The story of the Bamburgh Sword - one of the finest swords ever forged. In 2000, archaeologist Paul Gething rediscovered a sword. An unprepossessing length of rusty metal, it had been left in a suitcase for thirty years. But Paul had a suspicion that the sword had more to tell than appeared, so he sent it for specialist tests. When the results came back, he realised that what he had in his possession was possibly the finest, and certainly the most complex, sword ever made, which had been forged in seventh-century Northumberland by an anonymous swordsmith. This is the story of the Bamburgh Sword - of how and why it was made, who made it and what it meant to the warriors and kings who wielded it over three centuries. It is also the remarkable story of the archaeologists and swordsmiths who found, studied and attempted to recreate the weapon using only the materials and technologies available to the original smith.

Debut historical fiction series vividly recreating the rise of the Christian kings of Nothumbria, England

In 604 AD, Edwin, the deposed king of Northumbria, seeks refuge at the court of King Raedwald of East Anglia. But Raedwald is urged to kill his guest by Aethelfrith, Edwin's usurper. As Edwin walks by the shore, alone and at bay, he is confronted by a mysterious figure--the missionary Paulinus-- who prophesies that he will ascend to greater heights than any of his forefathers.

Through battles and astute political alliances Edwin rises to power, in the process marrying the Kentish princess Aethelburh. As part of the marriage contract the princess is allowed to retain her Christian faith. But, in these times, to be a king is not a recipe for a long life.

This turbulent and tormented period in British history sees the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who have forced their way on to British shores over previous centuries, arriving first to pillage, then to farm and trade--and to come to terms with the faith of the Celtic tribes they have driven out.

The dramatic story of Northumbria's Christian kings helped give birth to England as a nation, English as a language, and the adoption of Christianity as the faith of the English.

The exiled family of King AEthelfrith of Northumbria arrive, after much hardship, on the island of Iona, where the monastery founded by St Columba has become a centre of worship and learning. Young Oswald becomes firm friends with a novice, Aidan. When Aidan professes his final vows, Oswald and his little brother Oswy are received into the church. As befits a young prince, Oswald learns to fight. However, Aidan's example attacts him and he is on the point of deciding to become a monk when news reaches Iona that his half brother, Eanfrith, has been killed by Cadwallon, the king who defeated Edwin. Oswald sails back to Northumbria and meets Cadwallon in battle, defeating and killing him. Oswald, now undisputed king of Northumbria, gives Aidan the island of Lindisfarne as his base. But Penda, the last great pagan king in England, is raising troops against him ...

Oswald's head is on a spike. Can Oswiu avoid the same fate? The great pagan king Penda set a trap, and when the brothers Oswiu and Oswald walked in, only one came back alive. Rumours abound that the place where Oswald's body is strung up has become sacred ground - a site of healing for those who seek it. Oswald's mother believes he will protect those he loves, even beyond the grave. So she asks the impossible of Oswiu: to journey to the heart of Penda's kingdom and rescue the body that was stolen from them. Will this fateful task allow Oswiu to prove himself worthy of uniting the kingdoms under him as the King of Kings, or will it set him on a path to destruction? Oswiu: King of Kings is the masterful conclusion to The Northumbrian Thrones trilogy.

Warrior tells the story of forgotten man, a man whose bones were found in an Anglo-Saxon graveyard at Bamburgh castle in Northumberland. It is the story of a violent time when Britain was defining itself in waves of religious fervour, scattered tribal expansion and terrible bloodshed; it is the story of the fighting class, men apart, defined in life and death by their experiences on the killing field; it is an intricate and riveting narrative of survival and adaptation set in the stunning political and physical landscapes of medieval England. Warrior is a classic of British history, a landmark of popular archaeology, and a must-read for anyone interested in the story of where we've come from.

Northumbria was one of the great kingdoms of Britain in the Dark Ages, enduring longer than the Roman Empire. Yet it has been all but forgotten. This book puts Northumbria back in its rightful place, at the heart of British history. From the impregnable fastness of Bamburgh Castle, the kings of Northumbria ruled a vast area, and held sway as High Kings of Britain. From the tidal island of Lindisfarne, extraordinary saints and learned scholars brought Christianity and civilization to the rest of the country. Now, thanks to the ongoing work of a dedicated team of archaeologists this story is slowly being brought to light. The excavations at Bamburgh Castle have revealed a society of unsuspected sophistication and elegance, capable of creating swords and jewellery unparalleled before or since, and works of art and devotion that still fill the beholder with wonder.

Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali is a towering figure in Islam today. But did you know that during his lifetime he was a scholar, a saint and a penniless wanderer? In this short biography you will discover how Al-Ghazali rose from his humble background as a fatherless young boy from a small town, to become a successful student, a great teacher and the most famous Islamic thinker of his time. It also reveals why, after years of success, he left behind his prestigious position and his family, and became a penniless traveller trying to experience the peace of a content inner life.

Ibn Battuta was no ordinary traveller. Between 1325 CE when he set off and 1354 CE when he finally returned home to stay, he had visited about 40 modern countries and travelled roughly 75,000 miles, going on foot, camel, horse, wagon, boat and even sled. His travels took him to nearly every part of the Muslim world at the time, from Morocco to Mecca, through Persia and Iraq, down the west coast of Africa, into Russia, over to India and even across to China. Ibn Battuta's journey gives us a fascinating window into what the world was like in the fourteenth century. With illustrations, photographs, and maps, the rich and diverse world that produced Ibn Battuta is vividly brought alive.

Ibn Sina, who is referred to as Avicenna in Latin, was a true polymath. Born in the tenth Century his passion for knowledge was unbound, and he made lasting contributions to medicine, maths and philosophy. His life was also full of intrigue and he served under princes and kings (and fled from them too). With illustrations, photographs, and maps, the rich and diverse world that produced Ibn Sina is vividly brought to life.

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents Astronomical Odds A fresh selection of short SF/Fantasy/Horror/Humor stories with a mathematical twist. Contributors include Ken Altabef, Michelle Ann King, Edoardo Albert, John A. McColley, Jennifer R. Povey, James Aquilone, Martin Clark, Iain Ishbel, Garry McNulty, Nick Slosser, Benjamin T. Smith, Susan Nance Carhart, and Adele Gardner. What are the chances of getting away with murder? Or of getting back that letter the Post Office lost? Stranded in space and time? Odds of survival may be tiny, but you may luck out and find a friendly planet--or maybe not. Stuck in a dead end life? Having a "perfect" baby or spouse is usually a crapshoot, but maybe an adjustment can be made--for a price. Wondering what the future holds? The Northern Line just opened a new tube route to Betelgeuse, but tickets to New Eden are one-way only. Get your tickets now Brother Dill's Traveling Circus is in town, and the boy genius has all the answers.

For over twelve years, Ancient Paths has sought to publish quality literature on subtle Christian themes. This installment features the work of three promising poets (Nicholas Samaras, Paul David Adkins, and Carol A. Oberg) and two arresting authors (Mark McKenna and Edoardo Albert). Join in this sometimes sweet, sometimes sad, but always surprising journey of faith.