History Storytellers

In this collection of natural-history essays, biologist Joan Maloof embarks on a series of lively, fact-filled expeditions into forests of the eastern United States. Through Maloof's engaging, conversational style, each essay offers a lesson in stewardship as it explores the interwoven connections between a tree species and the animals and insects whose lives depend on it - and who, in turn, work to ensure the tree's survival.

In this audiobook, Richard Cohen reveals how professional historians and other equally significant witnesses (such as the writers of the Bible, major novelists, dramatists, journalists and political propagandists) influence what become the accepted records of human experience. Is there, he asks, even such a thing as 'objective' history? The depth of Cohen's inquiry and the delight he takes in his subjects includes the practitioners of what he calls 'bad history,' those thieves of history who twist reality to glorify themselves and conceal their or their country's behaviour.

The First World War was four long years of slaughter, exhaustion, and the near-collapse of a civilization that until 1914 had dominated the globe. Instead of rote memorization of endless facts, figures, names, and places, why not show what happened from those that were there in the trenches, skies, and on the seas? What did they see, hear, and feel?

With a unique and fascinating glimpse into the lesser-known stories of the War to End All Wars, this riveting book unveils four thrilling stories from the trenches, seas, skies, and desert of a war-torn world. From one captain’s death-defying mission to smuggle weapons for an Irish rebellion to heroic pilots and soldiers from all corners of the globe, these stories shed light on real people and events from one of the greatest conflicts in human history.

Nothing prepares Jaya, a New York journalist, for the heartbreak of her third miscarriage and the slow unraveling of her marriage in its wake. Desperate to assuage her deep anguish, she decides to go to India to uncover answers to her family’s past. Intoxicated by the sights, smells, and sounds she experiences, Jaya becomes an eager student of the culture. But it is Ravi - her grandmother’s former servant and trusted confidant - who reveals the resilience, struggles, secret love, and tragic fall of Jaya’s pioneering grandmother during the British occupation.

Lieutenant John Ryan couldn’t wait to see action in WWI. He joined up with the British colors out of Canada. As one of several American pilots in the Royal Flying Corps before the US joined the war, he earned his wings and became an ace through fierce air battles over the skies of Germany. After getting shot down twice behind enemy lines, Lieutenant Ryan recounts the trials, tragedies, and tribulations of 72 days on the run behind enemy lines.

Born in Britain, Saira Shah was inspired by her father's dazzling stories to rediscover the now lost life their forebears knew for 900 years within sight of orchards, snow-topped mountains, and the minarets of Kabul. This is Saira, part sophisticated and sensitive Western liberal, part fearless (even fierce) life-gulping Afghan, falling in love with her ancestral myth, chasing Afghanistan.

From the shores of Cape Gloucester to the quiet atolls and islands of the Solomon Sea, the Second World War left a profound mark on this sheltered corner of the globe, which would be felt for decades to come. Caught in the center of a vicious struggle between two superpowers, these islands would form an unconventional battleground for the US Marines and the Japanese Navy.

A daring captain. A ship full of weapons. And a sinister plot that could cripple Britain. In the heart of world war one, a devious plan devised by the German navy led to Naval Officer Captain Karl Spindler embarking on a perilous and secret mission. His task - to deliver German weaponry to Ireland and spark what would become the Easter Uprising. Departing from Norway with a disguised ship, Spindler undertook a perilous mission with a small crew and a hold full of explosives.

Immerse yourself in an epic narrative where every struggle, every victory, and every act of valor is a brushstroke on the canvas of history. This diligently researched and vividly recounted account is perfect for those who thirst for a story that echoes through the ages, illuminating the ideals that have shaped our own foundations of governance and justice.

Witness the birth and twilight of an age where the clatter of the blacksmith's hammer, the clash of sword against shield, and the solemn vows sworn in the chapel echoed through stone halls. This book is not just a tale of castles and knights; it's a vivid recounting of a society pivoting on the axis of war and chivalry. Stone and Sword is more than just a conventional narrative of historical accounts.

Few people truly know about Iraq’s role in World War One. The stage of a desperate struggle against the Ottomans, the story of brave men who lived and served in this harsh landscape is often overshadowed by the battles in Europe and North Africa. But now, this memoir explores the life and duty of Frank Wooten, an American, serving as a British officer in the Mesopotamian Motor Machine Gun Corps. Told with gripping detail and offering profound insights into the lesser-known and often-overlooked Middle Eastern theater, this book provides a unique perspective of the war to end all wars.

In the height of the Second World War, US forces launched a long and grueling campaign to take the island of Guadalcanal, mounting the first major land attack against Japanese forces. What followed was a six-month string of devastating battles as these two forces wrestled over this key military position. In the wake of near-daily aerial attacks and several determined assaults from the Japanese navy, the Guadalcanal campaign culminated in a victory for America and marked the first of many offensive attacks aimed at neutralizing the Japanese in the Pacific Theater.

WW2: Spies, Snipers and Tales of the World at War follows the stories of several men along their war journey. Walk in the boots of the world’s fighters during long years of slaughter, exhaustion, and the near collapse of our civilization. Hear about a time when many of the world’s mightiest empires were reduced to rubble, millions of people killed, and the foundations of our modern world fractured forever.

World at War follows the stories of several men along their journey throughout WW1 and WW2. Walk in the boots of the world’s fighters during long years of slaughter, exhaustion, and the near-collapse of our civilization. Hear about about a time when many of the world’s mightiest empires were reduced to rubble, millions of people killed, and the foundations of our modern world fractured forever.

John Hay, Lincoln's private secretary and later secretary of state under presidents McKinley and Roosevelt, and Samuel Langhorne Clemens, famous as "Mark Twain", grew up 50 miles apart on the banks of the Mississippi River in the same rural antebellum stew of race, class, and want. This shared history drew them together in the late 1860s, and their mutual admiration never waned in spite of sharp differences.

A Storytellers' reworking of Caesar's Commentaries as a new version. This follows the original line-by-line to create a modern voice that is faithful to Caesar's exacting text.

Peu de gens connaissent vraiment le rôle de l'Irak dans la Première Guerre mondiale. Ce mémoire explore la vie et le devoir de Frank Wooten, un Américain, servant comme officier britannique dans le Corps mésopotamien des mitrailleuses à moteur. Racontant la vie quotidienne de Frank sur le front, ses fonctions tout au long de la guerre et les personnes incroyables qu'il a rencontrées en cours de route, Voyage dans l'Eden est un livre parfait pour quiconque s'intéresse aux histoires moins connues de la Première Guerre mondiale.

Determined to capture a pivotal island in their war against the Japanese, the US 1st Marine Division was faced with a challenging task: to land on the fortified peninsula of Cape Gloucester and capture its two vital airfields. Taking the peninsula and the island of New Britain would give them a vital stepping stone in their campaign to push the Japanese out of New Guinea and the Bismarck Sea.

From the heavy fighting in Saipan to the securing of Tinian and Guam, the Pacific war left its profound mark in this sheltered corner of the world, which would be felt for several decades to come. Caught in the center of a vicious struggle between two superpowers, these islands would form an unconventional battleground for US forces and the Japanese Navy.