Throughout the history of Byzantium 65 emperors were dethroned and only 39 reigns ended peacefully. How might a usurper get away with murdering his predecessor? And how could a bloody act of regicide lead to one of the most glorious of all eras in Byzantium? These were questions that puzzled Michael Psellos as he looked back at Basil I’s assassination of Michael III and the origin of the Macedonian dynasty. Might the imperial art of Basil, his sons and grandson help to explain how the dynasty overcame its violent beginnings and secured the loyalty of its subjects? It has long been recognised that the early Macedonian emperors were active propagandists but royal art has usually been viewed thematically over the span of centuries. Official iconography has been understood to project imperial power in ways which were impersonal and unchanging. This book instead adopts a chronological approach and considers how Basil justified his seizure of power, and how his successors went on to articulate their own ideas about authority. It concludes that imperial art did at times reflect the personality of the emperor and the political demands of the moment, such as the need for an heir, the nature of court politics or the choice of successor. This innovative account of the forging of the Macedonian dynasty will appeal to those interested in how early medieval kings and emperors used art to create their own image, to differentiate themselves from rivals and to extend the boundaries of their personal power.
This fully illustrated study assesses the origins, development, and combat record of the legendary Tiger and Churchill Tanks during World War II. The Tiger and the Churchill are two of the most recognizable heavily armoured tanks of World War II. Both were designed hastily in the early years of the war, and both witnessed inauspicious debuts in battle in August 1942 (the Churchill in the disaster at Dieppe, the Tiger near Leningrad). Despite their heavy weight, both tanks, which were intended to serve in breakthrough operations, had surprisingly good tactical mobility. Yet there were key differences between them too, chiefly in the effectiveness of their main armament. This fascinating and detailed work explores the design and development of these famous tanks and its influence on their head-to-head encounters, the effectiveness of the support services each tank relied upon, and the skills and experiences of the crews that fought in them. The specific battlefield conditions of Normandy in June and July 1944 are also examined, exploring the effect they had on the duels between these two heavyweight AFVs.
The POCKETBOOK OF CARDIOLOGY is designed to provide the practical information required for managing cardiology in-patients and out-patients. This includes sections on dealing with common out-patient consultations, common interspecialty referrals, cardiological problems on the cardiac surgery unit, acute cardiological emergencies, and terminal care in cardiology. Also, as cardiology is a specialty with a high technical content, sections are included that provide the core information relating to the common technical subspecialties - echocardiography, cardiac catheterisation and catheter intervention, pacing and electrophysiology. Finally, a technical data section provides details of normal values for cardiac catheterisation, echocardiography and electrocardiography. A practical manual of clinical cardiology, fully updated with the latest treatments and approaches. Attractive two colour layout. Written for doctors entering cardiology as career registrars who require practically-based materials, but of value to nursing staff and GPs. This revised edition has been fully updated with particular reference to the latest advances in cardiac catheterisation, and new changes in the therapeutic treatment of arrhythmias, IHD and ACS.
This fully illustrated study assesses the origins, development, and combat record of the legendary Tiger and Churchill Tanks during World War II. The Tiger and the Churchill are two of the most recognizable heavily armoured tanks of World War II. Both were designed hastily in the early years of the war, and both witnessed inauspicious debuts in battle in August 1942 (the Churchill in the disaster at Dieppe, the Tiger near Leningrad). Despite their heavy weight, both tanks, which were intended to serve in breakthrough operations, had surprisingly good tactical mobility. Yet there were key differences between them too, chiefly in the effectiveness of their main armament. This fascinating and detailed work explores the design and development of these famous tanks and its influence on their head-to-head encounters, the effectiveness of the support services each tank relied upon, and the skills and experiences of the crews that fought in them. The specific battlefield conditions of Normandy in June and July 1944 are also examined, exploring the effect they had on the duels between these two heavyweight AFVs.
An interesting varied life from 1934-2014 experiences living in five countries with a stimulating mix of farming, British aristocracy, politicians and spies. The author who was already at school in the UK when the Second World War was declared describes wartime childhood, post war life, his fathers service in MI6, military service in Germany, his career in agriculture managing the agricultural estates of the Queen Mothers and Mountbatten families, leading for six years a successful major protest organization and being a Member of a British Parliamentary Committee but declining to become an M.P. Emigrating to Canada in 1981, he started a new career with interesting changes. Although his wife with whom he had four children, died there in 1998, he later married a Cuban and now has a home in Cuba where he spends the majority of his time.
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