History : Historiography

This is the first English translation of the Venerable Bede’s commentary on the book of Genesis. Dealing as it does with the biblical account of the creation of the world and of mankind, and of mankind’s fall from grace and exile into the life of time, On Genesis offers essential insights into Bede’s fundamental assumptions as a theologian, historian, and scientific cosmologist. Bede’s role in laying the foundations of the modern world cannot be overemphasised. From his quantitative approach to questions of science to his introduction of the Anno Domini system of dating and his text-critical methods of biblical analysis, he anticipated and influenced modern ways of thinking. Bede regarded the opening chapters of Genesis as the foundation narrative of the world. From it Bede derived the theoretical basis for his scientific treatises and his notion of the English as a chosen people of God, which informs the Ecclesiastical History . This translation and introduction attempts to make Bede’s commentary accessible to anyone with an interest in his work. more...

Price: $29.95

An absorbing, probing look at the conspiracy theories that operate on the sidelines of history and the reasons they continue to play such a seditious role, from an award-winning journalist. Our age is obsessed by the idea of conspiracy. We see it everywhere- from Pearl Harbor to 9/11, from the assassination of Kennedy to the death of Diana. In this age of terrorism we live in, the role of conspiracy is a serious one, one that can fuel radical or fringe elements to violence. For David Aaronovitch, there came a time when he started to see a pattern among these inflammatory theories. these theories used similarly murky methods with which to insinu­ate their claims: they linked themselves to the supposed conspiracies of the past (it happened then so it can happen now); they carefully manipulated their evidence to hide its holes; they relied on the authority of dubious aca­demic sources. Most important, they elevated their believers to membership of an elite- a group of people able to see beyond lies to a higher reality. But why believe something that entails stretching the bounds of probabil­ity so far? Surely it is more likely that men did actually land on the moon in 1969 than that thousands of people were enlisted to fabricate an elaborate hoax. In this entertaining and enlightening book -aimed at providing ammunition for those who have found themselves at the wrong end of a conversation about moon landings or the twin towers-Aaronovitch carefully probes and explodes a dozen of the major conspiracy theories. In doing so, he examines why people believe them, and makes an argument for a true skepticism: one based on a thorough knowledge of history and a strong dose of common sense. more...

Price: $26.95

A historian debunks four-dozen PC myths about our nation’s past. Over the last forty years, history textbooks have become more and more politically correct and distorted about our country’s past, argues professor Larry Schweikart. The result, he says, is that students graduate from high school and even college with twisted beliefs about economics, foreign policy, war, religion, race relations, and many other subjects. As he did in his popular A Patriot’s History of the United States, Professor Schweikart corrects liberal bias by rediscovering facts that were once widely known. He challenges distorted books by name and debunks forty-eight common myths. A sample:. • The founders wanted to create a “wall of separation” between church and state. • Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation only because he needed black soldiers. • Truman ordered the bombing of Hiroshima to intimidate the Soviets with “atomic diplomacy”. • Mikhail Gorbachev, not Ronald Reagan, was responsible for ending the Cold War. America’s past, though not perfect, is far more admirable than you were probably taught. more...

Price: $16.00

An anthology of twelve original short stories and four essays explores the role and implications of the Battle of Gettysburg in American history as it presents an alternate history approach to the subject in works by Harold Coyle, Doug Allyn, Jim DeFelice, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, William Forstchen, James Reasoner, and other acclaimed authors. Origi more...

Price: $6.99

A.J. Woodman’s translation combines accuracy and Tacitean invention, masterfully conveying Tacitus’ distinctive and powerful manner of expression, and reflecting the best of current scholarship. An introductory essay discusses Tacitus’ career, the period about which he wrote, the nature of historical writing in the Roman world, and the principles of translation which have shaped this rendering. more...

Price: $16.95