Radcliffe Press – förlag

In this stimulating account of his life''s experiences, Africanist archaeologist Merrick Posnansky takes his readers on an unusual journey across the world, from his origins in a small Jewish community in Manchester to his adventures on archaeological sites in the villages of Africa before finally settling down to teach in Los Angeles. A Jewish British expatriate in an African social world, Posnansky struggled to establish his racial identity in the British colonial world where Jewish communities were rare. He crossed racial and religious boundaries by marrying a Christian woman from Uganda, a highly unusual step at that time. Written in a candid style, these memoirs provide a fascinating glimpse into the changes taking place in modern Africa.

This moving and unusual story of a British engineer who becomes caught up in the horrifying events of the First World War vividly illuminates life - and death - on the Mesopotamian Front. At the outbreak of War, William Reed had recently arrived in the region to work as a marine engineer. By the time fighting ceased in 1918, not only his own life but the whole course of the history of the Middle East had been transformed. In this gripping history of Iraq during the First World War, Josephine Hammond skilfully weaves together her grandfather''s diaries, placing his personal adventures against the backdrop of the unfolding drama of war. Battle in Iraq offers an invaluable record of events in Iraq during the First World War as well as sensitively drawing out the unavoidable parallels with the contemporary conflict and the long-term consequences of international interference in the region.

The Education Service was a vital arm of the British Colonial Service while the British Council has been paramount in promoting the English language and culture overseas. But are both agents of British colonialism and neo-colonialism? Or are both simply altruistic purveyors of language and culture to a wider world?Verner Bickley as an Education Officer in the British Colonial Service and in the British Council provides the answer and shows that educational and cultural values were paramount and important in themselves, and through the medium of the near-global English language, vitally important in both culture and technical training. Life in overseas postings was set against a backdrop of turbulent international relations following World War II, including service in the Royal Navy in India and Ceylon, soon to be become independent Sri Lanka. Bickley was Education Officer in Singapore during the tumultuous 1950s, at the time of the Malayan ''Emergency'' and in the lead-up to independence in 1957 which he announced on Radio Malaya. His service with the British Council began with a posting to Burma during the premiership of U Nu, struggling with ethnic problems and to be ousted by military coup. And during his time in Indonesia the British Embassy was burnt to the ground by rioters. Later service was in Japan - basking in its success as an emerging economic powerhouse. This is an essentially warm and human story enlivened, especially during the British Council period, by a succession of diverse personalities, including royalty, British and Thai, as well as writers like Anthony Burgess, Graham Greene and Willis Hall and actors such as Donald Sinden, Patrick Stewart and Max Adrian.

"Of Cargoes, Colonies and Kings" gives an offbeat account of Andrew Stuart''s wide-ranging experiences. Never a stereotypical colonialist, as the son of a missionary, he knew the people, the politicians and the kings of Uganda from his childhood and worked with them until 1965, four years after independence, when he joined the British Diplomatic Service. As a diplomat, before ending up as British Ambassador to Finland, he was soon drawn back into the closing stages of the British Empire. The end of empire in British and French territories from Africa to the Pacific, the rise of China to near superpower status and the opening of political fissures on the Indian subcontinent - all are themes of global and enduring importance. Andrew Stuart''s eventful career as a colonial administrator and diplomat took place against this international backdrop.

Within three decades of the end of the Second World War, the British Empire had been dismantled leaving only a few residual spots of red on the world map. This was the age of decolonisation and Independence. "Trespassers Forgiven" offers a personal glimpse into the history of British Honduras (Belize) at this crucial period in British history. C.H. Godden examines the long road Belize travelled to eventual independence in 1981 after more than a century as a British colony. He demonstrates the very real difficulties the new government faced and how the country''s progression to independence was considerably delayed by Guatemala''s territorial claim and the many international complications and obstacles that followed in its wake. Drawing on the author''s personal experiences at the Colonial Office in the region at this decisive time, "Trespassers Forgiven" illuminates the colony''s unique history and draws attention to the neglected and almost forgotten story of Britain''s involvement in Central America.

