on a journey around this ancient land, detailing over 80 of the most important and fascinating of Britain's historic remains from 8000BC to the 20th century. From excavations of everyday life found in forgotten highways and Roman villas to areas of great spiritual significance, such as stone circles and medieval churches, as well as sites that were key to the Industrial Revolution, this book uncovers the amazing heritage that can be found ac...

For Alice Keppel, it was all about appearances. Her precepts were those of the English upper classes: discretion, manners and charm. Nothing else mattered - especially when it came to her infamous affair with King Edward VII.As the King's favourite mistress up until his death in 1910, Alice held significant influence at court and over Edward himself. But it wasn't just Edward she courted: throughout her life, Alice enthusiastically embarked on affairs with bankers, MPs, peers - any...

Secret Britain is an exploration of the fascinating and beautiful, yet more obscure and less-visited, corners of the country. Landscapes and heritage sites that receive little coverage in more conventional guides are revealed here in all their glory, and there is a diverse range of locations to suit every mood.Travel from the rugged beaches of Cornwall to the ancient burial sites of the Orkney Islands, and in between encounter an enticing mix of wild hills and spectacular c...

"William Tallon was a creature of extremes: though intensely loyal, he was also a dangerous risk-taker; though charming, he could also be vicious; though considerate and amusing, he could be ruthless and predatory. For much of his life he was driven by two demons: a powerful sex drive and an intense, almost pathological love for the Queen Mother…"From humble beginnings as a shopkeeper's son in Coventry to 'Page of the Backstairs' at Clarence House, William Tallon, or 'Back...

In this lively and colourful history, royal expert Tom Quinn goes behind palace doors to give a compelling glimpse of Britain's royals, ancient and modern. From medieval times, when the Groom of the Stool oversaw the monarch's lavatorial exploits, below-stairs staff have always had a unique insight into the lives of their royal masters.Through the eyes of serving and recently retired staff, we see how today's royals live – including how the relationship between Meghan and Harry and...

After dropping out of university, getting a job as a storeman, doing drugs and then splitting up with his wife, Jack, in a fit of depression, joins the Australian Army and is sent to East Timor at the height of the troubles. He "volunteers" for a mission in Indonesia, where the United Nations, with help from the US Navy and the Royal Marines, are trying to rescue a group of foreigners, mostly Europeans, being held hostage by the local rebels. Jack completes his mission only to become the v...

The World's Greatest Shooting Stories brings together for the first time all the most hilarious, extraordinary and bizarre tales from more than two hundred years of sporting shooting from around the world. Given the huge popularity of the sport there are stories of big game hunting in Africa and India during the 19th century; tales from the Wild West of America; grouse shooting on Edwardian English moors; rough shooting and wildfowling; tales of poachers and diverse tales from eccentric Ro...