Books published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd

An in-depth scholarly history of the British army as an institution during the eighteenth century.

Good Photographic Coverage, Informative Long Captions, New Factual Information, Useful to Modellers.

On 6 December 1886, Arthur Foster leaves the Queen's Theatre, Manchester with a pocket full of gold and a lady bedecked with diamonds on his arm. He hails a hansom cab unaware that a detective has been trailing him as he crisscrossed the streets of the city. As the cab pulls away, the detective slips inside and arrests the infamous 'Birmingham Forger.' **The detective is Jerome Caminada, legendary policeman and real-life Victorian super-sleuth. A master of disguise with a keen eye for detail and ingenious methods of detection, Caminada is at the top of his game, tracking notorious criminals through the seedy streets of Manchester's underworld. Relentless in his pursuit, he stalks pickpockets and poisoners, unscrupulous con artists and cold blooded murderers. **His groundbreaking detective work leads to the unravelling of classic crime cases such as the Hackney Carriage Murder in 1889, secret government missions and a deadly confrontation with his arch-rival, a ruthless and violent thief. Caminada's compelling story bears all the hallmarks of Arthur Conan Doyle and establishes this indefatigable investigator as one of the most formidable detectives of the Victorian era and The Real Sherlock Holmes.**As seen in The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Express, The Times, La Stampa and Lancashire Life.**Also featured in Discover Your History Magazine.

All of a sudden there was the rush of an immense shadow coming towards him at terrific speed. It was the ground reaching up to gather him. The date was 26 June, 1943 and Cy Grant was the rarest of things - a black West Indian RAF crew member, blown out of his exploding Lancaster bomber. **The heroic exploits of the Caribbean men and women who volunteered their services to the Allied effort during the Second World War have, until now, passed by with little fanfare or attention. Indeed, whilst many people are aware of the contribution that the various Bomber Command units paid in securing ultimate victory, little is said or understood of the achievements and sacrifices of the heroic Caribbean volunteers who contributed to some of their greatest victories.**Mark Johnson presents us here with an engrossing and humane account of the exploits of such individuals. Including a great number of insights and fascinating details taken from conversations with his great-uncle, John Blair, the book illuminates the day-to-day reality of life as a Caribbean volunteer during the Second World War and the kind of culture-clash experiences that characterised their wartime careers. John Blair is a particularly important member within the context of this history and within the wider context of Bomber Command history. He served a full and distinguished tour with Bomber Command in the skies over Germany and was present during some of the most pivotal moments, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross in the process. The author has based the book on in-depth interviews he conducted with his great-uncle and other survivors, as well as other press interviews and personal accounts by a host of other Caribbean volunteers to create a dramatic and well written account of the proceedings. An important book, offering a platform upon which to appreciate the true extent of the Caribbean contribution to the Allied war effort, the work offers a new slant on the popular Bomber Command theme; one that looks set to intrigue a number of readers yet to be acquainted with this facet of the unit's history.**As featured in Discover Your History magazine.

The little-known story of the mother of Mary, Queen of Scots and her feud with the Tudors: ';Will fascinate anyone who loves a simmering, twisting tale' (All About History). Mary, Queen of Scots continues to intrigue both historians and the general publicbut the story of her mother, Marie de Guise, is much less well known. A political power in her own right, she was born into the powerful and ambitious Lorraine family, spending her formative years at the dazzling, licentious court of Franois I. Although briefly courted by Henry VIII, she instead married his nephew, James V of Scotland, in 1538. James's premature death four years later left their six-day-old daughter, Mary, as queen, and presented Marie with the formidable challenge of winning the support of the Scottish people and protecting her daughter's threatened birthright. Content until now to remain in the background and play the part of the obedient wife, Marie spent the next eighteen years effectively governing Scotlanddevoting her considerable intellect, courage, and energy to safeguarding her daughter's inheritance by using a deft mixture of cunning, charm, determination, and tolerance. This biography, from the author of Marie Antoinette: An Intimate History, tells the story and offers a fresh assessment of this most fascinating and underappreciated of sixteenth-century female rulers.

Highly topical - reveals the 100 (or so) most significant pandemics, plagues and epidemics in world history, from prehistory to Covid-19.

Classic special forces action and escape memoir.

In-depth investigation of the problems of British tank design in the interwar years and during the war.

Unique investigation into the mind of Adolf Hitler and written by a recognised expert in the field. Demonstrates how Hitler's paranoia developed.

An in-depth investigation into the long history of Britain's aircraft industry. Great Britain's aircraft industry started in 1908, with the first formally registered organisation in the world to offer to design and build an aeroplane for commercial gain'.

Fascinating insight into Brunel, engineer, visionary and artist. A highly respected journalist who specialises in heritage transportation and industrial archaeology.

Discover how people died in seventeenth-century England, from succumbing to epidemic disease to being hanged, drawn, and quartered as a traitor to the realm. Learn about what happened to the seventeenth-century corpse immediately after death, including how it was prepared, what it was dressed in, and where it went.

The first of it's kind, this is a complete history of Britain's love affair with baking. Tells the story of how our relationship with this much-loved practice has evolved over time. Combines the related histories of Britain's economy, innovation, technology, health, cultural and social trends with the personal stories of the pioneers and cooks.

This collection of images shows how US warships, and, in particular, submarines helped sustain the garrison.

Fresh account of the Battle of the River Plate, the first naval surface engagement of the Second World War

The story of Scots at war throughout the ages right up to the present day.

A detailed, authoritative single-volume study of the Waterloo armies.

Reprint of one of the finest books covering the outbreak and crucial early months of The Great War.

Biography of an aviation pioneer who deserves public recognition.

The unpublished letters and photographs of a member of Munro Motor Ambulance Corps.

Join Paul McDonald on the search for Adrian Warburton, an esteemed and extensively decorated pilot once termed 'the most valuable' in the RAF.