The Elliots were one of the main “Reiving” families on the Anglo/Scots Border. A family born into fire and steel – who caused centuries of fear and destruction as they ruled the roost from horseback with lance and sword. The book follows two narratives… The first delves into the history of the Elliots; where they lived, origins, exploits and how they survived across this harsh community. The second promotes a fascinating gazetteer of family biographies across the Border Line. Using accounts drawn from first hand sources, escapades of theft, blackmail, murder and destruction are documented. Who indeed would meddle with them?
The Armstrongs were the number one “Riding” family on the Anglo/Scots Border during the 16th century. They were the most destructive of the Border reivers... and can arguably be called Britain’s worst ever family. The book follows two narratives... The first delves into the history of the Armstrongs; origins, where they lived, their society and how they survived across a violent frontier... The second narrative is a gazetteer of family biographies – A who’s who of raiders and marauders based on court cases and criminal trials. Tales of ransom, murder, arson, blackmail and theft are explored, drawing out the family’s story during this unique period.
One of the most versatile actors of his generation, Edmond O’Brien made a series of iconic noir films. From a man reporting his own murder in D.O.A. (1949) to the conflicted title character in The Bigamist (1953), he portrayed the confusion of the postwar Everyman. His memorable roles spanned genres from Shakespeare to westerns and comedies—he also turned his hand to directing. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as the harassed press agent Oscar Muldoon in Joseph Mankiewicz’s bitter Cinderella fable The Barefoot Contessa (1954). This first in-depth study of O’Brien charts his life and career from Broadway to Hollywood and to the rise of television, revealing a devoted family man dedicated to his craft.
The Armstrongs were the number one “Riding” family on the Anglo/Scots Border during the 16th century. They were the most destructive of the Border reivers... and can arguably be called Britain’s worst ever family. The book follows two narratives... The first delves into the history of the Armstrongs; origins, where they lived, their society and how they survived across a violent frontier... The second narrative is a gazetteer of family biographies – A who’s who of raiders and marauders based on court cases and criminal trials. Tales of ransom, murder, arson, blackmail and theft are explored, drawing out the family’s story during this unique period.
The Elliots were one of the main “Reiving” families on the Anglo/Scots Border. A family born into fire and steel – who caused centuries of fear and destruction as they ruled the roost from horseback with lance and sword. The book follows two narratives… The first delves into the history of the Elliots; where they lived, origins, exploits and how they survived across this harsh community. The second promotes a fascinating gazetteer of family biographies across the Border Line. Using accounts drawn from first hand sources, escapades of theft, blackmail, murder and destruction are documented. Who indeed would meddle with them?
A versatile craftsman, actor Van Heflin was never concerned with popularity or comfortable with stardom. Lauded by his peers, Heflin won over moviegoers with his portrayal of resolute homesteader Joe Starrett in George Stevens' classic Shane (1953). He impressed in all genres, convincingly portraying every type of character from heel to hero. Van Heflin first garnered attention as the sensitive, alcoholic friend of gangster Johnny Eager (1941), for which he won an Academy Award, and later gave notable performances in a string of noirs, dramas and westerns. He was memorable as the psychotic cop in Joseph Losey's masterpiece The Prowler (1951) but equally impressive as the doubtful executive in Jean Negulesco's smart satire Woman's World (1954). This first full-length biography of Heflin covers his early life as a sailor and his career on stage and screen, providing detailed commentary on all his films.
As long-suffering EastEnders patriarch Charlie Slater, Derek Martin has become one of British TV s best loved stars. Now in this witty and revealing memoir, Derek tells of his extraordinary journey from growing up in the real East End of London during the Blitz to taking up residency in Albert Square. Derek s journey to Albert Square has proved to be an eventful one. A bone fide East Ender, born within the sound of Bow Bells, Derek grew up during the Blitz in a tight-knit, working-class family. In this candid memoir he describes those tough early days, his stint in the police, life on the wrong side of the law and how he turned his dream of being an actor into a reality. But not before trying his hand as a professional gambler and acting as a runner for the notorious East End gangster Charlie Kray, brother of twins Ronnie and Reggie. Determined to be an actor, Derek began his hugely successful stage and screen career firstly as a stuntman; before landing memorable TV roles in series such as Law and Order, Minder, King and Castle, The Governor and doomed soap Eldorado. In this frank and revealing tale, Derek pulls no punches as he admits past mistakes and describes his remarkable transformation into one of our best loved actors. Meet the man behind the character as he shares with readers his heartbreak over two marriage break ups and his devotion to his twin boys. An East End Life is a truly remarkable story spanning nearly seven decades, packed with tears and laughter that will endear you to this popular star.
