Books by David James Smith

Sarajevo, 28 June 1914: The story of the assassination that changed the world.

Edwardian London in 1910, the notorious tale of Dr Crippen and Ethel Le Neve re-investigated by a prizewinning journalist. 'The definitive account of a crime which still intrigues, and to an extent baffles, aficionados of murder' P D James

Culloden battle, babe in arms attacked! Burns ancestor & Smiths with Gordons; Gordon Highlanders in WWI.Culloden's ethnic cleansing on Cumberland's orders, blamed 'no quarter' on Murray. Charles assisted escape. Rev. ministers prove Cumberland's lie, eyewitness accounts and, dying declarations. Proscription abolished- Highland traditions, tartan only fighting allies, then clearances for sheep. Burns told the world of English crimes to achieve UK. Sovereigns in England neglect Scotland. Queen Mother, descended from Bruce, restored Scotland's faith in their own royalty, influenced heiress Elizabeth II through world war I.

How a Smith aided William Wallace win at Stirling Bridge, in Norman dominated Scotland. James Smith wanted to find his own way in life. Born in Badenoch, southwest Highland Scotland, he was determined to help William Wallace fight against Norman dominance for independence. Smiths were victims of a Moray clearance when Oengus, or Angus Chief of the Chattan and last Mormaor or King of Moray, had fallen at Stracathro to be replaced by a Norman Earl. James, a 3rd generation blacksmith, crossed the Causey Mounth cattle drover road to emerge at Fetteresso, before Durris on the east coast armed with a self-made sword, targe, adaptable skills, and handed down family history shaped by war. His skills served another Earl Moray who declared for Wallace burning out Normans from Dunnottar castle still smoking as they went south for Dundee and Stirling Bridge. This decision shaped the destiny of east-coast Smiths, now told.

The local Smith trade expanded in Fetteresso and Glenbervie, Aberdeenshire, as a farming family, supplying wars and feeding people. Mary I was influenced by living in France. The Pope declared a crusade against England, Spain sent armadas. The Union of crowns saw King James VI of Scotland the I of England neglect Scotland. Montrose changed allegiance to stop Cromwell and failed, prisoners to the Americas. England conspired against the Darien investment and bribed investor negotiators for votes for Union. People, without a vote, protested as a right since the Declaration of Arbroath 1320. Landlord Keith, Scotland?s Marischal, kin to Smith tenants from the same tribe of Chatti in Europe, proclaimed the true King of Scotland. Pope-given honours safe. Smiths with Burnes neighbours, ancestors of Robert Burns the national poet, on their march to Culloden. Prince Charlie, Regent to correct UK Sovereignty, his father the nearest heir. The people fought to replace the Sovereign, freedom, and independence.

Cheeky Charlie: "Have you ever wondered where ponies came from long ago? How they grew from the size of a dog? How they coped in the ice ages? When people became friends with ponies and why? How the different breeds started and their many uses? Lettie, the ice age pony, helps to tell you." David James Smith is an investigator, historian, breeder, and natural horseman, with national style and performance competitor success. He writes for the pre-teens in an interactive style thereby inspiring their knowledge of world geography and history with many useful illustrations and many surprises.

Mons Graupius. A Roman battle victory or, Only a Celtic Quarrel? Catti resisted, but relatives complied by joining the 9th Legio to retain Celtic land in Europe. Catti left, colonised and held land near the Grampians in Caledonia, resisted the Roman advance, and again quarrelled with relatives in the 9th. Calgacus and his speech were invented by a historian with a motive. Historical Notes: Catti origins before building Stonehenge, mining Cornwall, founding Lud (London), Cato Gate (Scandinavia), Gadi (Cadiz), Batavia (Holland), Gadie burn near Bennachie in Old Pictland (Scotland).

Cheeky Charlie: "Have you ever wondered where ponies came from long ago? How they coped in the ice ages? When people became friends with ponies and why? How the different breeds started? Lettie, an ice age pony, will tell you all about it." David James Smith is an investigator, historian, breeder, and natural horseman, with national style and performance competitor success. He helps Lettie write for boys and girls in an interactive style to inspire their search for knowledge using the compass, geography, history, challenges, and useful illustrations.

