Bøker av Desmond Seward

Puglia is the heel stretching down from the spur of the Italian boot. It boasts beautiful landscapes, Romanesque cathedrals, Gothic castles and a wealth of Baroque architecture. This introduction to Apulian history is the first comprehensive historical survey of the region in English and provides an enlightening, readable overview of the region.

For over a hundred years England repeatedly invaded France on the pretext that her kings had a right to the French throne. France was a large, unwieldy kingdom, England was small and poor, but for the most part she dominated the war, sacking towns and castles and winning battles - including such glorious victories as Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt, but then the English run of success began to fail, and in four short years she lost Normandy and finally her last stronghold in Guyenne. The protagonists of the Hundred Year War are among the most colourful in European history: for the English, Edward III, the Black Prince and Henry V, later immortalized by Shakespeare; for the French, the splendid but inept John II, who died a prisoner in London, Charles V, who very nearly overcame England and the enigmatic Charles VII, who did at last drive the English out.

This study of a singular English county takes the reader from 'pagan' Sussex to 'Bloomsbury' Sussex and beyond. Although sometimes critical of the encroachment of the modern world, Desmond Seward takes us behind suburbia and motorways and explores the old, secret Sussex, still there for those who want to find it, still beautiful and still mysterious. Seward brilliantly conveys his affection for the county - for its ghosts, legends and smugglers, for its castles and great country houses and, above all, for the fern-covered slopes of the Weald, the colours and shapes of the 'soothing, healing' Downs. Praise for Sussex: Desmond Seward's book is a well-known study of the county ... an enjoyable and thoughtful read' - Goodreads review Desmond Seward was educated at Ampleforth and Cambridge, and is the author of over twenty books of history, biography and travel. He has lived in Sussex for thirty years and takes a keen interest in its history, architecture and wildlife.

'Licentious or bigoted, noble or ignoble, ' wrote Nancy Mitford, 'there has seldom been a dull Bourbon.' The story of the Bourbon kings encompasses the two most glorious and turbulent centuries in French history, yet surprisingly, this is still the only narrative account of the dynasty for the general reader. They emerge from a shadowy line of medieval princes in 1589 to rule France for over 200 years, dominating Europe, launching an endless series of wars, creators of the dazzling splendour of Versailles, survivors from the French Revolution. The Bourbons begin with the dashing figure of Henri IV, with his courage, gaiety and 64 mistresses. They include figures such as the Sun King Louis XIV and Louis XVI who ended under the guillotine, and close with the little-known 'Henri V' - expected to return and rule France in 1873 but whose refusal to abandon the Lily banner of the Bourbons for the Tricolore finally lost him the throne. The Bourbon Kings of France is an accessible yet thorough history, written for the general reader and of particular interest to anyone who enjoys history or wishes to learn more about the Bourbons. Praise for The Bourbon Kings of France: 'A blending of wide historical knowledge and vigorous independent judgement to make a lively, exciting but dependable account for the general reader' - Sunday Times 'Enormously entertaining ... an excellent read ... a cross between a package tour of the Bourbon dynasty and a Guide Michelin to the favourites, mistresses and ministers of the French monarchy' - Spectator Paris-born Desmond Seward is a British popular historian who has written many books but is perhaps best known for The Hundred Years War, The Monks of War, The Wars of the Roses and Richard III. He lives in England's West Country.

The first full, modern history of the Jacobite cause in its entirety as it played out in Scotland, England, Ireland, Europe and even America

A story of the heel of Italy - Puglia - as told by travellers. It has beautiful landscapes, cave towns and frescoed grotto churches, wonderful old cities with Romanesque cathedrals, Gothic castles and a wealth of Baroque architecture.