History & Biography Bargain Book Box

History & Biography Bargain Book Box

Step into the past with the History & Biography Bargain Book Box, an essential collection curated for the dedicated history buff and the curious biographer alike. This remarkable assortment spans continents and centuries, uncovering hidden conflicts, illuminating powerful political dynasties, tracing the evolution of global knowledge, and exploring the intimate lives of iconic figures. From the brutal realities of the Pacific War and the secretive world of international espionage to the profound impact of scientific breakthroughs and the social shifts of the 20th century, these sixteen titles offer unparalleled perspectives, ensuring a deep and engaging journey through the events and personalities that have shaped the modern world.

1. Operation Postern: The Battle to Recapture Lae from the Japanese, 1943 by Ian Howie-Willis
   This military history provides a meticulous, ground-level account of the crucial 1943 campaign to reclaim Lae in New Guinea, a turning point in the Allied drive against the Japanese. Using previously unpublished sources, Ian Howie-Willis reconstructs the complex amphibious and airborne operation, highlighting the severe logistical challenges and the heroism displayed by Australian and US forces. It is an authoritative study that moves beyond broad strategy to detail the planning, execution, and brutal realities faced by troops in the dense jungle environment. Discover the intense battle that secured a critical strategic base and decisively shifted the momentum in the South West Pacific Area.

2. Between Five Eyes: 50 Years of Intelligence Sharing by Anthony R. Wells
   Anthony R. Wells offers a rare look inside the world’s most powerful intelligence partnership, the "Five Eyes" agreement, tracing its evolution from Cold War necessity to its modern role in counter-terrorism and cyber security. This deeply researched volume reveals the fraught dynamics and high-stakes collaboration among the security agencies of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It explores how this unique arrangement shapes global policy, handles sensitive shared secrets, and navigates the delicate balance between cooperation and national self-interest. A compelling account of how half a century of clandestine cooperation has protected—and sometimes jeopardized—the Western world.

3. Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters by Andrew Morton
   From the bestselling biographer Andrew Morton comes a penetrating dual portrait exploring the complex, often fraught, relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret. This biography delves into the royal sibling bond, charting their vastly different paths—one burdened by the crown, the other struggling under the confines of royal expectation and personal freedom. It examines how their shared history and contrasting temperaments influenced their private lives and public duties, providing insight into the pressures they faced within the gilded cage of monarchy. Uncover the loyalties and rivalries that defined the lives of the two most important women in the modern House of Windsor.

4. The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific by Brandon Presser
   Brandon Presser traverses the beautiful, yet brutal, history of the South Pacific, presenting a narrative woven with dramatic tales of ambition, violence, and isolation across the sprawling islands. This book investigates centuries of tumultuous encounters, from infamous mutinies on colonial vessels to the bizarre religious cults and devastating massacres that scarred paradise. It explores the dark legacy of exploration, demonstrating how the clash between indigenous cultures and foreign invaders led to cycles of madness and survival on the globe’s most remote frontiers. A vivid and unsettling chronicle that challenges the romanticized myths of the tropical escape.

5. Einstein's War: How Relativity Triumphed Amid the Vicious Nationalism of World War I by Matthew Stanley
   Matthew Stanley explores the tumultuous period of World War I, examining how Albert Einstein’s revolutionary theory of relativity emerged and gained acceptance against a backdrop of bitter, global nationalism. The book details the intense scientific politics as European scientists, divided by conflict, struggled to acknowledge the work of the German-Swiss physicist. It illustrates how the very structure of scientific endeavor fractured along political lines, making the global recognition of Einstein’s genius a powerful counter-narrative to wartime prejudice. This fascinating history shows how profound intellectual breakthroughs can transcend and ultimately challenge the chaos of global conflict.

6. All the Knowledge in the World: The Extraordinary History of the Encyclopaedia by Simon Garfield
   From the bestselling author of Just My Type comes an engaging cultural history charting the fascinating journey of the encyclopaedia, humanity’s tireless effort to catalog and master all existing knowledge. Simon Garfield tracks this ambitious project from ancient scrolls and Diderot's Enlightenment masterpiece to the rise of Wikipedia and the digital age, exploring who decided what knowledge was valuable and how it should be organized. The book delves into the eccentric editors, groundbreaking formats, and intellectual battles fought to contain and distribute the world’s facts. A captivating investigation into our enduring obsession with structure, authority, and the democratisation of information.

7. Fortune's Bazaar: The Making of Hong Kong by Vaudine England
   Vaudine England presents a rich, multi-layered history of Hong Kong, detailing its transformation from a modest fishing village into a pivotal global hub, driven by trade and the relentless pursuit of fortune. The narrative moves beyond traditional colonial history to focus on the myriad of diverse individuals—from merchants and refugees to financiers and innovators—who shaped the city’s unique cultural fabric. It explores the complex interdependencies between East and West, chronicling the intense commercial rivalries and the profound social shifts that defined its rise and eventual handover. A comprehensive account of Hong Kong’s vibrant, turbulent path to becoming a world metropolis.

