Soldiers of the Queen

Stephen Manning • £20
The History Press

It may come as some surprise that in such a popular area of military history there is no book that focuses on the experience of the Victorian soldier – from recruitment to embarkation, fighting and perhaps returning, perhaps dying – in his own words.

Dr Stephen Manning’s meticulous research in primary sources gives the lie to the received image of the disciplined, redcoated campaigner of Victorian art and literature: for one thing, by the time he arrived at his destination, the coat would have been in rags. The distances covered on march were unbelievable, through desert and disease-ravaged swamp.

Lavishly illustrated throughout, all the major colonial campaigns and most of the minor ones are featured. To understand how what was in reality a tiny standing army controlled the largest empire the world has ever seen, this book is a must.

Treasures of British History

Peter & Dan Snow • £30
 Welbeck

This spirited examination of the nation’s history is told through 50 key documents by the popular father-andson duo of historians. With a wealth of experience between them on political and military history and today’s current affairs, Peter and Dan Snow are accessible guides to appreciating the significance of each document. These fascinating records are beautifully reproduced on the pages and the authors explain their criteria for the selection of each one and its relevance. Ten of the documents are faithfully reproduced in facsimile form, bringing a tangible sense of history to the book. From the Magna Carta to Tim Berners Lee\s memo for a World Wide Web, this is a desirable volume for all British history enthusiasts.

The Tudor Murder Files

James Moore • £14.99
Pen & Sword

In the Tudor age the murder rate was five times higher than it is today. Now, this unique true crime guide reveals just how bloody and brutal this era really was.

From the dark days of Henry VIII to the turbulent times of Shakespeare, James Moore’s new book is the first to chart the period’s most gripping murder cases in all their grisly detail. Featuring tales of domestic slaughter, sexual intrigue and cunning assassinations, the book vividly brings to life the violent crime wave that gripped the 16th century both at home and abroad.