Dan Snow

Historians and broadcasters Peter Snow and Ann Macmillan tell the real stories of the most powerful men and women in British history.From Alfred the Great to Charles III, Kings & Queens explores the lives, loves, triumphs and disasters of a monarchy that is the envy of the world. From Charles I's romantic escapades and William III's asthma attack at the Battle of the Boyne to George II's touching funeral request and Elizabeth II's wartime truck-driving, this groundbreaking book brings these legendary figures to life like never before.Painstakingly researched and thrillingly told, Kings & Queens offers a unique insight into the heroes - and villains - who were born to rule. Discover how the British sovereigns experienced success, failure, tragedy and joy, just like the rest of us - all while bearing the heavy weight of the crown.This is the history of Britain, told through the lives of those who have ruled.

Historians and broadcasters Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan tell the real stories of the most powerful men and women in British history.Kings & Queens explores the lives, loves, triumphs and disasters of a monarchy that is the envy of the world. Snow and MacMillan offer a unique insight into those born to rule, whether villains or heroes – from cruel King John and warrior-king Edward III, to our own Elizabeth II: dutiful, discreet and the longest-reigning queen in the world.This is the story of modern civilization through the lens of those who have ruled.

A spirited examination of world history, told through 50 key documents, by two celebrated historians and journalists. With a wealth of experience between them on political, social, cultural and military history, and today's current affairs, Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan are the perfect guides to appreciating the significance of each document. Chapters are devoted to each of the 50 documents across the political, military, artistic, and scientific spheres, and supported by additional contemporary images. The documents themselves have been researched from the collections of national archives, museums, libraries, and private collections around the world. The authors explain their criteria for selection and provide the pertinent details of each one, taking us on a journey from the scripts of the earliest civilizations through to momentous speeches and papers of today.

On which day was history's shortest war waged and won (in roughly 40 minutes)? How was Napoleon bested by a group of rabbits in 1807? Why did a dispute about beer in an Oxford pub lead to over 100 deaths and 470 years of penance? Why in 1752 did Britain go to bed on 2nd September and wake up on the 14th? How did a women's march in 1917 set off the Russian Revolution?On This Day in History brings to life a key event that happened on each day of the year.From the most important British battle that you've never heard of (20 May 685) to the first meeting of Lennon and McCartney (6 July 1957), and from why Julius Caesar should have been wary of the Ides of March (15 March 44BC) to the day Jeanne de Clisson became a pirate and single-handedly declared war on the King of France (2 August 1343), history is full of unlikely heroes and fascinating turning points.In this book Dan Snow shows us how each day offers a different and unexpected insight into our past. And story by gripping story, this year grows into a vivid, very human history of the world.

Lions of the North tells, from a unique and personal perspective, the stories of the Percy family and Alnwick Castle over a thousand years of British history. Generations of Percy barons, lords, earls and dukes played vital parts in great historical events, from the Norman Conquest to the two World Wars, and the castle, once battered by marauding armies, is now a major tourist attraction. The Duke has drawn on his unparalleled access to the Percy archives to paint this fascinating portrait of a British dynasty and its survival against the odds.

Told by two of our most celebrated historians, this is a spirited journey of discovery of our nation's history seen through the examination of 50 key documents. With a wealth of experience between them on politics, military history and today's current affairs, Peter and Dan Snow are the perfect guides to appreciating the significance of each document. The documents have been researched from the collections of The National Archives, The British Museum, The British Library and the National Records of Scotland and are set alonside a commentary from the authors explaining their criteria for selection and providing the pertinent details of each document. From the Magna Carta and Elizabeth's Tide Letter, in which she begs her sister for her life, to the official design for the FA Cup, Churchill's Finest Hour speech following the Fall of France, a ticket stub to the Beatles' first concert, and the signatories of the Good Friday Agreement, this beautifully designed book is a must-have for all history enthusiasts.

The Battle of Waterloo marks an event that changed the fate of Europe irrevocably. Beautifully illustrated, it includes reproductions of contemporary letters and documents, printed on the page, and offers a beautifully written telling of the battle and compelling new treatment of the Hundred Days campaign that finally ended the career of Napoleon. Each stage of the build-up to this decisive battle is carefully described, from the escape to the preparations for war. A topography of the battlefield complements a description of the fighting, which culminated in the rout of Napoleon's Imperial Guard, an elite unit that had never experienced defeat. Concluding with an examination of the consequences for the politics of Europe, The Battle of Waterloo is a detailed and visually stunning companion to one of history's most decisive battles.

An epic history of the battle of Quebec, the death of General James Wolfe and the beginnings of Britain's empire in North America. Military history at its best.

In this riveting book, political journalist Peter Snow and military historian Dan Snow bring to life the most intense and bitterly fought battles of the 20th century - from the apocalyptic terrain of the Western Front to the desert landscape of Iraq. Punctuated by powerful eyewitness testimony, their compelling and often shocking narrative highlights the strategy of military commanders as well as the experience of men on the frontline. 20th Century Battlefields looks back at the most violent century in history and examines the challenges facing armed forces in the future.