So, it’s early days, and there’s lots still to go up, and bugs to be squashed, and so forth, but our new hacker-free website is up and available. So please go and check it out at http://www.amberbooks.co.uk
Hope you like it!
Our old site was hacked so we’re currently making a new, better site to show off all our fantastic new titles. We’ll post most of our links etc from the old site here, but if you’d like to take a look at an archived copy of the old site, you can find it by clicking this link [opens in a new page].
Thank you for your patience while we work on the new site. If you can’t find the information you need, please contact the appropriate person here.
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The BBC has reported on a new study on the Celtic peoples in the journal Nature, which shows that there is greater DNA diversity than was expected amongst Celtic peoples throughout the United Kingdom, and that the Celtic population in the UK absorbed the Saxon invaders over the period of about 100 years.
From the BBC article:
“According to Prof Peter Donnelly who co-led the study, the results show that although there is not a single Celtic group, there is a genetic basis for regional identities in the UK.
“Many of the genetic clusters we see in the west and north are similar to the tribal groupings and kingdoms around, and just after, the time of the Saxon invasion, suggesting these kingdoms maintained a regional identity for many years,” he told BBC News.”
The BBC’s article can be found here: DNA study shows Celts are not a unique genetic group
The full article in Nature can be accessed here: Nature
For anyone looking for a more detailed exploration of the Celtic peoples throughout Europe, the new book from Martin Dougherty – Celts – is available now.
The new BBC series adapting Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall is coming the UK’s TV screens next Wednesday, so there’s time to catch up on all the Tudor scandals in our handy guide – Dark History of the Tudors.
(US viewers, the series is coming to PBS in April…)
Our recent competition to win over £250 worth of books has been won by Lorna K – congratulations to her and we hope she has many happy hours’ worth of reading ahead!
Stay tuned to our newsletter – you can sign up at this address: http://www.amberbooks.co.uk/about-us – for information about our new titles and perhaps another fantastic competition soon…
Our brand new catalogue for 2015 is now available, and we’ve had a little reshuffle. Our children’s content is now at the beginning of the catalogue, but if you’re a military history fan, don’t worry, there’s plenty for you still just a little further into the catalogue…
Click on the link below or paste it into your browser to open up the interactive catalogue:
http://digitalpages.digitalissue.co.uk/00000082/00019241/00089870/
Happy browsing!
One hundred years ago, war broke out across Europe. The face of the continent and the peoples that inhabited it were changed forever. There are many commemorations going on to mark the event, and undoubtedly many will be inspired to learn more about this conflict that helped shape the world we live in.
There are many books that have been published on the subject, and surely many more to come, but here is a brief guide to the various titles on offer from Amber and the audience for which they are intended:
The Illustrated History of World War I by Andrew Wiest 256pp
A single volume history of the conflict, a good starting point for those new to the subject. It gives a global perspective to the war which is often overlooked by UK studies.
The History of World War I series with a foreword by Dennis Showalter 224pp each
A six volume military history written by professional historians, this series is a much more in-depth exploration of the war’s battles and campaigns. The Eastern Front volume is the only illustrated history of the theatre published in English, and well worth a read if you are already familiar with the events on the Western Front.
The Military Atlas of World War I by Michael Neiberg 176pp
A large format atlas with an international perspective, providing a strategic overview to histories of the war and geographical context, from the Falkland Islands to the deserts of Mesopotamia via Flanders and the Italian front.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War I edited by Chris Bishop 384pp
A detailed guide to the weapons used during the conflict, from artillery pieces to Zeppelins, with full colour artworks to illustrate each entry and detailed specifications. An ideal companion for those well-versed in the military history wanting to learn more about the tools used to wage the Great War.
Aircraft of World War I by Jack Herris and Bob Pearson, 192pp
Over 200 full colour profiles of WWI aircraft from all fronts arranged chronologically by theatre of war and campaign, with detailed specifications.
