David Knowles

Celebrate and explore 100 years of MG cars with this impressive volume featuring expert commentary, historical images, period ads, and contemporary photography.For many car enthusiasts, MG is synonymous with “sports car.” It is often credited with igniting a passion for European cars in postwar America at a time when roads were otherwise filled with the lumbering output of Detroit. In MG’s native England, the company’s cars filled roles from family transport to competition driving.MG, as we think of it today, began in the 1920s, but its roots go back even further with a young William Morris. Initially working in the booming bicycle trade, he eventually branched into motorcycle and car repair with the fledgling Morris Garage (hence, MG) in 1907. By the mid 1920s, the successful Morris Garages was in a position to begin manufacture of its own cars under the MG name.MG grew significantly in the years before World War II, building and racing its classic Midgets and Magnettes. World War II provided challenging times for the company as it did for the UK and much of the world. In the postwar period, a focus on sales outside England, and particularly in the United States, both defined MG’s product line and ensured its success. Legendary cars followed, including MG TC, TD, and TF followed by thoroughly modern MGA, MGB, MGB GT, and Midget. Magnettes and the 1100 offered options for those wanting sedans and more practical cars.MG ownership moved through a number of UK companies in the postwar period as well as ownership by BMW and today’s SAIC, a Chinese-based company through which it operates as MG Motor. Highlights along the way included the MGB GT V8, MG Metro Group B rally car, and MGF. Based on its latest state-of-the-art EV platform, MG will soon launch an all-new roadster coming full circle over its century in business.Authored by marque expert David Knowles, The MG Century: 100 Years of Safety Fast! is a fitting celebration of one of the automotive world’s oldest and most beloved brands—and a must-have for every car enthusiast.

Syd Enever was far more than just a designer – he was the quiet genius behind many of MG’s most iconic and best-loved models. From the sleek EX 181 record car to the elegant MGA, his work helped define a golden era of British sports cars and made MG synonymous with driving pleasure, style and performance. Enever began his career in the workshop at Morris Garages and quickly rose to prominence at MG’s Abingdon works. Over a 51-year career, his engineering intuition, design flair and deep understanding of what made an MG special left a lasting legacy – from production models to record-breakers, racers and prototypes. Despite his pivotal role, Enever has never been the subject of a full biography – until now. In this deeply researched and richly illustrated book, MG historian David Knowles draws on archive sources, first-hand accounts and rare images to paint a full portrait of one of Britain’s most influential yet under-recognised automotive figures. Syd Enever – The MG Man is essential reading for anyone interested in MG, British motoring history, or the people behind the machines. Key features: – The first full-length biography of MG’s chief engineer – Covers all stages of Enever’s 51-year career, from Morris Garages to MG’s final years at Abingdon – Includes road cars, competition models, prototypes and record cars – Features over 320 rare and archive photographs – Written by leading MG historian David Knowles

The MGB was a great British success story, a product largely conceived, designed and produced by a small team of dedicated people who genuinely cared about their work. Of course, the MGB came from a proud, successful sports car tradition, and the model it replaced - the revolutionary aerodynamic MGA - had been an unprecedented success - so the new car had big shoes to fill. Launching in 1962 and in production for eighteen years, the MGB became one of the most successful sports cars the world has ever known. This book describes how the MGB arose principally from the ideas of one man, MG's Chief Engineer, Syd Enever, how it was designed and developed, how it survived and thrived, and how it became the classic car still highly regarded today. There have been many previous books about the MGB, and the related MGC and V8 variants, but MGB - The superlative MG reaches a new level of detail together seasoned with fresh insight. David Knowles has been researching and writing about the MGB for more than thirty years. Prepare to be surprised at some of the stories you will have never read before, and new twists on some you possibly thought you knew well.

The MGA truly marked a revolution in MG sports car design, with its appearance quite unlike any previous production car from the celebrated British marque. Entering production in the summer of 1955, it broke with the time-honoured tradition of narrow-gutted, flat-sides, upright styling, with the distinctive large grille, exposed headlamps, separate wings and sharply cut-off tail that had serviced the majority of MG sports cars for well over thirty years. Many die-hard MG enthusiasts of the time were understandably outraged, but the decision to break with tradition proved to be a good one: over 100,000 cars were produced over the model's seven-year lifetime. This book, from celebrated author David Knowles covers: the circumstances that led to the momentous decision to amek such a fundamental design change; the production, publicity and evolution of each and every MGA variant from launch in 1955 to the end of production in 1962, with specification tables for each model; profiles of the people who had crucial roles in the development of the MGA and finally, the largely untold story of overseas assembly in Australia, Ireland, Mexico and South Africa.

This book tells the life story of the much-loved Triumph TR6 in unprecedented detail, bringing to life the genesis and magnificent history of one of the most-loved British sports cars of its era. Covering the design, development and manufacture of the car as well as its motorsport history, it shows how this last bastion of traditional British sports car motoring went against the grain of troubled automotive times, outstripping its predecessors in sales and popularity.

MG V8 tells in unprecedented detail the stories of some of the most powerful and exciting cars ever to wear the evocative MG octagon badge. Topics covered include: The story of each MG V8 model, from concept to development and production. Detailed information tables of notable cars and their chassis numbers for each model, plus special editions and colour charts. Interviews with the original MG V8 design and engineering teams. Background on development and testing work on each model. Rare input and insight from many of the outside suppliers and specialists who helped develop the cars. Information on sales and servicing literature, production changes, product placement, celebrity stories and much more Illustrated with 400 pictures, including concept cars, design sketches and specially commissioned photography.

