A magisterial and sweeping history of modern Africa.The end of the Second World War signalled the rapid end of the European African empires. In 1945, only four African countries were independent; by 1963, thirty African states created the Organization of African Unity. Despite formidable problems, the 1960s were a time of optimism as Africans enjoyed their new independence, witnessed increases in prosperity and prepared to tackle their political and economic proble...

Ever since the end of World War II, and even more so since 1960, when 17 African colonies became independent of colonial rule, the African continent has been ravaged by a series of wars. These wars have ranged from liberation struggles against former colonial powers to power struggles between different factions in the aftermath of independence. They have ranged from border wars between newly independent states to civil wars between ethnic groups. As with many conflicts, outside forces were...

George Borrow - brilliant linguist, expert on gypsy culture and author of "Wild Wales" (1862) - remains an enigmatic character whose fiction and travel writing mix autobiography and invention. From 1835 to 1840, he worked as an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, attempting to distribute Protestant Testaments in fiercely Catholic Spain. The outcome of this controversial and risky enterprise is - though not the one that his employers expected - as "The Bible in Spain", an accoun...

The Resources of the Third World provides a comprehensive survey of those countries that are considered to belong to the Third World or less developed countries, those that the World Bank classifies as low- or middle-income economies. The book analyzes the contribution that possession of resources makes to economic development. Guy Arnold defines resources in broad terms--not only the traditionally analyzed resources of agricultural and mineral wealth but also the less well studied resourc...

World Strategic Highways provides a detailed examination of approximately 50 of the most important strategic highways in the world. These highways may take the form of roads, railways, rivers and canals, or air and sea routes. They have one thing in common: they are of special significance because, throughout history, they have acted as major trade routes for a number of countries; have military or strategic significance; act to bind a country or countries together; or, in the case of rive...

For a relatively short war, the Crimean War holds an important place in history. Finally, a resource that provides a historical overview of the war from a number of different angles including, the causes, the motivations, the course, and the consequences.This volume fully explores the:o Main engagementso Principal political figures and rulerso Military leaders and navalcommanderso Events leading up to the conflictThis Dictionary is an exce...

We are witnessing the new age of empowered customers, armed with online reviews, five-star ratings and social media, never has it been more important to manage your reputation and referrals.This book is for anyone who wants to systematically build their reputation and increase their referral sales whilst delivering a consistent and continually improving customer experience. Put together in a simple, clear, no nonsense way, with step by step instructions on what to do along the journey. The...

The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel. But it is an art in itself. To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task. Many try and many fail. In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers. Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say. In this volume we examine some of the short stories from our many masters (and mistresses) of terror. GOTHIC TALES OF...

‘With this ring, I thee Wed’. And with these words lives enter a new chapter. Hopefully till the end of their lives but time together, with its up and downs, hurdles and obstacles, also cuts short a great many, sometimes in unusual ways.

During the long period when the world was divided between East and West and the Cold War threatened to turn hot with devastating consequences, the Non-Aligned Movement was one of the few institutions that consistently sought other outcomes not in its own interest, but that of all humanity. Consisting of over 100 states that are free of any formal alliances with any major power bloc, the Non-Aligned Movement provides aid to those countries striving to gain independence, eliminate poverty, a...

Examines the abuse of drugs in the West and the scope and value of the illegal drugs business, and the failure of the drug enforcement programmes either to curtail the supply of drugs or to persuade users to abandon their habit.

Constant migration is a worldwide phenomenon that creates sharp divisions between those who accept the need for migrants and welcome the contributions they make and those who oppose them on xenophobic grounds. Guy Arnold provides a comprehensive survey of the consequences of migration.Arnold studies both the massive internal migrations in China and India that drive economic development and the influx of cheap labour into the advanced economies of the USA and EU. He shows that migra...