Further information about these titles can be found on our website: www.amberbooks.co.uk
If you would like to be kept informed of all the latest Amber Books releases, please sign up for our occasional newsletter at www.amberbooks.co.uk/about-us
Amber will be exhibiting at the London Book Fair this year. Come along to stand no. D705 if you want to see our full range of titles. The book fair runs from 8–10th April inclusive, and this year is the last year it will be held at Earls Court.
Union victory in what was to prove the turning point of the Civil War… 150 years ago today.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you became interested in the Civil War?
Having grown up in Virginia I was in the midst of many of the Eastern Theater battlefields. My Dad and I visited Fredericksburg, Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg, and the many battlefields around Richmond. At a young age it was all very exciting to me. When I got older and went in the Army myself I appreciated the military aspects of those battles. Still later, I learned to appreciate them as a historian. The Army took me to quite a few different places and everywhere I went I became interested in the aspect of the Civil War relevant to that particular location.
What are your areas of expertise?
I’m most interested in the strategic and operational levels of the Civil War, as well as the role played by leadership. I especially try to draw lessons and threads of continuity between these past actions and the present.
Did you discover anything surprising while researching your books?
Both Gettysburg and Ships of the Civil War reinforced for me important notions of leadership. Although I’m a big fan of Robert E. Lee, he was vexed by several leadership challenges at Gettysburg. He had difficult moments with Stuart, Ewell, and Longstreet, and obviously missed his synergistic relationship with Stonewall Jackson who had been killed at Chancellorsville. In researching Civil War ships, the overwhelming advantage of the Federal Navy was unmistakable, but the Confederate leadership effort to offset it asymmetrically with such things as submarines and torpedoes interested me. Also the revolution in naval affairs wrought by steam engines and ironclads also illustrated the impact of technology on warfare.
Which parts did you particularly enjoy writing and why?
I learned much as I wrote these books. I consulted many sources, gathered a huge amount of material, and then tried to distil what I learned into something readable. At the end of the process, I had two books that I like to think are concise and informative, and the most enjoyable part of that effort is imagining someone reading them and thinking they were worth their while.
What were the challenges of writing these books?
In a way, the two books are kind of at the opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of breadth of subject. Gettysburg was a three day battle. On the other hand, the subject of ships was much broader in terms of time period. The Gettysburg book focuses on the human dimension of combat. The ships book focuses on the technological aspect of the machine of war. To switch gears as an author so quickly between two such different topics was a fun but challenging experience.
What do you feel you are bringing to the subject area with your books?
There are numerous excellent books already available on both these subjects. Some are very academically detailed. Others are fairly superficial. I hope mine combine sufficient scholarship and readability to make them interesting to a general audience.
Did you have a particular readership in mind when writing your books?
I tried to reach as many types of people as possible in the Gettysburg book. I’d like to think it’s a good introduction to the battle for novices and an easy-to-read summary with the occasional new twist for the seasoned history buff. I hope Ships of the Civil War is a good browsing book. It’s organized so you can fairly leisurely flip through the pages, put in down for some time, and come back to it later without missing a beat.
Is there a particular message you would like your reader to take away from the books?
I hope it’s something about leadership. Even as great a leader as Lee had a hard time getting his lieutenants to accomplish his will at Gettysburg. This is no easy thing. As far as the ships go, technology is of little value without the leadership to use it. It took men like Du Pont, Porter, and Farragut to exploit the Federal naval advantage, as well as men like Hunley, Maury, Tattnal, and Rains to try to counter it as best the meagre Confederate resources could.
What advice would you give a reader wanting to find more out about the subject area of your books?
Hopefully the books give the reader enough background to visit the actually battlefields if they haven’t already. Gettysburg National Military Park is a fascinating venue and I tried to include enough information about it in the book to entice the reader to visit. In Ships of the Civil War, I tried to note where some of the ships are on display today such as the Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia. Also visits to the national parks that involved the ships in action such as Vicksburg and Fort Sumter would be a great way to learn more.
Gettysburg and Ships of the Civil War are available from Barnes and Noble or their website bn.com.
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