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Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history
What do three murderers, Karl Marx's daughter and a vegetarian
vicar have in common? They all helped create the Oxford English
Dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary has long been associated
with elite institutions and Victorian men; its longest-serving
editor, James Murray, devoted 36 years to the project, as far as
the letter T. But the Dictionary didn't just belong to the experts;
it relied on contributions from members of the public. By the time
it was finished in 1928 its 414,825 entries had been crowdsourced
from a surprising and diverse group of people, from archaeologists
and astronomers to murderers, naturists, novelists, pornographers,
queer couples, suffragists, vicars and vegetarians. Lexicographer
Sarah Ogilvie dives deep into previously untapped archives to tell
a people's history of the OED. She traces the lives of thousands of
contributors who defined the English language, from the eccentric
autodidacts to the family groups who made word-collection their
passion. With generosity and brio, Ogilvie reveals, for the first
time, the full story of the making of one of the most famous books
in the world - and celebrates to sparkling effect the extraordinary
efforts of the Dictionary People.
On 10 October 1810, 27 men came together to form the Independent
Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. It was to be the beginning
of an organisation which for the last 200 years has appealed to the
best in people, treated them as capable of exercising
responsibility, and empowered them to face the challenges of life.
All the principles and practices of Oddfellowship developed from
these core values, which still characterise the Society today. The
story of the last two centuries, including many dramatic changes,
is chronicled in this well-researched, readable and lively history,
lavishly illustrated with many wonderful photographs, documents and
commemorative memorabilia. And, as befits a Society which values
its members so highly, there are also contributions from
present-day Oddfellows, whose memories and recollections have been
passed down through families over generations. This wonderful book
vividly portrays the life of the Oddfellows since its birth and is
certain to fascinate all current Society members, for whom it will
be a treasured keepsake. It is also, however, a valuable and
interesting resource for historians, those connected with the study
of friendly societies, and anyone interested in British social
history.
A SPECTATOR and PROSPECT Book of 2022 'Ceaselessly interesting,
knowledgeable and evocative' Spectator 'A fresh way to write
history' Alan Johnson 'A quirky, amused, erudite homage to France .
. . ambitious and original' The Times _____ Original, knowledgeable
and endlessly entertaining, France: An Adventure History is an
unforgettable journey through France from the first century BC to
the present day. Drawn from countless new discoveries and thirty
years of exploring France on foot, in the library and across 30,000
miles on the author's beloved bike, it begins with Gaulish and
Roman times and ends in the age of #MeToo, Black Lives Matter, the
Gilets Jaunes and Covid-19. From the plains of Provence to the
slums and boulevards of Paris, events and themes of French history
may be familiar - Louis XIV, the French Revolution, the French
Resistance, the Tour de France - but all are presented in a shining
new light. Frequently hilarious, always surprising, France: An
Adventure History is a sweeping panorama of France, teeming with
characters, stories and coincidences, and offering a thrilling
sense of discovery and enlightenment. This vivid, living history of
one of the world's most fascinating nations will make even seasoned
Francophiles wonder if they really know that terra incognita which
is currently referred to as 'France'. _____ 'Packed full of
discoveries' The Sunday Times 'A gorgeous tapestry of insights,
stories and surprises' Fintan O'Toole 'A rich and vibrant narrative
. . . clear-eyed but imaginative storytelling' Financial Times
'Full of life' Prospect
An amusing, fascinating and intriguing description of the origins
of everyday phrases, the titles in the 'Well I Never Knew That '
series reveals how many of our common expressions and sayings came
to be.
'There have always been lighthouses in my life. There has been a
closeness and steadiness to our relationship, as if they have kept
pace and in close contact with me.' Lighthouses punctuate
Scotland's coastline - a stoic presence on the edge of the
landscape. Since the earliest of these hardy structures were
raised, they have been a lifeline for seafarers at the mercy of
treacherous weather and uncertain navigation. Today over 100 of
Scotland's lighthouses are listed buildings. The lighthouse is now
one of many maritime resources which act 'for the safety of all'.
But we are still drawn to the solitary life of the keeper, the
beauty of the lens of the lamp and the calm reassurance of a
flashing light on a distant shore. Donald S Murray explores
Scotland's lighthouses through history, storytelling and the voices
of the lightkeepers. From ancient beacons to the work of the
Stevensons and the Northern Lighthouse Board, and from wartime
strife to automation and preservation, the lighthouses stand as a
testament to the nation's innate connection to the sea. Published
in partnership between Historic Environment Scotland and the
Northern Lighthouse Board.
Vienna is unique amongst world capitals in its consistent
international importance over the centuries. From the ascent of the
Habsburgs as Europe's leading dynasty to the Congress of Vienna,
which reordered Europe after Napoleon, to bridge- building summits
during the Cold War, it is the Austrian capital that has been the
scene of key moments in European and world affairs. History has
been shaped by scores of figures influenced by their time in
Vienna, including: Empress Maria Theresa, Count Metternich, Bertha
von Suttner, Theodore Herzl, Gustav Mahler, Adolf Hitler, Josef
Stalin, John F. Kennedy and many others. In a city of great
composers and thinkers it is here that both the most positive and
destructive ideas of recent history have developed. From its time
as the capital of an imperial superpower, through war, dissolution,
dictatorship to democracy Vienna has reinvented itself and its
relevance to the rest of the world.