When news of the war broke out in 1914, nothing could prepare the citizens of Glasgow for the changes that would envelop their city over the next four years. The story of Glasgow in the Great War is both an interesting and intriguing one. This book covers this historic citys involvement from the commencement of the Great War in July 1914, to the Armistice in November 1918, describing in great detail what happened to the city and its people, including their everyday lives, entertainment, spies and the internment of aliens living within the city.Glasgow played a key role in the deployment of troops to Northern Europe as well as supplying vital munitions. Local men responded keenly to recruitment drives and thousands of soldiers were billeted in the city before being sent off to fight the enemy overseas. The city also played a vital role in caring for the many wounded soldiers who returned home from the Front.The effect of the war on Glasgow was great. By the end of the conflict, there wasn't a family in Glasgow who hadn't lost a son, father, nephew, uncle or brother. There were tremendous celebrations in the streets as the end of the war was announced but the effects of the war lasted for years to come.Glasgow in the Great War features many forgotten news stories of the day and includes a considerable collection of rare photographs last seen in newspapers nearly 100 years ago.
Blessed with one of the great tenor voices of all time, Mario Lanza (1921-1959) rose to spectacular heights in a film, recording, and concert career that spanned little more than a decade. Groomed at the outset for a career on the opera stage, Lanza instead flourished in Hollywood where his films, most notably The Great Caruso, broke box-office records the world over and influenced the careers of countless musicians. To this day, the Three Tenors cite him as an inspiration for their own careers on the classical stage. Lanza's recordings for RCA sold in the millions, and he remains the crossover artist supreme. But his tremendous success was derailed by his self-destructive lifestyle, and by age thirty-eight he was dead, with his extraordinary promise left unfulfilled. Newly revised and updated for its first U.S. edition, Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods is the definitive account of the remarkable life and times of one of the twentieth century's most beloved singing stars. This richly detailed work also contains a selection of rare photographs, several of which are drawn from Lanza's estate. With the support of Lanza's daughter, Ellisa Lanza Bregman, the tenor's colleagues, and his closest friend, Terry Robinson, Derek Mannering has chronicled a fascinating and unforgettable life. From the fabulous successes of the early MGM years through the disastrous walkouts and cancellations that sent Lanza's career into freefall, Mannering objectively and movingly reveals the story of a great star torn apart by his own troubled psyche and undisciplined lifestyle.
With her striking looks, the raven-haired, dark eyed Ruth Roman had an air of sophistication that made her seem sexy yet wholesome. She had to strive harder than most to establish herself as a leading actress in Hollywood during its glory years and finally broke through in 1949 with her role in Champion. As one of the last Warner Bros. contract players, she appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's classic Strangers on a Train. Seen at her best in strong parts, such as the ambitious Ronda Castle in Anthony Mann's The Far Country or as a modern-day Lady Macbeth, she enjoyed a varied career as a freelancer before re-inventing herself as a character actress of note on television. A remarkable return to the screen in the bizarre psycho-horror The Baby (1973) assured her of cult status. This is the first book dedicated to a committed but often undervalued actress who is fondly remembered by fans of classic film. More than a biography, it seeks to contextualize the actress within her own time, illuminate her Hollywood experience and celebrate her extensive career.
