UNCOVER LONDON'S PAST, BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH ITS LOST AND FORGOTTEN TREASURES, LANDMARKS, CUSTOMS AND STORIESLondon is a city steeped in history; a place where the past lingers in every shadow. More than 2,000 years in the making and covering 600 square miles, like any modern capital it reinvents itself on an almost perpetual basis, yet it's almost impossible to walk its streets without finding a survivor from one of its previous incarnations. Be...

From traders to raiders, embark on an incredible voyage through Viking life and history in the first in an exciting new series from bestselling non-fiction writer David Long.The Vikings were a terrifying force that changed history across the globe – from Canada all the way to Iraq. But they were merchants as well as marauders, explorers as well as adventurers. The greatest seafarers and shipbuilders of their age, they were also skilled metalworkers and artists, farmers and fisherme...

Astonishing real-life rescue missions from on, under and above the earth from the award-winning team behind Survivors and Heroes.How far would you go to save a life? Scrambling from the wreckage of his school after an earthquake, a nine-year-old Sichuan boy rescued two unconscious friends. 'I was hall monitor,' he said afterwards. 'It is my job to look after my classmates.'Whether dragging a friend from a blazing car, masterminding a searc...

Walk in the footsteps of William the Conqueror with Blue Peter Award winning author David Long, who expertly unearths the captivating history, culture and legacy of the Norman era.In 1066, William the Conqueror led a formidable army across the English Channel, changing the course of British history. Descended from fierce Viking raiders, the Normans became ruthless rulers who built monumental castles, established a new social order and merged their customs with thos...

From land-speed record-breakers to unforgettable rivalries, buckle up for an exhilarating ride through the evolution of motorsport with Blue Peter Award winning author David Long.When automobiles arrived in Britain in the 1890s, Queen Victoria was among the many who thought they were noisy, smelly machines. By 1906, the first Grand Prix was speeding through the French countryside, igniting a global passion for motorsport.From daring land-speed record attemp...

Beyond the Gatehouse is a lighthearted, witty but factual biographical account of the eccentric lifestyles of the builders and residents of some of England's best-known country houses.Extraordinary buildings require extraordinary people, and over the centuries our historic houses have produced more than their fair share of oddballs. Insulated from the outside world by vast wealth, rolling acres and the social status that a title implies, aristocrats have a...

The West End of London has long been a magnet to those attracted by impressive architecture and grand streets and squares. This detailed book delves deep into its eight distinctive areas, to present the stories behind the façades of buildings old and new, taking the reader down side streets into corners that even Londoners tend to miss to reveal who lived where, and how a whole new London developed to the west of the Roman-walled medieval city to evolve into the gilded 'we...

The PDSA award, named for the charity's founder, animal welfare pioneer Maria Elisabeth Dickin CBE, was created to recognise the increasingly important role being played by regimental and other service mascots, soon expanding to include service animals whose specialised training saw them working alongside men and women on the home and battle fronts, out at sea and eventually even deep into enemy-held territory. The medal quickly became known around the world as the Animals...

Why not take seriously the claim that Harry Potter's world intertwines with our own? In this timely yet otherworldly volume, more than a dozen scholars of international relations join hands to demonstrate how this well-loved artifact of popular culture reflects and shapes our own lifeworld. A wide range of historical and sociological sources shows how Harry's world contains aspects of our own. Practices such as quidditch dovetail quite clearly with "muggle" sports, and the very Br...

A fascinating tour of London's strangest and most intriguing locations. Ranging from architectural evidence of past incidents and stories of life beneath the city, to anecdotes of magic, mystery and murder, this is a perfect companion for the curious Londoner.It includes:A Museum of Magical Curiosities; The City's Lost Tunnels and Citadels; The Ghost of a "She-Wolf; The Bawdy House Riots; The Story of 'Jack the Stripper'; The Atmospheric Railway; The Thames Ringway Bicycle ...

An alternative journey around England, visiting the sights that are definitely not on the average tourist trail. In this charming book, David Long introduces the reader to some of the oddest and most interesting sights in England, such as: * Devon's Gnome Reserve * Britain's smallest pub * A church for dragon slayers * A subterranean ballroom * The Phone Box Museum and much more. From weird buildings to eccentric museums and from mystical superstitions to remnants of magical rites, this is...

Winner of the Best Book With Facts Blue Peter Book Award 2017.Amazing real-life stories about extreme survival.Beautifully presented in a large, paperback format, and fully illustrated in colour throughout, this wonderful anthology is a treat for all the family. Be shocked and amazed by these incredible real-life stories of extreme survival, including . . .The Man Who Sucked Blood from a Sh...