Brian Robson

Newcastle has a long and distinguished history through two millennia: a Roman fortress at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall; an important centre of monasticism; a 'royal' bulwark against attacks and invasion from Scotland; and the principal centre for the export of coal to London. In the 19th century it was transformed into an elegant Georgian townscape with dramatic streets and handsome public buildings. It and other towns on the Tyne - Gateshead, Jarrow, Wallsend, Tynemouth, North and South Shields - developed important industries: shipbuilding, glass and heavy engineering. Tyneside suffered severe contraction in the 20th century as heavy industry declined, but it has begun to reinvent itself and create new growth shoots, not least its vibrant cultural industries including music and art. This book takes an innovative approach to telling the story of the area's history by focusing on the historic maps and plans that record the growth and development of Newcastle and Tyneside over many centuries.

In 1962, when air-travel was in its infancy, a nineteen-year-old boy who felt trapped in Melbourne, Australia, made up his mind that he was going to return to his homeland in the United Kingdom. He was prevented from doing so by both lack of documentation and the funds required.Putting an idea to work without the thought of losing his life, he became the first person in history to fly for nearly five days in a crate across the Pacific Ocean.

Manchester is one the world’s most iconic cities. Not only was it the first industrial city, it can claim to be the first post-industrial city. This book uses historic maps and unpublished and original plans to chart the dramatic growth and transformation of Manchester as it grew rich on its cotton trade from the late 18th century, experienced periods of boom and bust through the Victorian period, and began its post-industrial transformation in the 20th century. The Peterloo Massacre, the Bridgewater Canal, the railway revolution, Trafford Park industrial estate, the Ship Canal, Belle Vue theme park, Wythenshawe garden city, the 1996 IRA bomb, Coronation Street, iconic football stadiums, and MediaCity are just some of the events and places that have put Manchester on the world’s perceptual map and are explored through a wealth of published and unpublished maps and plans in this sumptuously illustrated cartographic history.

When the British invaded Afghanistan in 1878, forty years after the first attempt, it was to scotch Russian influence and to install a friendly government. This book accounts various questions such as why it was fought, why it was necessary, who was responsible and what it achieved.

The Third Afghan War has some claim to be the least-known of all British imperial conflicts - even among military historians. Illustrated with maps and contemporary photographs, this title is an account of this important and fascinating chapter in British history.

This is a study of the little known Third Anglo-Afghan War and the subsequent campaign in Waziristan. It is based on original official and private papers backed up by contemporary photographs and specially drawn maps. The British deployed virtually the full panopoly of military technology - artillery, machine guns, trench mortars, armoured cars, mechanical transport and aircraft and when the Indian infantry proved unable to cope with the tribesmen, there were even calls for use of poison gas. Yet in the end it all down to the infantry with rifle, bayonet and grenade and the book gives tales of sacrifice and gallantry as well panic where generals jostled with soldiers in a panic to find a way out. The author brings out the vital nature of the RAF's contribution and of the gallantry of the pilots flying obsolescent and unreliable aircrat over difficult mountaineous terrain in hot weather and with the raid on Kabul, strategic bombing could be said to have arrived.

When the British invaded Afghanistan in 1878, forty years after the first attempt, it was to scotch Russian influence and to install a friendly government. This book accounts various questions such as why it was fought, why it was necessary, who was responsible and what it achieved.