Charles Innes Meek''s account of his twenty years in Tanganyika - now Tanzania - goes to the heart of British colonial rule at the end of empire. The story begins with his arrival in the former German colony during the dark days of World War II. He describes the challenges of living in a peasant community in a remote colony in war-time and of life among a remarkable cast of frontier characters - hunters, mining magnates and farmers - and working with his individualistic and even eccentric colleagues. Cheap, efficient and just administration were the watchwords of British Colonial Service. With his colleagues, Meek was absorbed in the daily work of a Colonial Officer - building roads and bridges, improving agriculture, keeping the peace and administering justice. By the late 1940s, however, the drive towards nationalism had gained pace. There were experiments with forms of indirect rule with local tribal leaders but all was suddenly overtaken by the momentum of the independence movement and in 1957 Meek was moved from his beloved district administration to Dar es Salaam. Here he was embroiled in the fast-moving events leading to decolonization. He worked with the last Governor, Sir Richard Turnbull as Permanent Secretary to the Chief Minister, and later as Head of the Civil Service. He collaborated deeply with Julius Nyerere, the Chief Minister, and Meek provides a sympathetic and intimate portrait of the magnetic personality of this most charismatic and respected of African leaders - a moving story of friendship and mutual respect. ''Brief Authority'' is a fascinating story for all readers interested in the inside story of the British Colonial service at the end of empire - dramatic, moving and full of human interest.

Why does an officer in an elite regiment - the Grenadier Guards - exchange a prestigious and privileged career in the British Army for service among desert tribes in harsh and unforgiving territory, and in the seemingly insoluble conflict of the turbulent Arab world? The answer lies in the long tradition of British military officers attracted by the romance and adventure engendered by a perceived British imperial notion of bringing peace and security to this troubled region. In this process, Arab society and culture have woven a unique spell among many a young Westerner, leading to warm, lasting and reciprocated friendships. Nigel Bromage''s adventurous career, which spanned over 30 years, much of it in the Middle East, characterised all aspects of this relationship. It includes dramatic military action, much of it with the legendary Arab Legion in the first Arab-Israeli war and the struggle for Jerusalem, as well as service throughout much of Britain''s remaining ''informal empire''.Soldier in Arabia is a revealing personal memoir of the Middle East, but much more - it sheds light, through dramatic and authentic personal experience, on how Britain pursued its interests in the enduring struggles of the Middle East first via highly trained and committed military officers.

The 20th century saw a period of enormous legal and social change in Britain. In these engaging memoirs Ronald Waterhouse, who sat as one of Britain''s leading High Court Judges, provides fascinating frontline insights into the complex British legal system. Waterhouse took silk in 1969 and became a High Court judge in 1978 in the Family Division, transferring to the Queen''s Bench in 1988 where he presided over well-known trials such as those of Ken Dodd and Derek Hatton. Libel, including reading libel for Private Eye with Richard Ingrams and Paul Foot, civil and personal injury work were a prominent part of his practice. After his retirement, he was appointed Chairman of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Child Abuse in North Wales Children''s Homes in 1996. It was during this time that he went onto lead the biggest inquiry into child abuse ever held in Britain, publishing the highly significant and influential report ''Lost in Care'' in 2000.From his early career as a barrister at Middle Temple, which saw his involvement in high-profile cases such as the notorious Moors Murders in the 1960s and Slater Walker in the 1970s, to his later work as a Judge, Waterhouse here presents a detailed and authoritative narrative of British jurisprudence in the second half of the 20th century. This unique insider''s view will fascinate general readers and prove essential reading for specialists.

The Battle of Pollilur on 10 September 1780, fought as part of the Second Anglo-Mysore War, was one of the worst defeats the British ever suffered on the Indian subcontinent. It was fought between a Brigade Column of the East India Company, led by Colonel William Baillie, and the Mysore Army, under the command of Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan. Heavily outnumbered and wounded in battle, Baillie was taken prisoner and eventually died isolated and in captivity in Seringapatam, in the state of Karnataka near Mysore, on 13 November 1782. News of Pollilur aroused widespread consternation in England that India was lost, yet the news of Baillie''s defeat and capture have been shrouded in mystery. Was Colonel Baillie really responsible for this military failure? What role did his contemporaries, such as General Sir Hector Munro of Novar who ws encamped a few miles away from the battle, play? In this engaging new biography, derived from fresh new research and archival material previously unseen, Alan Tritton presents the true story of William Baillie''s life and death in India with the Madras Army of the East India Company covering the period 1760-1782.Overturning the consensus view of the disaster at Pollilur, Tritton provides an original angle in reassessing Colonel Baillie''s blame for the defeat, and questions whether he should be remembered as a failure or, rather, a Scottish military hero. This book will prove essential reading for specialists and enthusiasts of British military and imperial history.

