Exploring Top Books of Shelfari

Agincourt : Henry V and the battle that made England

Agincourt : Henry V and the battle that made England

by Juliet Barker

From a master historian comes an astonishing chronicle of life in medieval Europe and the battle that altered the course of an empire. Although almost six centuries old, the Battle of Agincourt still captivates the imaginations of men and women on both sides of the Atlantic. It has been immortalized in high culture (Shakespeare's Henry V) and low (the New York Post prints Henry's battle cry on its editorial... (more)

The Hundred Years War : The English in France, 1337-1453

The Hundred Years War : The English in France, 1337-1453

by Desmond Seward

A remarkable and engrossing account of medieval England's epic conflict with France. From 1337 to 1453 England repeatedly invaded France on the pretext that her kings had a right to the French throne. Though it was a small, poor country, England for most of those "hundred years" won the battles, sacked the towns and castles, and dominated the war. The protagonists of the Hundred Years War are among the most... (more)

The Wars of the Roses

by Anthony Cheetham, Antonia Fraser

From Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, to Richard III, The Wars of the Roses follows the history of the kings of the houses of Lancaster and York who shaped this tumultuous period of English history. Anthony Cheetham provides insight into the politics, society, and economy of this time, and above all, he conveys the personal histories and characters of its rulers. About the series A Royal History of... (more)

1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West

1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West

by Roger Crowley

A complete and compelling account of the fall of Constantinople, the siege that gave rise to today's jihad. When Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, a remarkable era in world history ended. Constantinople, the "city of the world's desire," was a wealthy, imperial, intimidating, and Christian city, influencing world opinion for a thousand years. The fall of Constantinople marked the end of the... (more)

Just And Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations

Just And Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations

by Michael Walzer

This classic work of political ethics has radically reconfigured the way that we think about war. From the Athenian attack on Melos to the My Lai Massacre, from the wars in the Balkans through the first war in Iraq, Michael Walzer examines the moral issues surrounding military theory, war crimes, and the spoils of war. He studies a variety of conflicts over the course of history, as well as the testimony... (more)

Bosworth Field & the Wars of the Roses (Wordsworth Military Library)

Bosworth Field & the Wars of the Roses (Wordsworth Military Library)

by A. L. Rowse

The Battle of Bosworth, fought on 22nd August 1485 brought to an end the Wars of the Roses, that had raged between the noble houses of York and Lancaster for nearly 100 years. A.L. Rowse recreates the dynastic conflict, the battles and sudden death and the transition from Medieval to Tudor England.

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

by Barbara Tuchman

"Wise, witty, and wonderful . . . A great book, in a great historical tradition." Commentary The 14th century gives us back two contradictory images: a glittering time of crusades and castles, cathedrals and chivalry, and a dark time of ferocity and spiritual agony, a world plunged into a chaos of war, fear and the Plague. Barbara Tuchman anatomizes the century, revealing both the great rhythms of history and the... (more)

The Knights Templar Chronology: Tracking History's Most Intriguing Monks

The Knights Templar Chronology: Tracking History's Most Intriguing Monks

by George M. Smart

If you liked The Da Vinci Code or Holy Blood, Holy Grail, you'll love digging deeper with The Knights Templar Chronology, a fascinating timeline telling the year by year story of one of history’s most secret and mysterious brotherhoods -- in detail unmatched by any other reference volume. The unique bibliography tracks modern-day researchers as well as the book's sources.

