Medieval Woman

Ann Baer • £9.99
Michael O’ Mara Books

A year in the life of a peasant woman in medieval England is vividly evoked in this extraordinary fictionalised portrait of Marion, a carpenter’s wife, and her extended family. Based on years of research, Ann Baer brings to life the reality of a world that has been lost. Rising before dawn in a tiny village to a day of gruelling hard work, Marion and her husband face the daily struggle for survival. Starvation is never far away and travel to the next village is virtually unheard of. Existing without soap, paper or glass and with only the most basic of tools, sickness, fire and natural disaster ever threaten to engulf the small, tightly knit community. This is a unique approach to history, compressing decades of in-depth research on the Middle Ages into one single, immersive, compelling narrative.

Crimes and Criminals of 17th Century Britain

Daniel Codd • £14.99
Pen & Sword

Who was the murderer who committed an atrocity at an East End brothel in 1691? And was he ever caught? What superstitions lay behind the unfathomable slaughter of three innocent children at a remote farmhouse in County Durham in 1683? When was a parish constable murdered in cold blood by a party of men that allegedly included the illegitimate son of King Charles II? These cases, and many more, are explored in depth within this work, and harken back to a time of witchcraft purges, duelling and political assassinations, when the punishment for killing one’s fellow man was either more barbaric than the crime itself, or corruptly lenient. Within these pages the story of violent crime in 17th century Britain is told, from sociopathic noblemen and ruthless bandits, to war crimes and judicial assassinations. Illustrated throughout and shedding a unique light on the era, Crimes and Criminals of 17th Century Britain is the first work of its kind to explore the monstrous murders that occurred against the backdrop of a nation that repeatedly imploded.

The Victoria Crosses of the Crimean War

James W Bancroft • £20
Pen & Sword

The Crimean War saw the introduction of the Victoria Cross, which was awarded to 111 men. While the history of the Crimean War has been related many times, never before have the stories of those individuals who were awarded the VC been told. In this book, the result of four decades of accumulated research, historian James Bancroft describes who the men were, how they gained the Victoria Cross, and what happened to them afterwards. Great attention has been given to checking the correct spelling of the names of people and locations, burial places and new memorials, and dates of awards and promotions. The author has made every effort to contact museums and other establishments to get up-to-date information on the whereabouts of medals and their accessibility. The men recorded here displayed valour and determination resulting in many deeds of exceptional courage which became a regular occurrence in the illustrious annals of the British Army. This account of the fascinating lives of these heroes is accompanied by 45 portraits.

Weavers, Wanderers & Wigneys: The Roller-Coaster Ride of a Typical(?) English Family

Tim & Heather King • £8.99

This book traces the history of the Wigney family from humble weaving origins in Yorkshire to their rapid rise in the 18th century as wealthy bankers and brewers, becoming the pillars of society in Regency Brighton, spawning one of Brighton’s first MPs, Isaac Newton Wigney, who later resigned after the collapse of the Wigney Bank. Although his descendants married well, they were to be involved in divorces, tragedies, elopements – even murders. But there were also poor, God-fearing Wigneys. Some Wigneys stayed in London, others emigrated to Australia, America and Canada. In charting the Wigney family history, Tim and Heather King have created a rollercoaster ride, based on personal memoirs, newspaper reports and exhaustive research.

A History of Women in 100 Objects

Maggie Andrews & Janis Lomas • £20
The History Press

From the corset to the contraceptive pill, the bones of the first woman to Rosa Parks’s mugshot and the iconic Mary Quant cape, A History of Women in 100 Objects documents the developing role of women in society through the lens of the inanimate objects that touched women’s lives, were created by women or that at some time – perhaps even still – oppressed them. Woven by two leading historians, this complex, fascinating and vital tale of women and womanhood is told with a lightness of touch and depth of experience that will appeal to all those interested in women’s history.