When news of the war broke out in 1914, nothing could prepare the citizens of Aberdeen for the changes that would envelop their city over the next four years. The story of Aberdeen in the Great War is both an interesting and intriguing one. The city played a key role in the deployment of troops to Northern Europe and also supplied vital munitions. Local men responded keenly to recruitment drives, and thousands of soldiers were billeted in the city before being sent off to fight the enemy overseas. The city also played a vital role in caring for the many wounded soldiers who returned from the Front. The effect of the war on Aberdeen was great. By the end of the conflict, there wasn't a family in Aberdeen who hadn't lost a son, father, nephew, uncle or brother. There were tremendous celebrations in the streets as the end of the war was announced, but the effects of the war lasted for years to come. This is a powerful account of a city that showed great courage and determination in a time of adversity. It ensures that Aberdeen's people, who lived through the four intense years of conflict, are remembered for their immense contribution to the war effort.
Claire Trevor (1910-2000) is best remembered as the alluring blonde femme fatale in such iconic noir films as Murder, My Sweet (1944) and Raw Deal (1948). Yet she was a versatile performer who brought rare emotional depth to her art. She was effective in a range of diverse roles, from an outcast prostitute in John Ford's classic Stagecoach (1939) to the ambitious tennis mother in Hard, Fast and Beautiful (1951) to the embittered wife of a landowner in William Wellman's overlooked gem My Man and I (1952). Nominated for three Oscars, she deservedly won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Gaye Dawn, a gangster's broken-down moll in Key Largo (1948). The author covers her life and career in detail, recognizing her as one of the finest actresses of her generation.
This book explores the ways in which television has engaged directly and indirectly with the new realities of the post-9/11 world. It offers detailed analysis of a number of key programmes and series that engage with, or are haunted by, the aftermath of the events of September 11 in the USA and what is unavoidably through problematically and contentiously referred to as the resulting ‘war on terror’. The substantive part of the book is a series of independent chapters, each written on a different topic and considering different programmes. It includes series and single dramas representing the invasion of Iraq (The Mark of Cain, Occupation and Generation Kill), comedic representations (Gary, Tank Commander), documentary (the BBC Panorama’s coverage of 9/11), ‘what if’ docudramas (Dirty War), 9/11 in popular series (CSI:NY) and representations of Tony Blair in drama and docudrama. The book concludes with an extended reflection on contemporary docudrama and an interview with filmmaker and docudramatist Peter Kosminsky.
Ventura County's largest unincorporated community was born in the mid-1960s on pastoral ranchland previously owned by the radio comedy team of Fibber McGee and Molly in the 1950s and by William Randolph Hearst from the mid-1920s through the 1930s. Originally a Native American site, Oak Park was designed by its builder as a "community in the country" capturing "the scenic grandeur of early California, west of the San Fernando Valley." Today, it is still widely known for its award-winning schools, beautiful parks, creekside bike paths and nature trails, and a diverse, well-educated population. Many of its nearly 15,000 residents commute to and from Los Angeles. These historic images demonstrate why Oak Park has become one of the most desirable places to live in Southern California.
The Good Euthanasia Guide is a 'where-to' and 'why' book which complements the 'how-to- of Final Exit. It contains an annotated list of every right-to-die group in the world, and a unique account of the assisted suicide laws in almost every country, a filmography and a bibliography. Dr. Jack Kevorkian's life and work are reported in three chapters.
Personal favourites of Asia’s no. 1 quizmaster Derek O’Brien is recognized as India’s leading quizmaster. From his vast repertoire of questions that span the informative and educational, thought-provoking facts and trivia, he has gleaned hundreds of his favourites for this unputdownable volume. The questions cover subjects as diverse as the Chinese New Year, coffee, crocodiles and Cleopatra to the Grammy Awards, Gujarat, Mars, swans, tsunamis, and West Asia. There are also sets of questions on famous personalities like Asha Bhonsle, Isaac Newton, Lady Diana, Pablo Picasso, Shakespeare, and Winnie the Pooh. Each set tests both the extent and depth of the readers’ knowledge on the subject. Among the questions readers will find answers to in this book are: • Millions of years ago, which super-continent did Antarctica originally form a part of? • What were the two styles of shading which Leonardo used to great effect in his paintings? • What special feature of a camel’s eyelids protects it from dust and sun? • What is the study of fishes called? Whether you are a student, teacher, professional, quiz aficionado, or just a casual reader, this book will keep you engrossed for days.
