James Owen – författare

A must-read for anyone with an interest in history, politics, or the fascinating story and enduring legacy of an extraordinary figure: Winston Churchill.Widely regarded as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century, Sir Winston Churchill was a central figure in shaping British and global politics throughout his momentous career and more than six decades in the public eye.Published to commemorate what would have been his 150th birthday, this volume draws on a wealth of archive material from The Times and Imperial War Museums, and features previously unpublished material, including: Private letters and correspondenceRarely seen photographsHistoric articles from The Times archiveOriginal artwork, posters and wartime imagery from Imperial War MuseumsThis superbly illustrated edition offers a unique and nuanced perspective on the tireless statesman and victorious wartime leader. A must-read for anyone with an interest in history, politics or the fascinating story and enduring legacy of an extraordinary figure: Winston Churchill.

Step into the pages of history with The Times On This Day This engrossing collection chronicles the remarkable events, extraordinary lives, and pivotal moments that have shaped our world, and delivers them to you in neat, bite-sized facts to enjoy alongside your daily coffee.Did you know that the Duke of Albemarle arranged Britain’s first ever boxing match on the 6th September 1681? It was between his butler and his butcher.From groundbreaking discoveries and legendary battles to cultural milestones and unforgettable births, this book offers a daily dose of inspiration and reflection. Whether you’re a history buff, a curious mind, or simply looking for a unique way to engage with the past, The Times On This Day serves as your daily companion, reminding us that every day holds the potential for greatness. A day-by-day approach to the key events for each day across the yearsFamiliar and lesser-known events are connected across the agesUncover little-known historical facts about your own special datesEducational and entertaining facts in equal measureContains a helpful index arranged by year to help you find those key event anniversariesThese fascinating facts, trivia, events, milestones and landmarks are selected from the fields of history, warfare, politics, medicine, science, sport, space exploration, literature, popular culture, etc. Each entry invites you to experience a snapshot of time, revealing the triumphs, tragedies, and transformations that occurred on this very day throughout the ages.

Night comes quickly to the Bahamas. That of 7 July 1943 was unpleasantly close and humid, for though the rains were nearing their end, the air was heavy with an approaching storm. It struck Nassau soon after midnight. By the time it had blown itself out, one of the world's richest men, Sir Harry Oakes, had been murdered in his own bedroom. He had been burned alive, then had his skull broken by four blows to the head. When the body was found at daybreak, bloody handprints marked the walls of the room, while a fan stirred small white feathers that clung to the charred corpse on the bed. Beyond it, the window stood wide open. Even in the middle of wartime, Oakes's death commanded front-page headlines in the world's newspapers, and began a series of events whose protagonists included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Ernest Hemingway, two French aristocrats, a suspected Nazi and a grey Maltese cat, and which culminated in the sensational trial and acquittal of Oakes's own son-in-law for the crime. Owen's brilliant telling of the story stands alongside James Fox's WHITE MISCHIEF as a true-crime classic as well as an extraordinary portrait of a glamorous and corrupt society.

Autumn 1940: the Front Line is now Britain itself. Cities are blitzed night after night and even after the bombers have turned for home, a deadly menace remains: thousands upon thousands of UXBs. Buried underground, their clocks ticking remorselessly, unexploded bombs blocked supply routes, emptied hospitals and left families refugees. Dealing with this threat soon became Churchill's priority.This desperate struggle became a battle of wits that pitted German ingenuity against British resourcefulness, including such extradinary figures as Robert Davies GC, who saved St Paul's Cathedral, and John Hudson, the modest horticulturalist who mastered the V1.

June 1940: As Britain's soldiers limped home from Dunkirk, a maverick Army officer was already devising a bold plan to hit back at the enemy. His idea was to revolutionise military thinking and change the face of warfare for ever. Relying as much on stealth and guile as on courage and stamina, the Commandos brought to the battlefield the skills of the guerrilla. Trained by an unconventional band of experts, and led by a big-game hunter, a film star, a Highland chief and an eccentric wielding a bow and arrow, they became the spearhead of the Allied drive for victory.Weaving together official documents, new research and veterans' own accounts, Commando reveals for the first time the exhilarating full story of WWII's most formidable fighting force.

Labour and the Caucus provides a new, innovative pre-history of the Labour party. In the two decades following the Second Reform Act there was a sustained and concerted campaign for working-class parliamentary representation from a range of labour organisations to an extent that was hitherto unseen in British political history. The franchise revolution of 1867 and the controversial introduction of more sophisticated forms of electoral machinery, which became known as the ‘caucus’, raised serious questions not only for a labour movement seeking to secure political representation but also for a Liberal party that had to respond to the pressures of mass politics. Through a close examination of the interactions between labour and the ‘caucus’ from the 1868 general election to Keir Hardie’s independent labour candidature in 1888, this book provides a comprehensive and multi-layered picture of the troubled relationship between working-class radicals and organised Liberalism. The electoral strategy of labour candidates, the links between urban and rural radicalism, the impact of the National Liberal Federation, the influence of American and Irish politics on the labour movement, the revival of socialism, and the contested identity of a ‘Labour party’ are all examined from fresh perspectives. In doing so, this book challenges the existing teleological assumptions about the rise of independent labour, and explores the questions that remain about how working-class radicals and Liberals shared and negotiated power, and how this relationship changed over time.

Labour and the Caucus provides a new, innovative pre-history of the Labour party. In the two decades following the Second Reform Act there was a sustained and concerted campaign for working-class parliamentary representation from a range of labour organisations to an extent that was hitherto unseen in British political history. The franchise revolution of 1867 and the controversial introduction of more sophisticated forms of electoral machinery, which became known as the ‘caucus’, raised serious questions not only for a labour movement seeking to secure political representation but also for a Liberal party that had to respond to the pressures of mass politics. Through a close examination of the interactions between labour and the ‘caucus’ from the 1868 general election to Keir Hardie’s independent labour candidature in 1888, this book provides a comprehensive and multi-layered picture of the troubled relationship between working-class radicals and organised Liberalism. The electoral strategy of labour candidates, the links between urban and rural radicalism, the impact of the National Liberal Federation, the influence of American and Irish politics on the labour movement, the revival of socialism, and the contested identity of a ‘Labour party’ are all examined from fresh perspectives. In doing so, this book challenges the existing teleological assumptions about the rise of independent labour, and explores the questions that remain about how working-class radicals and Liberals shared and negotiated power, and how this relationship changed over time.

Atop the Ozark Mountains and in the buckle of the Bible Belt, the murder of an eccentric lawyer reveals a tragic family drama and an examination of a community that would rather see some crimes left unsolved.Rolland Comstock lived in what was described as “a Grimm Fairy tale.” With his pet wolves roving the estate and a world-famous book collection to obsess over, Rolland was no ordinary country lawyer. When he was murdered, Rolland’s story turned into a tragic mystery—a mystery some in the community did not want to see solved. This intimate true crime tale not only seeks to resolve the question of who killed this man but also to examine his life as well. Beneath his quirky personality, there were secrets and turmoil at odds with the ultra-conservative community Rolland called home. Some were wicked enough to say Rolland got what he deserved. The Wicked Among Us is a legal thriller from the perspective of a tragic victim who can no longer tell the story himself.