Nick Barratt

Longlisted for the HWA Non-Fiction Prize 2019'A vivid and humane study of the Plantagenets' diabolical and devious first family - a real joy to read.' Dan Jones, author of The PlantagenetsIn The Restless Kings Nick Barratt presents the tumultuous struggle for supremacy between the first Plantagenet king, Henry II, and his four sons. This conflict tore apart the most powerful family in Western Europe and shaped the future of both Britain and France, with a significance which still resonates today. Exploring the personalities and crises facing this extraordinary family, The Restless Kings brings to life some of the most remarkable, complex, flawed and brilliant monarchs ever to have sat on the English throne, and will challenge everything you thought you knew about the medieval world.

In this remarkable tale Nick Barratt delves into the shadows of the British and Soviet secret services to reveal the shocking story of his great uncle Ernest Holloway Oldham. After serving in the British army during the First World War, Oldham was drafted into the British Foreign Office. Over the course of the next decade Ernest was drawn ever deeper into the underworld of pre-Cold War espionage, towards a double-life that became the darkest of secrets.Enigmatic and gripping this is a journey through post-First World War Europe where agents, special agents and double agents lurked in the darkness, during a period of history when everyone had something to hide.

Family history is only one part of your personal heritage - there's more to your background than who your ancestors were. This differs from most books on the market as it places this process on an equal footing with the social history that surrounds each generation, as much as the technical know-how on which records to examine, and where. This book takes you on a unique journey back in time, examining the houses, streets, communities and ways of life that shaped the world around us, and in particular the precise circumstances that made us who we are today. Furthermore, this book will not just explain how and where to undertake this personal detective process - it shows you how to organise and shape your findings, and create your own personal archive using the latest technology and online resources, and how to add your store of knowledge to the emerging social networks that allow us to create a People's Archive and tell the forgotten story of the past that never makes it into the textbooks.

Similarly, the stories of representatives from the White Star Line who were present, as well as members of the crew, are told in their own words to give a very different perspective of the voyage. Finally, the book examines the disaster itself, when Titanic struck the iceberg on 14 April and sunk hours later.

The market for family history has never been stronger. The phenomenally successful television series Who Do You Think You Are? made many people consider the subject for the first time. Nick Barratt, the man behind the interactive strand of the series, now brings his expertise to this practical, lively and well-researched book, which will open the door to the fascinating world of genealogy. Accessible and clearly presented, and underpinned by a wealth of knowledge and experience, this book gives you everything you need to know to get cracking. From how to get started (talking to relatives, gathering clues, assembling a family tree), through to accessing and understanding and understanding the main sources (certificates, censes, probate and family registers), to how to flesh out your family tree, including tracing immigrant and emigrant relatives, tracking down military ancestors and how to cope if you uncover family secrets. Throughout the book there are case histories and real-life examples to help and inspire every reader.