History & Reference Books

Westminster Abbey contains the only surviving medieval Cosmatesque mosaics outside Italy. They comprise: the ‘Great Pavement’ in the sanctuary; the pavement around the shrine of Edward the Confessor; the saint’s tomb and shrine; Henry III’s tomb; the...

Roy Strong has written an exemplary introduction to the history of Britain, as first designated by the Romans. It is a brilliant and balanced account of successive ages bound together by a compelling narrative which answers the questions: ‘Where do we...

On the Origin of Species outlines Charles Darwin's world-changing theory that life on Earth had not been brought into being by a creator, but had arisen from a single common ancestor and had evolved over time through the process of natural selection...

In this fascinating history of Britain in bite-sized chunks – from the Roman invasion to the end of the Second World War – you will find all the important dates, people and events you should know.Lively, exciting, full of great stories and humorous...

This brilliant new book explores the lives of eight generations of the greatest kings and queens that this country has ever seen, and the worst. The Plantagenets  – their story is the story of Britain. England’s greatest royal...

In this book Ian Mortimer reveals a country in which life expectancy is in the early thirties, people still starve to death and Catholics are persecuted for their faith. Yet it produces some of the finest writing in the English language, some of the most...

A paperback edition of the official illustrated history of the Crown Jewels, the most famous jewellery collection in the world housed at the Tower of London, incorporating spectacular new photographs with stunning details. Accessible text based on...

The Nazi Blitzkrieg was unlike any invasion the world had ever seen. It hit Europe with a force and aggression that no-one could counter. Within weeks the German armies were at the French coast and looking across at Britain, a country still reeling from...

This handy, easy to carry book provides the reader with a strictly visual approach to the reading of churches. Covering all the ecclesiastical building types of Western Christianity, readers are taken on a journey tracing the development of the church...

If you could choose the 50 things that define British history, events of significance not only in themselves, but in their importance to wider themes running through our past, what would they be? Hugh Williams has made that selection, and the result is a...

Subtitled 2000 years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge. Written by John O'Farrell, this is an hilarious, informative and cantankerous journey through Britain's fascinating and bizarre history.Styled as a 'Horrible History for Grown Ups', you can have a...