Copublished with History Colorado Colorado Day by Day is an engaging, this-day-in-history approach to the key figures and forces that have shaped Colorado from ancient times to the present. Historian Derek R. Everett presents a vignette for each day of the calendar year, exploring Colorado’s many facets through distilled tales of people, places, events, and trends. Entries incorporate tales from each of the state’s sixty-four counties and feature both well-known and obscure cultural moments, including events in Native American, African American, Asian American, Hispano, and women’s history. Allowing the reader to explore the state’s heritage as individual threads or as part of the greater tapestry, Colorado Day by Day recovers much lost history and will be an entertaining and useful source of lore for anyone who enjoys or is curious about Colorado history.
Brian Donlevy (1901-1972) was an underrated film actor with surprising range and a little-heralded gift for comedy. Often typecast as a villain, he played the definitive bad guy in such films as Destry Rides Again, Union Pacific and Beau Geste (all in 1939). He showed his versatility in the title role of Preston Sturges' political satire The Great McGinty (1940) and impressed both New York critics and the Soviet government as the cooly authoritative Major Caton in Wake Island (1942). Donlevy was fondly remembered as globe-trotting U.S. Special Agent Steve Mitchell in the television series Dangerous Assignment (1952) and as Professor Quatermass in two acclaimed science fiction films. This first ever biography of Donlevy covers his colorful early life as a boy soldier, his years playing comedy roles on Broadway and his long career in Hollywood.
Flight Lieutenant Silk, a twice-decorated Lancaster pilot in WW II, rejoins the R.A.F. and qualifies to fly the Vulcan bomber. Piloting a Vulcan is an unforgettable experience: no other aircraft comes close to matching its all-round performance. And as bombers go, it's drop-dead gorgeous. But there's a catch. The Vulcan has only one role: to make a second strike. To act in retaliation for a Russian nuclear attack. Silk knows that knows that if he ever flies his Vulcan in anger, he'll be flying from a smoking wasteland, a Britain obliterated. But in the mad world of Mutually Assured Destruction, the Vulcan is the last--the only--deterrent. Derek Robinson returns with another rip-roaring, gung-ho R.A.F. adventure, one that exposes and confronts the brinkmanship and saber-rattling of the Cold War Era.
World War One pilots were the knights of the sky, and the press and public idolised them as gallant young heroes. At just twenty-three, Major Stanley Woolley is the old man and commanding officer of Goshawk Squadron. He abhors any notion of chivalry in the clouds and is determined to obliterate the decent, gentlemanly outlook of his young, public school-educated pilots - for their own good. But as the war goes on he is forced to throw greener and greener pilots into the meat grinder. Goshawk Squadron finds its gallows humour and black camaraderie no defence against a Spandau bullet to the back of the head.
From Bohemian Rhapsody and David Bowie to Star Wars and Watergate, the history of an unforgettable era that rocked (and discoed) the world. The 1970s was one of the most exciting, innovative, and colorful decades of the twentieth century. It was ten years of major events in music (Freddie Mercury, The Sex Pistols, The Carpenters, and Blondie), film (Jaws, Dirty Harry, The Godfather, and Saturday Night Fever), television (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, All in the Family, Benny Hill, and The Waltons), and politics (Richard Nixon, Margaret Thatcher, and Jane Fonda). It was also a time of social change (the women’s movement and gay rights), and unforgettable nutty trends (orange shag carpets, bell bottoms, platform shoes, and wing-collared shirts). From home-life and fashions to entertainment, sports, headlining-making crimes, and pioneering new technologies, Remember the 70s is a fabulous record of a chaotic, pivotal, loud, and revolutionary era. For those who lived through it, and for those who just heard about it, historian Derek Tait (who came of age in it—and has the photos to prove it) offers fascinating insights, truths, and reflections into a dazzling pop-culture turning point that resonates to this day.
