Publisher: Wharncliffe Books
The life and times of a Wakefield woman in the late twentieth century with substantial local historical information. The book aims to echo Henry Clarkson's memories of Merry Wakefield (1887) but with more sombre overtones reflecting experiences of single parenthood, time in the local mental hospital and the trauma of a fatal car accident, but with good times too.
AS FEATURED ON ORIGINAL GANGSTERS WITH SEAN BEAN'The world's leading expert on Birmingham crime and the Peaky Blinders'You know who the Peaky Blinders are ... It's time to see where they began.At the turn of the twentieth century, Birmingham was seemingly transforming into a wealthy, bustling metropolis, celebrated for its manufacturing and local government. Yet behind this optimistic facade, the poorest and most vulnerable in society were abandoned. This longstanding inequality aroused unrest, sparking violence and terror from backstreet gangsters who'd become known as peaky blinders.In this fourth instalment of the bestselling series, historian Carl Chinn draws upon his decades of expertise and his own family history to reveal even more about these notorious gangs, going back to where it all began. Chinn exposes the real people whose bloody feuds, murders and maiming, baiting of police officers, bullying of the decent poor, gendered violence, blackmailing, and disturbing roles in political riots and racist attacks made Birmingham infamous as the city of the Peaky Blinders.Peaky Blinders: The Real Gangs and Gangsters is a vivid and shocking portrait of Birmingham through the Victorian and Edwardian eras, unpicking the storied history of its vicious gangs to reveal how they forced themselves into notoriety.Show book
One fateful winter night, a famous racehorse mysteriously broke his leg while alone in his stall. An investigation ensued, but the real story has never been told…until now.It was a cool, quiet evening at Calumet Farm, where the most valuable racehorses—including the prolific stallion Alydar—had settled into their stalls for the evening. Alton Stone, filling in for the regular night watchman, completed his rounds at the barn. Although nothing seemed out of the ordinary, an inexplicable hunch led Stone to check on Alydar. What he found—a grievously injured horse with no discernable cause—jump-started one of the biggest mysteries to ever hit the horse racing world.One part true-crime investigation, one part evocative history of the adrenaline-filled days of horse racing’s golden age, Broken follows Alydar’s rise to fame and then dives into the sordid details of the crime and trial that came to define his legacy. Told with the taut pacing of a legal thriller, Broken investigates Alydar’s death, the $41.5 million insurance payout, and the stain it left on the sport of horse racing.Throughout, animal law attorney and author Fred M. Kray weaves together shocking testimony and key evidence from the trials, featuring dramatic photos taken the night of the incident. Drawing on interviews conducted with more than twenty-five key witnesses, Kray reveals insider-only details and, in order to discover the truth about the death of this magnificent horse, embarks on a major investigation—one that leads to an unexpected and startling conclusionShow book
As the “Seeing Eye Girl” for her blind, artistic, and mentally ill mother, Beverly Armento was intimately connected with and responsible for her, even though her mother physically and emotionally abused her. She was Strong Beverly at school—excellent in academics and mentored by caring teachers—but at home she was Weak Beverly, cowed by her mother’s rage and delusions. Beverly’s mother regained her sight with two corneal transplants in 1950 and went on to enjoy a moment of fame as an artist, but these positive turns did nothing to stop her disintegration into her delusional world of communists, radiation, and lurking Italians. To survive, Beverly had to be resilient and hopeful that better days could be ahead. But first, she had to confront essential ethical issues about her caregiving role in her family. In this emotional memoir, Beverly shares the coping strategies she invented to get herself through the trials of her young life, and the ways in which school and church served as refuges over the course of her journey. Breaking the psychological chains that bound her to her mother would prove to be the most difficult challenge of her life—and, ultimately, the most liberating one.Show book
In 1949, the year of the Berlin airlift and the founding of the two post-war German states, Elisabeth Kusian (nurse, black marketeer, morphine and methamphetamine addict, and pathological liar) garroted and dismembered two people in a mini crime spree. Her actions both fascinated and terrified the public—how could this woman, a nurse, commit such a violent act? West Berlin detectives attempted to run an efficient investigation under new democratic rules. Their East Berlin counterparts, newly structured along Soviet lines, employed their restricted resources to solve the case and prove the advantages of their socialist system. Both tried to use the investigation to demonstrate their distance from the Third Reich and build a brighter future. Based on the true story of Elisabeth Kusian, Death in the Rubble explores shifting identities, evolving gender expectations, post-fascist politics and norms, and the violence lurking beneath a city struggling to redefine itself.Show book
What Lies Between You and The Good Life? There’s a myth that the entrepreneur can flourish in either life or business. The “Lie of the Either/Or” claims you cannot achieve both. The sad reality is that many entrepreneurs fall victim to this lie, believing the only way to succeed is to suffer. Author Aaron Marcum can relate. In his past entrepreneurial journey, he found himself borrowing $100 to attend a family reunion and sleeping under a desk, to maintain the hustle. Married with six kids, he’d pop home for a quick dinner and dash back to the office to work until the early morning. Overwhelmed and exhausted, his body and brain told him something had to change. Life and business transformed when he discovered The Eight EntreThrive™ Laws which helped him eliminate unhealthy stress, flourish personally, and create the good life:You believe in a better way and a bigger world.Who goes with you will determine where you end upYour staying power is fueled by passionate persistence. Your why illuminates your way.Your future is brighter than what you can see and feel.Ultimate performance flows from your daily focus.The energy you carry carries you.By owning your failures, you can experience limitless freedom. Today Aaron shares this powerful model—through his coaching, speaking, and masterminds—with humbly confident entrepreneurs and organizations. It’s time to flourish—starting today.Show book
This meticulously researched work chronicles the dramatic evolution of Japanese society, politics, and culture across five crucial periods that shaped modern Japan. The Edo Period (1603-1868) sets the stage for Japan's modernization, examining the isolationist Sakoku policy that limited foreign contact for over two centuries. Explore how this era of peace under Tokugawa rule fostered a unique urban culture, flourishing arts, and a complex social hierarchy. The Meiji Era (1868-1912) unveils Japan's remarkable metamorphosis following the fall of the shogunate. Witness the rapid industrialization, constitutional monarchy, and wholesale adoption of Western technologies and institutions that transformed Japan. The Taisho Era (1912-1926), though brief, represents a critical period of liberalization and cultural experimentation. Discover the blossoming of democratic ideals, the emergence of "Taisho democracy," and the cultural renaissance that saw Western influences blend with traditional Japanese aesthetics during this often-overlooked chapter of Japanese history. The Showa Era (1926-1989) encompasses Japan's most tumultuous and consequential decades, from militarism and war to miraculous economic recovery. Follow Japan's journey through ultranationalism, World War II, Allied occupation, and its stunning rise as an economic superpower. Imperial Japan (1868-1945) examines the nation's complex imperial period, from the restoration of Emperor Meiji to the aftermath of World War II. Understand the interplay between ancient imperial traditions and modern state-building that fueled Japan's rise as a colonial power and its fateful path to war. Richly illustrated and accessibly written, this definitive five-in-one volume offers both newcomers and Japan enthusiasts a comprehensive understanding of the forces that shaped modern Japan.Show book
