United Kingdom Books

This entertaining publication traces the history of the worlds biggest soccer club through the sports pages of the worlds newspapers. This in depth study contains newspaper cuttings from each season since 1878, together with photographs, cartoons and illustraion. This excellent title includes information on events such as the 1958 Munich air disaster, and the club's triumph in the European Champions Cup in 1968. Sports fans everywhere will be entertained with this well written tribute to the Red Devils.

"The Baltic Nations and Europe: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuanai in the Twentieth Century" have to be very exotic book, because there is some new Baltic Nation mentioned - "LITHUANAI". What it is?

Beautifully written. Absorbing. I read it all in one go through the night.
Admittedly, my father was on the Ganges.
Still, if you have the remotest interest in the subject you'll enjoy this.

Dr. Allyson May's "Bar and the Old Bailey" is a major contribution to the history of the legal profession. Well researched, smart, and beautifully expressed, it is a work of enduring importance.

W. Wesley Pue
Nathan T. Nemetz Chair in Legal History
University of British Columbia

I own the previous edition of this book and used it during several trips to London in 2006 & 2007. It has a breadth of information and detail that make it very useful for bargain shopping in London. The UK is so horribly expensive now to those of us stuck with incomes denominated in US dollars, that a guide like this is indispensable. I saved a significant amount of money by using it.

This fascinating book was first published in 2002, and gives an up-to-date look into the history of Barra and its adjacent islands (the southernmost Outer Hebrides). It begins with a look at the geology and ecology of the islands, and then moves into their history, going from the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago to the enforced emigrations of the mid-nineteenth century. Along the way, the reader is treated to many pictures (most black-and-white, but some color), and a good deal of in-depth analysis.

While a little on the dry side, this book is, nonetheless, a wonderfully informative look at these islands. The authors led a team from the University of Sheffield, which explored these islands for thirteen years, often performing the first archeological digs ever performed on them. If you are at all interested in the Outer Hebrides, then I highly recommend this book to you.

I found this book to be just what I needed to refresh me on the math that I should know but have forgotten. Most of the basic techniques are covered, including calculus, trig, statistics and others. I was left wanting more, but for the price and accessibility of this work, it is a gem.

The Battle of Britain was the most important military contest of the 20th Century, and some would argue in man's history. One can safely say that what we identify as ''Western Culture'' with references to such things as democracy and humanity were on the line. And yet, in the summer of 1940 a small and unlikely group of heroes (RAF pilots) rose into the skies over England to defend the West against the ''invaders from the East (the Nazis)'', and they alone had the responsibility for preserving Western Civilization (the US would not enter the war until Dec. of 1941, long after the Battle of Britain was over). You can learn just how precarious the situation was (as many people in that time did not see the situation for what it was) through this book, and how this group of mostly inexperienced RAF pilots saved the day ! This book also will serve as an excellent chronological reference of the battle's main phases, and contains detailed information on the aircraft and squadrons of both sides. It also has a large collection of color and b/w photographs from the time as well.

My buddy Fred Stetson gave this to me for Christmas/2005. We both were helicopter pilots in the same unit at Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta, 1966-67. Fred knows how much I understand and cherish great military aviation books. This is one! Matthew Parker interviewed many Brits who were there at the moment when England could have perished under Nazi attack. Personal lives are revealed, as women and men begin to understand the dimensisons of their peril. This is not some glory boy tale of Spitfire pilots, but a day by day account of the terror all crews experienced during the days preceding the Blitz and during it. The Luftwaffe's mistakes are ruthlessly brought to light, and the endurance of the home forces detailed. The RAF has always been an awesome example for me of how to conduct your military affairs, and I still salute them as a former US Army aviator!

Eric Mombeek wraps up his four-volume coverage of the Battle of Britain for Ian Allan/CLASSIC COLOURS with this well-done volume published in 2002. Like its BoB predecessors, BATTLE OF BRITAIN: PHASE FOUR, NOVEMBER 1940-JUNE 1941 combines first-rate scholarship with numerous illustrations and gorgeous artwork to produce a winning history of this most crucial battle.

The final phase of the BoB was characterized by increasingly strong daylight fighter-bomber attacks and night attacks by bombers on London and other cities. The RAF challenged these raids with kills being scored by both sides. Yet all of the Luftwaffe efforts were pointless; England would never cave into terror attacks, especially the hit-and-miss Bf 109 jabo missions. Likewise Fighter Command was growing in strength now that their bases weren't under attack. Lastly Operation Sea Lion had been cancelled and many Luftwaffe units were being switched eastward for the invasion of Russia. So, while there were many exciting and dramatic aerial combats fought over England in these months, it was all for nought. The new year would see the RAF 'leaning into' France with small formations of bombers heavily protected by escorts; the Battle of Britain was over.

As documented in Mombeek's nicely written book, several interesting developments took place during these months. The changing nature of Luftwaffe attacks, which now utilized Bf 109 fighter-bombers, was one. In late 1940 Italy deployed units equipped with BR.20Ms, Z.1007s, CR.42s and G.50s to the Channel Front. Their subsequent raids on England were disasters. And, in November 1940, the latest Messerschmitt fighter - the Bf 109F - became operational. At least initially it would prove a mixed blessing.

As with previous volumes, BATTLE OF BRITAIN: PHASE FOUR features a number of interesting first-person accounts by Bf 109 pilots. The book is filled to overflowing with color and black & white photographs and 28 great color profiles by Tom Tullis.

All in all, a fitting end to a well-told tale. Recommended.