The Benedictines is a comprehensive book written by David Knowles that explores the history and significance of the Benedictine order in the Christian faith. The book delves into the origins of the order, tracing its roots back to the life and teachings of St. Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century. It examines the key tenets of Benedictine spirituality and the ways in which the order has evolved over time to adapt to changing social and political contexts.The Benedictines also provides a detailed account of the impact of the order on European history, particularly during the Middle Ages. It explores the role of Benedictine monasteries in the development of agriculture, education, and the arts, as well as their contributions to the spread of Christianity throughout the continent.Throughout the book, Knowles draws on a wide range of primary sources, including letters, diaries, and other historical documents, to provide a nuanced and insightful account of the Benedictine order. He also explores the challenges and controversies that have faced the order over the centuries, from conflicts with secular authorities to debates over the proper interpretation of Benedictine teachings.Overall, The Benedictines is an engaging and informative book that offers a rich and detailed account of one of the most important and influential religious orders in the history of Christianity.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

This is the first of two volumes, now covering the heads of religious houses in England and Wales from the tenth-century reform to the death of Edward III, 940–1377. This first volume, by the great master of monastic history, Dom David Knowles, aided by Christopher Brooke and Vera London, was published first in 1972 and was quickly recognised as a major work of reference, noted for its mastery of accurate detail. It has now been brought up to date with substantial addenda and corrigenda by Christopher Brooke. The 1972 volume covers the period 940–1216, and comprises fully documented, critical lists of monastic superiors, with succinct biographical details. It is an essential foundation for all prosopographical study of the religious history of the period; and the precise chronology that it underpins is invaluable for dating innumerable undated documents. As such, the book is a fundamental tool of medieval research.

First published in 1951, Professor Knowles introduces his subject with these words: 'On three decisive occasions at least - at Clarendon and Northampton in 1164, and for a third time in the autumn of 1169 - the bishops were called upon as a body - at Clarendon in association with the Archbishop, at Northampton and in 1169 in dissociation from him - to take their stand at a crisis of policy. Had they resolutely and unanimously opposed the King in 1164, or as unanimously fallen in with his wishes in 1169, the course of English church history would have been notably different.... Concentration on the actions and words of the Archbishop alone, and the virtual relegation of his colleagues to the position of a chorus, if not of a conspiracy, has helped, in almost every account, to throw his figure out of historical perspective. It is only when we watch the attitude and consider the opinions of the other bishops, both before, during, and after the great meetings of 1163-4, that we can see how many elements of the controversy, and how many of the views expressed, were the common property of all, or at least of most, of the school-trained ecclesiastics of the day, and how many were peculiar to Archbishop Thomas.'

This is the first of two volumes, now covering the heads of religious houses in England and Wales from the tenth-century reform to the death of Edward III, 940–1377. This first volume, by the great master of monastic history, Dom David Knowles, aided by Christopher Brooke and Vera London, was published first in 1972 and was quickly recognised as a major work of reference, noted for its mastery of accurate detail. It has now been brought up to date with substantial addenda and corrigenda by Christopher Brooke. The 1972 volume covers the period 940–1216, and comprises fully documented, critical lists of monastic superiors, with succinct biographical details. It is an essential foundation for all prosopographical study of the religious history of the period; and the precise chronology that it underpins is invaluable for dating innumerable undated documents. As such, the book is a fundamental tool of medieval research.

Every two months Jefferson sublets his stylish Soho apartment. His tenants are always attractive young women. His studio has a perfect view of the apartment, and Jefferson secretly photographs his tenants as they go about their life. He expects his latest tenant, Maya, to be his masterpiece.

Some of these sketches present figures of importance who are little known, and who might easily be overlooked even by the serious student of the period. Herein lies the book's chief value, plus the over-all picture it gives of the monastic age as represented by diverse saints and scholars. The book is well written, and will best serve as collateral reading to a more thorough study.- Kirkus

This book covers a period (1336-1485) neglected by historians, when many features of the modern world were germinating under the surface of medieval institutions.

This book covers a period (1336–1485) neglected by historians, when many features of the modern world were germinating under the surface of medieval institutions: the age of Chaucer, Langland, Bradwardine and Wyclif, of the new Nominalism and the Conciliar Movement. David Knowles devotes part of his book to narrative, and part to analysis. The great abbeys are at their height of outward splendour, we see the building schemes of Ely and Glouster, the impact of the Black Death, and the recovery from it; we see the monks and friars in controversy at Oxford, the attacks of Wyclif and the Lollards, helped by the satire of the poets; the conservative reaction, and the foundations and reforms of Henry V, followed by the Indian summer of the feudal aristocracy.

This is the first of a series of volumes which have become recognised as one of the great monuments of English historical scholarship. The late Dom David Knowles began work on the subject in 1929; The Monastic Order in England appeared in 1948, 1955 and 1959. This volume begins the account of a whole way of Christian life and a unique element of English civilisation, from Anglo-Saxon times to the mid-sixteenth century. It opens with a survey of monastic life and activities of the old orders to 1340; goes on to record the impact of the Friars, and concludes with a general survey of the monasteries and their world.

This collection transports us into the monastic age - the thousand years between the sixth and sixteenth centuries, when the monasteries were the treasure-houses of Europe's social, cultural and religious heritage. The men we encounter are each representative, in differing ways, of their own historical setting and of the strengths and weaknesses of mankind. Professor Knowles portrays outstanding spiritual leaders, such as St Bernard and St Francis; the powerful intellects, the writers and artists, such as St Anselm, Bede and Matthew Paris; some of the noblemen, politicians and magnates; and those, like Gerald of Wales or John Wyclif, who were fierce and not always just critics of the monastic way of life; some lesser figures whose interests were limited to farm administration or country pursuits; and those almost forgotten men who died for their faith under the shadow of the Reformation. Each study is remarkable for its balance, sympathy and understanding; this is a collection by a great scholar who is an artist in words.