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Welcome
to the Pen and Sword page, on which you'll find a wide array of books
on various social and historical subjects. Pen and Sword are the
world's foremost historical and military publishers, and I hope to
always have a large selection of their latest brilliant titles in
Books Monthly.
Chris Scullion: The NES Encyclopedia
Published
by Pen and Sword 2nd October 2019
The
NES is one of the most iconic video game systems of all time, and is
often credited with saving the American video games industry in the
early 80s when it looked likely to collapse. The NES Encyclopedia is a
complete reference guide to every game released on the Nintendo
Entertainment System, Nintendo's first industry-defining video game
system. As well as covering all 714 officially licensed NES games, the
book also includes more than 160 unlicensed games released during the
system's lifespan, giving for the first time a definitive history of
this important console's full library. The NES continues to enjoy a
strong cult following among Nintendo fans and gamers in general, with
games like Super Mario Bros, The Legend Of Zelda and Metroid remaining
well-loved to this day: both for older fans who remember them the first
time around, and younger gamers discovering the system for the first
time through Nintendo's regular re-releases of its older games.
Nintendo's most recent console, the Switch, is the fastest selling
video game console of all time in the United States and Japan. With
Nintendo recently launching an ever-growing library of classic NES
games for download on the Switch, a new audience of gamers is
discovering the NES for the first time.
Excellent
history of the NES and its influence on subsequent games players such
as X-Box and the like. Such a short time ago we were playing these
games, and now - well, things move at such a rapid pace in the digital
age.
Ian Baxter: Nazi Concentration Camp Overseers
Published
by Pen and Sword 8th April 2021
 The
Nazis' vast concentration camp network and, later, the 'Final Solution'
programme made heavy demands on the SS whose responsibility it was. The
use of 'overseers' minimised costs and enabled the camps to run with
fewer SS personnel. As this well researched book describes, there were
three principal groups of 'helpers': Sonderkommandos, Kapos and
Trawniki. The Sonderkommandos' duties included unloading Jews from
trains, collecting their possessions and allocating work details. Under
SS supervision, they also ran the gas chambers and crematoria. The
Kapos oversaw the Sonderkommandos. Many were originally prisoner
functionaries recruited from violent criminal gangs and had a
well-deserved reputation for brutality. The third group, known as
Trawniki or Trawnikimanner, were Central and Eastern European
collaborators recruited from Russian POW camps. While some served in a
military capacity, others played an instrumental role in the Holocaust
programme, rounding up and transporting Jews from the ghettos to the
concentration camps. The graphic images and text of this Images of War
series work demonstrate that the 'overseer' system was extensive and
effective as its members competed without scruple to maintain the
favour of their SS masters while pitting victim against victim.
This
is a difficult read, about the men who condemned millions to death
during WW2. Luckily we have long memories and will never forget what
these inhumane monsters did during the war...
Volker Koop: The Commandant of Auschwitz - Rudolf Hoss
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th April 2021
 Described
as one of the greatest mass-murderers in history, Rudolf Höss, was born
in Baden-Baden, on the edge of Germany’s Black Forest region, on 11
December 1901. As a child, his aim was to join the priesthood, but in
his early youth he became disillusioned with religion and turned
instead to the Army.
Höss
joined the 21st Regiment of Dragoons, his father’s and grandfather’s
old regiment, at the age of just 14. He served with the Ottoman Army in
its fight against the British, serving in Palestine and being present
at the Siege of Kut-el-Amara. During this period, he was promoted to
the rank of Feldwebel, becoming, at that time, the youngest
non-commissioned officer in the German Army. He was also decorated,
receiving among other awards the Iron Cross, First and Second class.
In
the midst of the political upheavals in post-war Germany, Höss was
drawn to the hard-line philosophies of Adolph Hitler, joining the Nazi
Party in 1922. His ruthless commitment to the Nazi cause saw him
convicted of participating in at least one political assassination, for
which he spent six years in prison.
Predictably,
Höss joined the SS and in 1934 became a Blockführer, or Block Leader,
at Dachau concentration camp. His ruthless dedication led to him
becoming the adjutant to the camp commandant at another concentration
camp, Sachsenhausen. Then, in May 1940, Höss was given command of his
own camp near the town of Auschwitz.
In
June 1941, Höss was told that Auschwitz had been selected as the site
for the Final Solution of the Jewish question. Höss set about his task
with relish, and a determination to kill as many Jews as quickly and
efficiently as possible. By his own estimation, he was responsible for
the deaths of at least 3,000,000 individuals.
Justice
caught up with Höss after the German surrender when he was arrested on
11 March 1946, after a year posing as a gardener under a false name. He
was found guilty of war crimes and was hanged on 16 April 1947.
Another
similar book to the one above - painful as they are to read, I think
it's important that our military historians write about them so that we
can honestly say "we will never forget".
Anthony Tucker-Jones: Tank Battles of the Cold War 1948-1991
Published
by Pen and Sword 12th April 2021
As
Anthony Tucker-Jones shows in this highly illustrated, wide-ranging
history, for most of the Cold War the tank retained its pre-eminence on
the battlefield. The Arab-Israeli wars witnessed some of the biggest
tank battles of all time, and tanks played key roles in conflicts in
Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan as well as in the Iran-Iraq War and the
wars fought between India and Pakistan. But then in the mid-1960s
anti-tank weapons became ever deadlier and the Mechanised Infantry
Fighting Vehicle (MIFV), which was designed to support infantry and
fight tanks, emerged and the heyday of the tank was over. Chapters
cover each major phase in the evolution of the tank and of tank warfare
during the period, from the battles fought in the late 1940s and 1950s
with Second World War armoured vehicles like the T-34 and the Sherman,
through to the designs common in the 1960s and 1970s like the T-55,
Centurion, Challenger and M60 Patton, to the confrontation between the
M1 Abrams and the T-72 during the Gulf War in 1991. Technical and
design developments are important elements throughout the story, but so
are dramatic changes in tactics and armaments which mean the tank has
an increasingly uncertain role in modern warfare.