The Afghan-Pakistan Borderlands are pivotal to international security. They are often dangerous, strategically crucial and little explored by outsiders. Robin Brooke-Smith provides a new perspective on Northwest Pakistan in this first-hand account of his years in this troubled region. Tracing the build-up to 9/11 and the upheaval that has followed, this is a captivating behind-the-scenes look into the regional fulcrum of global jihad. Recounting his experiences as Principal of the prestigious Edwardes College in Peshawar, the author explores the creation and growing influence of the Taliban, and provides a unique and close-up view into this fascinating area. This book is illuminating reading for all those interested in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the turbulent recent history of the borderlands of the ''AfPak'' region.

In 1961 a group of men arrived in Cambridge to join the Overseas Services Course before going on to work in the Provincial Administration of the Northern Rhodesia Government. This book features contributions by fifteen of the original course members and three wives. They provide their account and experiences of the last years of colonial rule in Northern Rhodesia and the early years of the new nation of Zambia after it gained its independence in 1964. They shed light on the life of British overseas civil servants and their families during those years, and contain first-hand accounts of important historic events. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and decolonisation, these varied stories offer an insight into a world on the brink of change, offering perspectives on the final years of Northern Rhodesia and the path to independence in Zambia, seen through the eyes of a young group of colonial officials and their wives.

Leah Trachtman-Palchan was an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life. This was a life of migration, dissent, exile and survival. Born in the final years of Tsarist Russia, her family was forced to leave their small town following the repeated pogroms of the Civil War era. A two year voyage followed, bringing them all to British Mandate Palestine in 1921. Here what seems like a typical Jewish story of migration from Eastern Europe in the early twentieth century took an unexpected turn. As a teenager, Leah joined the Communist movement in Palestine - illegal under the British Mandate. She was arrested, imprisoned and eventually deported by the British to the Soviet Union. This memoir is filled with colourful, and sometimes harrowing, sketches of the people who passed through her life during the era of Stalin''s Great Purges and the evacuation of factories to Siberia during World War II. Shedding new light on both Mandate Palestine and the Jewish experience in Soviet Moscow, this book reveals the remarkable story of a woman living through some of the most pivotal events of twentieth-century history.

The history of European Jewry is a vast and complex subject. In this book, Edward Gelles traces Jewish history in Europe and the Near East including population movement, settlement, integration, advancement in aspects of European culture and learning, relations with European states and dynasties, Christians and Ottomans, persecution, the world wars, anti-Semitism, indeed the story of European Jewry from early times to the present. Edward Gelles and his family, both immediate and in their wider circle have huge and distinguished family connections that provide historical context. In combining biography, traditional genealogy and a contribution from the rapidly developing field of genetic genealogy this book weaves emerging patterns into the grand tapestry of European history.

The troubled borderland of Pakistan and Afghanistan the so-called AfPak region is one of the most dangerous areas of the world. Between 2006 and 2010 David L. Gosling lived in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where he was principal of Edwardes College, a prestigious higher education college, affiliated with the University of Peshawar. In this book, Gosling describes his time at Edwardes College and the challenges and changes of his tenure. Already the first co-educational college in the province, Gosling significantly increased the proportion of female students and staff. The book also describes the early stages of Taliban growth in Afghanistan, its spill-over into the tribal borderlands of Pakistan and how a combination of Pakistan army activity and US drone strikes provoked a furious backlash by Taliban groups against civilian targets in and around Peshawar, including death threats against the author. Providing a personal account of the education and politics of this frontier region, this book offers a unique viewpoint on a part of the world which is often misunderstood."

