This is the first comprehensive history of Malawi during the colonial period. Using a wide range of primary & secondary sources, John Mc Cracken places this history within the context of the pre-colonial past. Central themes are the shaping of the colonial economy, the influence of Christianity, resistance to colonial occupation & the rise of a powerful nationalist movement that contained within it the seeds of a new authoritarianism. In particular, the author demonstrates the interrelationship between environmental & economic change & the impact these forces had on the Malawian peasantry. Space is also given to less mainstream activities including the creation of dance societies, the eruption of witchcraft eradication movements & the emergence of football as a popular sport. ...

A History of Modern Britain confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity & self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier & harder to herd than predicted. Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge -- first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War & later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital & migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political & economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men & punks, Margaret Thatcher`s wonderful good luck, political lies & the true heroes of British theatre. `superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh & richly entertaining. Don`t miss` The Times ` Lively, full of rich anecdotes & sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences` Sunday Telegraph ...

A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity & self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier & harder to herd than predicted. Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge
- first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War & later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital & migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political & economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men & punks, Margaret Thatcher`s wonderful good luck, political lies & the true heroes of British theatre.
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Ilan Pappe`s book traces the history of Palestine from the Ottomans in the nineteenth century, through the British Mandate, the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, & the subsequent wars & conflicts which have dominated this troubled region. The second edition of Pappe`s book has been updated to include the dramatic events of the 1990s & the early twenty-first century. These years, which began with a sense of optimism, as the Oslo peace accord was being negotiated, culminated in the second intifada & the increase of militancy on both sides. Pappe explains the reasons for the failure of Oslo & the two-state solution, & reflects upon life thereafter as the Palestinians & Israelis battle it out under the shadow of the wall of separation. As in the first edition, it is the men, women & children of Palestine who are at the centre of Pappe`s narrative. ...

A History of Mozambique by Malyn Newitt is an in-depth & lucid account of the history of the region now known as the country of Mozambique, from the fifteenth century to the present. This is not just a very detailed history of Mozambique extant, but also an exposition of the main trends in the historical development of that region tracing two major themes. On one side the gradual development of forms of overall political control (from the Karang & Maravi ruling dynasties & the Afro-Portuguese feudal families, to the Nguni military monarchies & the chiefs & sheikhs who ran the slave trade). On the other the periodic crises that led to social dislocation, fragmentation & disintegration, associated with drought & ecological disaster. An extended final chapter looks at Mozambique since independence, when the country’s development fell victim to South Africa’s attempts to destabilize its neighbours, & its fragile institutions were subjected to banditry & drought. ...

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, known amongst English speakers as Burma, is often characterized as a place of repressive military rule, civil war, censorship & corrupt elections
- & despite recent attempts to promote tourism to this little-known country, few people visit this region of Asia. In A History of Myanmar since Ancient Times, Michael Aung-Thwin & Maitrii Aung-Thwin take us from the sacred stupas of the plains of Bagan to the gr&, colonial-era British mansions, revealing the storied past & rich culture of this country. The book traces the traditions & transformations of Myanmar over nearly three millennia, from the relics of its Neolithic civilization to the protests of Buddhist monks in the early twentieth century, the colonial era of British rule & the republic that followed. The authors also consider the present-day life, culture & society of the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia & examine the 2010 elections
- its first in over twenty years
- as well as the recent release of Aung San Suu Kyi & increased engagement & dialogue with the West. The most comprehensive history of Myanmar ever published in the English language, this book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Southeast Asian history & will surprise, challenge & inform in equal measure.


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In 1990 Namibia gained its independence after a decades-long struggle against South African rule
- &, before that, against German
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In 1809, New Yorkers were buzzing about a series of classified ads concerning the whereabouts of Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker. They were unaware that Washington Irving had invented the man entirely & placed the ads himself. Knickerbocker`s purported manuscript, ”A History of New York”, was Irving`s own. Told from Knickerbocker`s point of view, ”A History of New York” is a chronicle of New York`s fifty years under Dutch rule in the 1600s that plays fast & loose with the facts, to uproarious effect. ”A History of New York” propelled Irving to the heights of literary stardom. ...

What did we know about birds a thousand years ago, & how has our understanding developed? A History of Ornithology offers a complete history of birdwatching in Britain, a classic for every nature lover's bookshelf. Today there is a huge interest in birdwatching as a hobby, & over the years amateur birdwatchers have contributed enormously to our understanding of the birds around us. At the same time, ornithology has developed as a science
- in the field, in the laboratory, & in the universities
- & birds have played their part in pushing forward the frontiers of biological knowledge. Peter Bircham looks at the history of British ornithology, spanning a millennium & exploring along the way the first bird book, the earliest British lists, various notable scientists, collectors & artists, the first studies of migration, & the challenges presented by classification. He traces the development of the British Ornithologists' Union & other organisations, & finishes with a review of the current state of ornithology in Britain.A History of Ornithology is an authoritative & engrossing account, packed full of fascinating stories
- not only about the birds but also about the many colourful characters who have studied them through the ages. This beautifully illustrated book will hold great appeal both for the student of ornithology & for the enthusiastic amateur naturalist.


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It is impossible to understand Palestine today without a careful reading of its distant & recent past. But until now there has been no single volume in English that tells the history of the events--from the Ottoman Empire to the mid-twentieth century--that shaped modern Palestine. The first book of its kind, A History of Palestine offers a richly detailed interpretation of this critical region`s evolution. Starting with the prebiblical & biblical roots of Palestine, noted historian Gudrun Krmer examines the meanings ascribed to the land in the Jewish, Christian, & Muslim traditions. Paying special attention to social & economic factors, she examines the gradual transformation of Palestine, following the history of the region through the Egyptian occupation of the mid-nineteenth century, the Ottoman reform era, & the British Mandate up to the founding of Israel in 1948. Focusing on the interactions of Arabs & Jews, A History of Palestine tells how these connections affected the cultural & political evolution of each community & Palestine as a whole. ...