The Oxford Companion to Military History

The Oxford Companion to Military History

by Hew Strachan

From the Trojan War to World War II and beyond, The Oxford Companion to Military History brings together an international team of more than 150 experts who illuminate war's bloody past. Ranging from the Alamo and Amphibious Operations to Marshal Zhukov and the Zulu War, here are 1,300 alphabetically arranged entries that provide a wealth of information on warfare from the classical period to the present day,... (more)

A History of the Vikings

by Gwyn Jones

"An utterly splendid book, quite the most brilliantly written, balanced, and explanative general work on the Vikings ever to appear in English or in any language."-- Scandinavian Studies The subject of this book is the Viking realms, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, their civilization and culture, and their many sided achievements at home and abroad. A highly readable narrative follows the development of... (more)

The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings (Hist Atlas)

The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings (Hist Atlas)

by John Haywood

Viking marauders in their longships burst through the defenses of 9th-century Europe, striking terror into the hearts of monks, peasants, and rulers. But the Vikings were more than seaborne terrorists. This atlas shows their development as traders and craftsmen, explorers, settlers, and mercenaries, and follows the routes of Viking merchants from Constantinople to the new world. Full color.

King Henry V: A BiographyHarold Frederick Hutchison

King Henry V: A Biography

by Harold Frederick Hutchison

The Knights Templar and Their Myth

by Peter Partner

This widely praised study of the rise and fall of the Knights Templar examines the fabrications and illusions about the Order, from the Renaissance magicians to varieties of Templarism in our own time.

The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present

The Warriors and the Bankers: A History of the Knights Templar from 1307 to the present

by Alan Butler

In The Warriors and the Bankers, the research and writing team of Alan Butler and Stephen Dafoe bring their combined experiences to bear on the question asked for hundreds of years, What became of the Knights Templar? Arrested in 1307, dissolved in 1312 and executed by 1314, the Templars have been the subject of many theories concerning their possible survival. This book examines these theories against new... (more)

The Oxford History of the Crusades

by Jonathan Simon Christopher Riley-Smith

In this collection of essays, the story of the Crusades is told as never before in an engrossing and comprehensive history that ranges from the preaching of the First Crusade in 1095 to the legacy of crusading ideals and imagery that continues today. Here are the ideas of apologists, propagandists, and poets about the Crusades, as well as the perceptions and motives of the crusaders themselves and the means by... (more)

William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings (Pitkin Guides)

William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings (Pitkin Guides)

by Michael St.John Parker

This revised title presents the events of 1066, the most memorable date in British history. This guide tells the complete story of the Norman Conquest, from William's claim to the throne to the impact of the Normans on Britain's culture and landscape. It includes illustrations from the Bayeux tapestry and a diagram of the armies and their struggles.

Agincourt

by Christopher Hibbert

Agincourt is a concise history of one of the most extraordinary battles in history.

Stirling Bridge and Falkirk 1297-98: William Wallace's rebellion (Campaign)

Stirling Bridge and Falkirk 1297-98: William Wallace's rebellion (Campaign)

by Peter Armstrong

The death of the last of the Scottish royal house of Canmore in 1290 triggered a succession crisis. Attempts to undermine Scottish independence by King Edward I of England sparked open rebellion culminating in an English defeat at the hands of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Edward gathered an army, marched north and at Falkirk on 22 July 1298 he brought Wallace’s army to battle. Amid accusations of... (more)

Russia and the Mongol Yoke: The History of the Russian Principalities and the Golden Horde, 1221-1502

Russia and the Mongol Yoke: The History of the Russian Principalities and the Golden Horde, 1221-1502

by Leo de Hartog

The Mongol empire was fully established in 1237 and dominated a vast area of Asia for the next two and a half centuries. The Russian principalities were deeply divided and therefore fell easy prey to the formidable and experienced Mongol armies which swept from the east across the whole region. Indeed the persistence of these divisions helps to explain the prolonged period of rule by the small Mongol armies. When... (more)

The Crusades (Phoenix Press)

by Zoe Oldenbourg

It was a great adventure, motivated by more than simply religion or pure aggression: the Crusades resulted from an emotional climate that led people from all walks of life to leave their homes and follow the unattainable ideal of a heavenly Jerusalem here on Earth. A prize-winning author paints a portrait of the whole of feudal society, evoking its exceptional vitality and the ingenuity of the Latin Kingdom of... (more)

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Tags: war-medieval