In 1949, newlyweds Tom and Angela Huleatt-James left war-torn Europe for a new life in Africa. Fleeing the grey skies of post-war Britain, they were attracted to the idea of farming in Southern Rhodesia and determined to work there for a better future. In this book, their son Mark tells the story of their adventures in Africa and his childhood and education in Southern Rhodesia. This was the time when European hegemony in the area was at its zenith. The difficult years of the Great Depression and World War II were over and an agricultural and commodities boom was under way. Mark Huleatt-James details his memories of being a young child in this period - from a love of wildlife to the social life enjoyed by Europeans at the time.

The troubled borderland of Pakistan and Afghanistan the so-called AfPak region is one of the most dangerous areas of the world. Between 2006 and 2010 David L. Gosling lived in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where he was principal of Edwardes College, a prestigious higher education college, affiliated with the University of Peshawar. In this book, Gosling describes his time at Edwardes College and the challenges and changes of his tenure. Already the first co-educational college in the province, Gosling significantly increased the proportion of female students and staff. The book also describes the early stages of Taliban growth in Afghanistan, its spill-over into the tribal borderlands of Pakistan and how a combination of Pakistan army activity and US drone strikes provoked a furious backlash by Taliban groups against civilian targets in and around Peshawar, including death threats against the author. Providing a personal account of the education and politics of this frontier region, this book offers a unique viewpoint on a part of the world which is often misunderstood."

The 20th century saw a period of enormous legal and social change in Britain. In these engaging memoirs Ronald Waterhouse, who sat as one of Britain''s leading High Court Judges, provides fascinating frontline insights into the complex British legal system. Waterhouse took silk in 1969 and became a High Court judge in 1978 in the Family Division, transferring to the Queen''s Bench in 1988 where he presided over well-known trials such as those of Ken Dodd and Derek Hatton. Libel, including reading libel for Private Eye with Richard Ingrams and Paul Foot, civil and personal injury work were a prominent part of his practice. After his retirement, he was appointed Chairman of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Child Abuse in North Wales Children''s Homes in 1996. It was during this time that he went onto lead the biggest inquiry into child abuse ever held in Britain, publishing the highly significant and influential report ''Lost in Care'' in 2000.From his early career as a barrister at Middle Temple, which saw his involvement in high-profile cases such as the notorious Moors Murders in the 1960s and Slater Walker in the 1970s, to his later work as a Judge, Waterhouse here presents a detailed and authoritative narrative of British jurisprudence in the second half of the 20th century. This unique insider''s view will fascinate general readers and prove essential reading for specialists.

The Afghan-Pakistan Borderlands are pivotal to international security. They are often dangerous, strategically crucial and little explored by outsiders. Robin Brooke-Smith provides a new perspective on Northwest Pakistan in this first-hand account of his years in this troubled region. Tracing the build-up to 9/11 and the upheaval that has followed, this is a captivating behind-the-scenes look into the regional fulcrum of global jihad. Recounting his experiences as Principal of the prestigious Edwardes College in Peshawar, the author explores the creation and growing influence of the Taliban, and provides a unique and close-up view into this fascinating area. This book is illuminating reading for all those interested in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the turbulent recent history of the borderlands of the ''AfPak'' region.

In this book, Hilary Sunman considers the day-to-day experience of her father, Owen, who served in the Colonial Agricultural Service from 1928-1950. Weaving together a human and family story, she combines her father''s work with her own experience as a development economist to discuss colonial policy. Focusing on themes such as All the the ''White Highlands'', race, colonial leadership, and the rise of the Mau Mau, she looks at the academic training in agricultural science offered as preparation for the colonial service as well as the attraction of Africa and the idealism felt by many young officers. Using her family as a case study, she examines the realities of life in Kenya for the wives and children of colonial officers, as well as for the officers themselves.

In 1961 a group of men arrived in Cambridge to join the Overseas Services Course before going on to work in the Provincial Administration of the Northern Rhodesia Government. This book features contributions by fifteen of the original course members and three wives. They provide their account and experiences of the last years of colonial rule in Northern Rhodesia and the early years of the new nation of Zambia after it gained its independence in 1964. They shed light on the life of British overseas civil servants and their families during those years, and contain first-hand accounts of important historic events. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and decolonisation, these varied stories offer an insight into a world on the brink of change, offering perspectives on the final years of Northern Rhodesia and the path to independence in Zambia, seen through the eyes of a young group of colonial officials and their wives.