It's 1953, and Luis Cabrillo has burned through the small fortune he earned from both British and German Intelligence in WW2. Now he has only his wits, his confidence, and his dazzling skills at lying and cheating. Teaming up again with Julie Conroy (a corker of a New Yorker), he follows his wartime instincts and goes where arrogance breeds wealth: to Washington D.C. and Senator Joe McCarthy, high priest of America's holy war on Red treachery. Joe's problem is a sudden shortage of treachery. Luis can help him out, but for dollars. Big dollars. And when the C.I.A. gets into the act, followed by the K.G.B., F.B.I., M.I.6. and the Mafia, it makes for an explosive mixture ripe for a spark. In Red Rag Blues Derek Robinson lends his signature wit to the hysteria and paranoia of the McCarthy years, toying with the notion that the world's most powerful nation is sometimes the world's most stupid.
Now in a handy pocket edition, this authoritative guide includes more than 8,700 reviews--from the dawn of film through every major release of 1999. Includes information on the casts, directors, Academy Award( nominees and winners, and movies on video, disc, and wide-screen formats. This updated edition has 100 new reviews.
The Secret of the Dragon's Teeth continues the adventures of Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby, sixteen-year-olds who struggle with their daily lives in England during the pivotal year of 1944. Cornwall is now an armed camp, with thousands of Americans and Canadians, as well as men from throughout the occupied countries, all training and preparing for the invasion of the European continent. The war has reached a brutal climax and the Allies now have the upper hand. In Nazi Germany, however, Heinrich Himmler is far from admitting defeat, as he prepares to unleash whatever horror he can devise to delay the inevitable.
During the brief reign of the Queen Mary, Walsingham was a Protestant exile in Italy. Returning home when Elizabeth assumed the throne, from 1570 he became a diplomat to the arch-pragmatist Queen. He was often troubled by her inconsistent policy decisions and for allowing the exile in England of Mary Queen of Scots. His triumph came in 1587 when Mary was at last beheaded after the cunning defeat of the Babington plot. A powerful, if enigmatic figure, loathed by his adversaries and deeply admired by friends and allies, Walsingham became the master co-ordinator of a feared pan-European spy network. His spies underpinned his organisation of national resistance to the Spanish Armada, but devotion and duty to Elizabeth was costly and Walsingham died two years later in penury. Historian and storyteller Derek Wilson delves deeply into the life of a fascinating and highly influential figure, bringing us tales of deceit, betrayal and loyalty along the way; popular history of the highest calibre. see www.derekwilson.com
Secret of the Dragons Scales continues the adventures of Gavin Kane, Emily Scott, and Bunty Digby, fifteen-year-olds who make the best of their young lives in England during the autumn of 1943. World War II rages on, but the tide seems to have turned in favor of the Allies. Three times previously, the teens have defeated Nazi plans to defeat England using evil magic, and three times, there have been new alliances formed with creatures from the hidden worlds of legend and fable. Yet once again, Heinrich Himmler is determined to unleash another strange and horrible weapon from deep within Nazi Germany, while halfway across the world, Allied armies are now tenaciously fighting the Japanese Empire. Secret of the Dragons Scales continues to develop the ongoing influence of Thaddeus Osbert. The dragon has become indispensable in assisting his teenaged charges, as they inadvertently aid the Allied efforts against Nazi Germany. However, the dragon also takes quite seriously his responsibility to instruct Gavin Kane in the ways of justice, honor and above all - compassion. Sir Osbert manages to negotiate a steady source of sugar for his persistent sweet tooth, in exchange for supplying something Winston Churchill needs as well. Once again faced with danger and intrigue, the teens call upon their dragon friend to help them battle the Nazis, who finally commit their own winged monstrosity, with unexpected results.
In modern Britain, barely a day goes by without a politician, pundit, paper or pub-goer launching into a tirade about 'the problem with immigrants' and what should be done to tackle it. High unemployment, overcrowded schools, benefit scrounging, housing shortages, stretched healthcare services ... pretty much every issue facing the country today seems to be pinned on immigration - but is it really a problem at all? In this fascinating book, Derek Laud sets out to challenge the widespread misconceptions and prejudices surrounding those who have relocated to the UK. He examines the social, economic and cultural impact of immigration across the centuries, and addresses the question of why some ethnic communities struggle here while others thrive. An insightful, thought-provoking and timely examination of one of the most significant issues of our time, this is an indispensable and refreshingly nuanced contribution to the immigration debate.
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