Celebrated novelist, biographer and critic Peter Ackroyd paints a
vivid picture of one of the world's greatest cities in this
brilliant and original work, exploring how the city's many hues
have come to shape its history and identity. Think of the colours
of London and what do you imagine? The reds of open-top buses and
terracotta bricks? The grey smog of Victorian industry, Portland
stone and pigeons in Trafalgar square? Or the gradations of
yellows, violets and blues that shimmer on the Thames at sunset -
reflecting the incandescent light of a city that never truly goes
dark? We associate green with royal parks and the District Line;
gold with royal carriages, the Golden Lane Estate, and the tops of
monuments and cathedrals. Colours of London shows us that colour is
everywhere in the city, and each one holds myriad links to its
past. The colours of London have inspired artists (Whistler, Van
Gogh, Turner, Monet), designers (Harry Beck) and social reformers
(Charles Booth). And from the city's first origins, Ackroyd shows
how colour is always to be found at the heart of London's history,
from the blazing reds of the Great Fire of London to the blackouts
of the Blitz to the bold colours of royal celebrations and vibrant
street life. This beautifully written book examines the city's
fascinating relationship with colour, alongside specially
commissioned colourized photographs from Dynamichrome, which bring
a lost London back to life. London has been the main character in
Ackroyd's work ever since his first novel, and he has won countless
prizes in both fiction and non-fiction for his truly remarkable
body of work. Here, he channels a lifetime of knowledge of the
great city, writing with clarity and passion about the hues and
shades which have shaped London's journey through history into the
present day. A truly invaluable book for lovers of art, history,
photography or urban geography, this beautifully illustrated title
tells a rich and fascinating story of the history of this great and
ever-changing city.
This is not a book of facts; it's a book of 'facts'. Should you
finish it believing we became the planet's dominant species because
predators found us too smelly to eat; or that the living bloodline
of Christ is a family of Japanese garlic farmers - well, that's on
you. Why are we here? Do ghosts exist? Did life on Earth begin
after a badly tidied-up picnic? Was it just an iceberg that sank
the Titanic? Are authors stealing their plotlines from the future?
Will we ever talk to animals? And why, when you're in the shower,
does the shower curtain always billow in towards you? We don't know
the answers to any of these questions. But don't worry, no matter
what questions you have, you can bet on the fact that there is
someone (or something) out there, investigating it on your behalf.
From the sports stars who use cosmic energy to office plants
investigating murders, The Theory of Everything Else will act as a
handbook for those who want to think differently.
Ming-Cheau Lin’s family emigrated to South Africa from Tainan, Taiwan when she was just three years old and stayed in Bloemfontein with a small East Asian community. Seen as an outsider, she struggled to understand her identity as a minority and immigrant and faced harsh realities of being ‘yellow’ in the western world in addition to the legacy of South Africa’s history.
After assimilating to the surrounding society, she is deemed ‘not Asian enough’ when she is unable to conform to the rules of first-generation Asian elders, yet too Asian for everyone else. Taiwanese or South African, teenager or rebel, creative or disappointment.. she shares her story and journeys to uncover the reasons why yellow people are treated the way they are in a space that doesn’t recognise them as part of the population
A sweeping and overdue retelling of U.S. history that recognizes
that Native Americans are essential to understanding the evolution
of modern America The most enduring feature of U.S. history is the
presence of Native Americans, yet most histories focus on Europeans
and their descendants. This long practice of ignoring Indigenous
history is changing, however, with a new generation of scholars
insists that any full American history address the struggle,
survival, and resurgence of American Indian nations. Indigenous
history is essential to understanding the evolution of modern
America. Ned Blackhawk interweaves five centuries of Native and
non-Native histories, from Spanish colonial exploration to the rise
of Native American self-determination in the late twentieth
century. In this transformative synthesis he shows that * European
colonization in the 1600s was never a predetermined success; *
Native nations helped shape England's crisis of empire; * the first
shots of the American Revolution were prompted by Indian affairs in
the interior; * California Indians targeted by federally funded
militias were among the first casualties of the Civil War; * the
Union victory forever recalibrated Native communities across the
West; * twentieth-century reservation activists refashioned
American law and policy. Blackhawk's retelling of U.S. history
acknowledges the enduring power, agency, and survival of Indigenous
peoples, yielding a truer account of the United States and
revealing anew the varied meanings of America.