8. Jobs for the Girls: How We Set Out to Work in the Typewriter Age by Ysenda Maxtone Graham
   Ysenda Maxtone Graham offers a delightful and insightful social history capturing the experiences of women who entered the office workforce during the mid-20th century "typewriter age." Drawing on numerous personal accounts, the book explores the liberating, sometimes frustrating, world of typing pools, switchboards, and the burgeoning white-collar sectors. It paints a vivid picture of the shift in gender roles as women sought professional independence, detailing the camaraderie, the etiquette, and the limitations placed upon these pioneering employees. A nostalgic and important look at how office work laid the groundwork for modern professional feminism.

9. On Every Tide: The making and remaking of the Irish world by Sean Connolly
   Sean Connolly provides a monumental history of the Irish world, charting the complex narrative of migration, identity, and the global influence of the Irish diaspora across centuries. Moving beyond the standard history of Ireland itself, the book examines how successive waves of emigration shaped communities, cultures, and politics across continents, from North America to Australia. It analyzes the resilience and adaptability of the Irish, exploring how their presence remade host nations while simultaneously transforming the sense of Irish identity back home. A deeply researched exploration of a nation forged not just by its island, but by its global movements.

10. A History of Love and Hate in 21 Statues by Peter Hughes
    Peter Hughes examines how 21 pivotal statues scattered across the globe encapsulate profound historical narratives of both devotion and conflict, exploring why certain figures are monumentalized and others are torn down. This unique history uses these stone and bronze figures as lenses through which to view colonialism, revolution, and evolving social values, questioning the permanence of public memory. The book delves into the controversies surrounding these monuments, illustrating how they trigger fierce contemporary debates about who deserves remembrance and how history should be ethically represented. A thought-provoking study of collective memory, power, and the powerful symbolism of sculpted forms.

11. Digging Up Armageddon: The Search for the Lost City of Solomon by Eric H. Cline
    Archaeologist Eric H. Cline chronicles the century-long excavation of Tel Megiddo—the ancient site known in the Bible as Armageddon—and the extraordinary personalities who unearthed its secrets. The book details the intense rivalry, groundbreaking discoveries, and sometimes ethically dubious practices of early 20th-century archaeology, from the German excavators to the work led by the Rockefeller family. It focuses on the search for remnants of King Solomon’s lost city, revealing not just the ancient past but also the history of modern archaeology itself. A thrilling account of biblical history, scientific ambition, and the relentless quest for definitive proof.

12. Engineers of Human Souls: Four Writers Who Changed Twentieth-Century Minds by Simon Ings
    Simon Ings explores the immense influence wielded by four visionary writers and scientists—Karel Čapek, J. D. Bernal, Julian Huxley, and H. G. Wells—who profoundly shaped 20th-century thinking about humanity's future. The book argues that these figures acted as "engineers of human souls," using science, literature, and social planning to define the emerging ideas of utopia, technology, and rational societal management. It examines their roles in public life, detailing how their influential concepts about progress and control helped to structure modern political and scientific ambitions. A compelling intellectual history focused on those who designed the blueprint for the contemporary mind.

13. Hardcore History: History At The Extremes by Dan Carlin
    Drawing on his massively popular podcast, historian Dan Carlin presents a powerful collection of historical investigations that focus on humanity at its most extreme moments—times of unbearable chaos, survival, and moral ambiguity. Carlin delves into key moments like the brutality of the ancient world or the psychological toll of mechanized warfare, using his signature immersive style to explore the motivations and experiences of people under incredible pressure. This volume is not just a recounting of events, but a philosophical examination of the human condition when stripped down to its violent or desperate core. An intense, deeply engaging exploration of the darkest corners of history.

14. Great Society: A New History by Amity Shlaes
    Amity Shlaes delivers a critical reassessment of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s ambitious Great Society programs, analyzing the lasting economic and social impact of the dramatic wave of federal spending in the 1960s. This history questions the efficacy and sustainability of the massive efforts designed to eradicate poverty and reform American life, tracing the long-term consequences of these complex, politically charged policies. Shlaes meticulously examines the intentions versus the outcomes, providing a perspective that challenges the prevailing liberal view of this pivotal era of American governance. A comprehensive and provocative study of a defining moment in modern U.S. political history.

15. Unleashed by Boris Johnson
    Written by the former Prime Minister, this volume serves as both a political memoir and a powerful articulation of the vision driving post-Brexit Britain, focused on the theme of national self-determination. Boris Johnson reflects on his time in office and the turbulent political landscape surrounding the UK’s departure from the European Union, arguing for the renewed global vitality achieved by "unleashing" the nation’s potential. The book addresses key policy choices, internal party battles, and the promise of a more dynamic and independently governed future outside the constraints of the EU. A necessary read for understanding the current trajectory and complex ideological foundations of modern British Conservatism.

16. Izabela the Valiant: The Story of an Indomitable Polish Princess by Adam Zamoyski
    Master historian Adam Zamoyski brings to life the remarkable story of Izabela Jagiellon, the 16th-century Polish princess who became Queen of Hungary, navigating the treacherous world of Ottoman and Habsburg power struggles. Izabela’s life was defined by cunning political maneuvering, military resilience, and her fierce determination to preserve her son’s throne against overwhelming imperial forces. Zamoyski details her survival amidst continuous siege, her exile, and her eventual return to secure her dynasty, making her one of the most powerful and overlooked women of Renaissance Europe. A dramatic and detailed biography of a princess whose political acuity saved a kingdom.