Leah Trachtman-Palchan was an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life. This was a life of migration, dissent, exile and survival. Born in the final years of Tsarist Russia, her family was forced to leave their small town following the repeated pogroms of the Civil War era. A two year voyage followed, bringing them all to British Mandate Palestine in 1921. Here what seems like a typical Jewish story of migration from Eastern Europe in the early twentieth century took an unexpected turn. As a teenager, Leah joined the Communist movement in Palestine - illegal under the British Mandate. She was arrested, imprisoned and eventually deported by the British to the Soviet Union. This memoir is filled with colourful, and sometimes harrowing, sketches of the people who passed through her life during the era of Stalin''s Great Purges and the evacuation of factories to Siberia during World War II. Shedding new light on both Mandate Palestine and the Jewish experience in Soviet Moscow, this book reveals the remarkable story of a woman living through some of the most pivotal events of twentieth-century history.

Nicholas Barrington began his dramatic diplomatic career with a post in Afghanistan at a time the country was barely known to the world''s headline writers. The narrative of his 37 year career in the British Foreign Office is woven with compelling insights on the countries to which he was posted and which are focal points of international attention: Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt and Pakistan. Serving in Iran during the political storm of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, he had to navigate his way through the drama of a new political order, while his time in Cairo coincided with the assassination of President Sadat. In his rich and varied career, Barrington served as High Commissioner to Pakistan, a subject on which he writes authoritatively. Exploring the complex power relations between Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif and examining the multifaceted conflicts in Kashmir and Afghanistan, this book sheds an invaluable new light on the interaction between Islam, the West and British Foreign Policy in the 20th Century. With erudition and wit, these unique memoirs will prove essential reading for those seeking to understand the political tensions and international issues of the post-war world.

Nicholas Meets Barrington tells the story of a mid 20th century young life that blossoms into diplomacy at the tail end of imperial Britain. Coming from an ordinary family, Nicholas Barrington made his mark as a diplomat in a series of postings ending as High Commissioner in Pakistan. In these captivating memoirs, Barrington describes his childhood during World War II, his family background, his education at Repton School, his two years doing National Service in the army and his time at Cambridge where he earned a First in Law. Readers are introduced to a vast array of characters with whom a diplomat of Sir Nicholas''s standing would have crossed paths in his 37 years as a career diplomat. From the accounts of his travels in Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Egypt, Barrington presents his interest in building bridges between East and West, Islam and Christianity, which he pursued during both his diplomatic career and in his life after retirement. What emerges is an engaging account a colourful life with multi-faceted interests, including a love of art, antiquities, poetry and amateur dramatics. The author explores the stresses of balancing a rich range of experiences with the demands of life in the foreign service with amusing stories which humanise the experiences of diplomacy and international politics. As befits a diplomat who was something of a dilettante, the story is told with frankness and wit and will provide unique and enjoyable insights into a fascinating life.

The history of European Jewry is a vast and complex subject. In this book, Edward Gelles traces Jewish history in Europe and the Near East including population movement, settlement, integration, advancement in aspects of European culture and learning, relations with European states and dynasties, Christians and Ottomans, persecution, the world wars, anti-Semitism, indeed the story of European Jewry from early times to the present. Edward Gelles and his family, both immediate and in their wider circle have huge and distinguished family connections that provide historical context. In combining biography, traditional genealogy and a contribution from the rapidly developing field of genetic genealogy this book weaves emerging patterns into the grand tapestry of European history.

In 1974, McIntyre temporarily left behind his academic career as a developmental economist at the University of the West Indies to take up appointment as Secretary-General of CARICOM (the Caribbean Community and Common Market). He subsequently held positions as the Director of the Commodities Division of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) and then Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD in both Geneva and New York. In 1988 McIntyre returned to the Caribbean as Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and, on his retirement in 1998, he assumed the post of Chief Technical Advisor at the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery. This book outlines McIntyre''s extraordinary life and wide-ranging international career in diplomacy, politics and academia. It provides key perspectives on the development of Caribbean regional government and international institutions in the twentieth century.