In this illustrated view of the history of Raith Rovers the author
builds up the story of the club by recounting events that happened
on every day of the year, even during the summer months. Triumphs,
disasters, shipwrecks, crazy Board Room decisions, managers (good
and bad), players (brilliant and mediocre) all feature. As do Davie
Morris, who captained Scotland when they beat all three Home
Nations in 1925; the wizardry of Alec James; the command of the
famous half back line of Young, McNaught and Leigh; and the dash
and enthusiasm of the team which won the Scottish League Cup. But
it is not just about the good days. There are bad days, and loads
of mediocre and mundane times too, as well as some accounts of
Raith Rovers in war time. The year as a whole reveals the
undeniable charm of the institution which means so much to so many
- Raith Rovers Football Club - or, as they are referred to in
Kirkcaldy, "the" Rovers.
Killing Crazy Horse is the latest installment of the
multimillion-selling Killing series is a gripping journey through
the American West and the historic clashes between Native Americans
and settlers. The bloody Battle of Tippecanoe was only the
beginning. It's 1811 and President James Madison has ordered the
destruction of Shawnee warrior chief Tecumseh's alliance of tribes
in the Great Lakes region. But while General William Henry Harrison
would win this fight, the armed conflict between Native Americans
and the newly formed United States would rage on for decades.
Bestselling authors Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard venture through
the fraught history of our country's founding on already occupied
lands, from General Andrew Jackson's brutal battles with the Creek
Nation to President James Monroe's epic "sea to shining sea"
policy, to President Martin Van Buren's cruel enforcement of a
"treaty" that forced the Cherokee Nation out of their homelands
along what would be called the Trail of Tears. O'Reilly and Dugard
take readers behind the legends to reveal never-before-told
historical moments in the fascinating creation story of America.
This fast-paced, wild ride through the American frontier will shock
readers and impart unexpected lessons that reverberate to this day.
A Best Book of 2021 by NPR and Esquire From Kliph Nesteroff, "the
human encyclopedia of comedy" (VICE), comes the important and
underappreciated story of Native Americans and comedy.It was one of
the most reliable jokes in Charlie Hill's stand-up routine: "My
people are from Wisconsin. We used to be from New York. We had a
little real estate problem." In We Had a Little Real Estate
Problem, acclaimed comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff focuses on one
of comedy's most significant and little-known stories: how, despite
having been denied representation in the entertainment industry,
Native Americans have influenced and advanced the art form. The
account begins in the late 1880s, when Native Americans were forced
to tour in wild west shows as an alternative to prison. (One modern
comedian said it was as "if a Guantanamo detainee suddenly had to
appear on X-Factor.") This is followed by a detailed look at the
life and work of seminal figures such as Cherokee humorist Will
Rogers and Hill, who in the 1970s was the first Native American
comedian to appear The Tonight Show. Also profiled are several
contemporary comedians, including Jonny Roberts, a social worker
from the Red Lake Nation who drives five hours to the closest
comedy club to pursue his stand-up dreams; Kiowa-Apache comic
Adrianne Chalepah, who formed the touring group the Native Ladies
of Comedy; and the 1491s, a sketch troupe whose satire is smashing
stereotypes to critical acclaim. As Ryan Red Corn, the Osage member
of the 1491s, says: "The American narrative dictates that Indians
are supposed to be sad. It's not really true and it's not
indicative of the community experience itself...Laughter and joy is
very much a part of Native culture." Featuring dozens of original
interviews and the exhaustive research that is Nesteroff's
trademark, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem is a powerful
tribute to a neglected legacy.
Whittlesea Mere - one of the wonders of Huntingdonshire! The
historic county of Huntingdonshire has much to recommend it, and
one of its lost treasures is brought back to life in this welcome
updated and substantially expanded edition of a study first
published in 1987. The Mere was the largest body of inland water in
lowland England before its drainage in the 1850s, an action which
brought to an end a long, rich and thriving history of fishing,
reed-cutting and boating, control of which excited the interest of
kings, and was fought over by medieval abbots and monks, 17th
century drainers, local communities and rival landowners. Once
drained, the Mere continued to influence farming practice, hindered
the smooth running of the main railway line to the north and
bequeathed to the nation in its surroundings two important nature
reserves at Holme Fen and Woodwalton Fen. Now, in the 21st century,
recognition of the area's unique ecological and educational
potential has seen the creation of a major environmental
restoration project, the Great Fen Project.
The diaries of the last British Governor of Hong Kong, published on the 25th anniversary of the handover.
In June 1992 Chris Patten went to Hong Kong as the last British governor, to try to prepare it not (as other British colonies over the decades) for independence, but for handing back in 1997 to the Chinese, from whom most of its territory had been leased 99 years previously. Over the next five years he kept this diary, which describes in detail how Hong Kong was run as a British colony and what happened as the handover approached.
The book gives unprecedented insights into negotiating with the Chinese, about how the institutions of democracy in Hong Kong were (belatedly) strengthened and how Patten sought to ensure that a strong degree of self-government would continue after 1997. Unexpectedly, his opponents included not only the Chinese themselves, but some British businessmen and civil service mandarins upset by Patten's efforts, for whom political freedom and the rule of law in Hong Kong seemed less important than keeping on the right side of Beijing.
The book concludes with an account of what has happened in Hong Kong since the handover, a powerful assessment of recent events and Patten's reflections on how to deal with China - then and now.
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