Cheeky Charlie: "Have you ever wondered where ponies came from long ago? How they grew from the size of a dog? How they coped in the ice ages? When people became friends with ponies and why? How the different breeds started? Lettie, the ice age pony, will tell you all about it." David James Smith is an investigator, historian, breeder, and natural horseman, with national style and performance competitor success. He helps Lettie write for children in an interactive style inspiring their search for knowledge using the compass, world geography, history, challenges, and useful illustrations.

Have you ever wondered about the origin of ponies or horses? Where did they came from? How they coped in the ice ages? When man domesticated them and why? How the breeds evolved and more? David James Smith makes an informative world-wide review through the Ice Ages, Breeds, and Uses, for wild pony migrations hunted as food, their domestication, and breeding, to provide so many uses. He draws upon his skills as an investigator turned historian, breeder, and natural horseman with national style and performance competitor success, to propose it was Only Horses from Wild until horses entered a mutual working partnership with man. Cover picture shows a pony with ice age markings explained.

Live the life of a Celt in Caledonia. A story of migration to the Scottish Highlands circa AD78. The Roman expansion north was resisted by a Celtic Confederation and by their relatives still in Germania causing a contraction that left a vacuum to be filled by other migrants from Saxony. Angles, Jutes, and more. followed.

A story of Heathen Vikings enabling Cinaed (or Kenneth) MacAlpin take over Christian Scotland. Cattan, warrior priest and Chief of the Clan Chattan, converted the ambitious, Kenneth of Dal Riada and became his personal advisor. Follow James who became the caretaker Chief, forming alliances against the greater threat of raiding Vikings, by a circumnavigation of mainland Britain noting changes of the time and developing tactics to fight back. The Chattan Fleet's reputation was such, that neither Dane nor Norse wished to take them on, so they went after soft targets, sometimes as paid mercenaries to regain lost lands. Once Vikings settled in the northern isles, Man, and Dublin, they took possession of the east of Angleland that became England, and the west of Alba that became Scotland. Tribal identity became mixed as the kingdoms united but, the people still retained symbols of their ancient origins displayed on local banners, as they rallied to the nearest, strongest, High King's own standard.

Another in the Only Series- Only Ponies' A family pony 'Cheeky Charlie', with Mary and Matt, win their first junior competition and then return next year to win against adults. See how they achieved a bursary and how you can too! "Charlie is famous, he helps Father Christmas!" From choosing a pony, care advice, and equipment,these guidelines ensure you are ready to train for success in whatever type of competition and level you choose. Meet Charlie's friends pictured inside, with poems and interactive activities to learn more together. Written by David James Smith a natural horseman with inherited skills from centuries of horse trainers. David passes on his knowledge having taught Mary among many others for competition success. As a breeder and trainer his own ponies and horses reached national success.

Author David Smith's childhood near London, England, helped pave the way for the young boy to plough his own furrow in life. In Only Fraud and Horses, Smith narrates his story which includes pieces of history, police, and horsemanship. In this memoir, Smith offers a humorous and poetic account of his skills, training, and professional positions from cadet to London policeman and to Scotland Yard detective and specialist. Only Fraud and Horses also shares representative sports details, contrasts Smith's Scots ancestry, and links developing European history, the long dependence upon the horse, and his inherited skills as a competitive, natural horseman. With photographs and historical notes included, Smith reviews a lifetime collection of family records and shares his discoveries-starting from England with surnames of Smith and Brown and going back to the 1700s in the Highlands of Scotland before Mediterranean origins.

Friday, February 12 1993. Two outwardly unremarkable ten-year-old boys, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, began their day playing truant and ended it running an errand for a local video shop. In between they abducted and killed the toddler James Bulger. The Sleep of Reason is the harrowing, sensitive, definitive account of this terrible crime and its consequences.In a new Preface (which considers the re-arrest of Jon Venables in February 2010) David James Smith writes: 'It is as true now as it was then that the murder has never really been explained and the motive for the crime remains a mystery. This book, the result of considerable research and a painstaking, sometimes distressing assembly of the facts, was my attempt to offer some insight and understanding.''Surprisingly evocative, even moving... immensely valuable.' Times'Dramatic and disturbing.' Anita Brookner, Observer'Compelling and compassionate.' Times Educational Supplement