When
one thinks about tank battles, one automatically thinks of the Second
World War. In this excellent book, Anthony Tucker-Jones reminds us
that, in reality, there never was a cold war, but simply a period after
WW2 when things slowed down a bit whilst there were still armed
conflicts going on in the Middle East and elsewhere. Brilliantly
illustrated.
Ben Warlow & Steve Bush: Pendant Numbers of the Royal Navy
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th May 2021
Pendant
(or pennant) numbers have been used by individual ships of the Royal
Navy for purposes of identification for more than 100 years. They were
also used in all the navies of the British Empire so that ships could
be easily transferred from one navy to another without changing their
number. They offer the simplest and clearest way to identify a ship,
but until now there has been little in the way of consistent and
accurate information, and certainly no single location where you can
look up or research complete pendant numbers. The book is designed as
an easy-to-use reference work and as such is, in the main, composed
of alpha-numeric listings to enable the user to find and identify
warships by reference to ship name and to identify specific pendant
numbers assigned to that name; or by pendant number to identify
specific vessels assigned that number at various times. It begins with
an introduction and a brief history of visual signalling used by the
Royal Navy before industrialisation, and explains how the large numbers
of identical ships being built brought about the need to identify
specific ships within fleets to aid signalling and tactical deployment.
There follow chapters covering the pendant numbers of the surface fleet
and submarines (which stopped using them once boats began to spend so
little time on the surface), and then pedant numbers by ship name. A
significant chapter lists the pendant numbers assigned to the British
Pacific Fleet during the Pacific campaign of WWII together with an
explanation of why numbers were assigned, and an examination of missing
‘A27 series pendants known to have been carried by some vessels
during the conflict. The BPF numbers have only recently come to light
and there is still much that is not known but this section provides the
most comprehensive study of available data at this time. There is also
an appendix covering deck letters assigned to aviation capable ships.
This is a genuinely new and significant reference book and is destined
to become a major new aid for Royal Navy warship and auxiliary
identification.
Authors
Ben and Steve have compiled a significant list of Royal Navy pendant
numbers which will be invaluable to maritime historians and the like.
Painstaking work.
Les Brown: British Sloops and Frigates of the Second World War
Published
by Pen and Sword 26th May 2021
The
'ShipCraft' series provides in-depth information about building and
modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated,
each book takes the modeller through a brief history of the subject,
highlighting differences between ships and changes in their appearance
over their careers. This includes paint schemes and camouflage,
featuring colour profiles and highly detailed line drawings and scale
plans. The modelling section reviews the strengths and weaknesses of
available kits, lists commercial accessory sets for super-detailing of
the subjects, and provides hints on modifying and improving the basic
kit. This is followed by an extensive photographic gallery of selected
high-quality models in a variety of scales, and the book concludes with
a section on research references - books, monographs, large-scale plans
and relevant websites. This volume covers the majority of British
wartime escort classes, from the inter-war ASW and minesweeping sloops
that culminated in the superb Black Swan class, to the wartime designs
that were originally known as 'twin-screw corvettes' but were
eventually classed as frigates - the 'River' class, and their
derivatives of the 'Loch/Bay' classes that were modified for
prefabricated construction. Also included are the American-built
destroyer escorts which became RN 'Captains' class frigates and the
earlier ex-US Coast Guard cutters that were listed as sloops. With its
unparalleled level of visual information - paint schemes, models, line
drawings and photographs - this book is simply the best reference for
any modelmaker setting out to build any of these numerous escort types.
Essentially
aimed at model makers, Len's history of sloops and frigates that were
used in WW2, together with their designs and markings is also part of
our military heritage. A beautiful piece of work.
Douglas Hardy: Wargames Terrain and Buildings - WW1 Trench Systems
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th May 2021
Although
it was a global conflict, for many WW1 is synonymous with the war in
the trenches of the Western Front. For anyone wargaming these
battles a good trench system is a must. Douglas Hardy is a very
experienced wargamer and terrain modeller and a member of the Western
Front Association who has walked the battlefields many times. From the
initial choice between stand-alone pieces on a mat or a fixed, bespoke
layout, through to final detailing, he shares his experience, giving
practical advice on building your own trench system. He considers
the differences between British, German and French trenches, which
differed in design and construction, as well as developments in
defences through the phases of the war. A trench system is not
just the trench itself of course, but also the dugouts, barbed wire
entanglements, sandbags, gun emplacements and pillboxes. Shell holes
and shattered forests are also covered. Each element is explained in
step-by-step detail, illustrated with numerous colour photos and there
are also reference photos of real trenches.
The
trench system was such an overwhelmingly integral part of WW1 warfare,
that to have it described and examined in such minute detail is
something quite special.
Emilie Woodger-Smith: Simply Sustainable Beauty
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th June 2021
Sustainable
Beauty is a collection of easy to follow recipes for you to create your
fresh, head to toe zero waste beauty routine. Learn how to make
everything from exfoliating scrubs to body butter, face wash bars to
dry shampoo, Emilie's amazing natural deodorant recipe and everything
in between. This book is full of simple recipes using sustainable,
environmentally friendly ingredients to give you naturally beautiful
skin.
It
is a sad fact that the vast majority of beauty products are
scandalously overpriced. Emilie's book offers a practical and
affordable alternative which young ladies and older ladies alike might
wish to investigate.
Becki Clark: Paint Make Create
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th June 2021
Paint,
Make Create showcases seasonal, multi-craft projects all woven
together by painting. Designed for all abilities, the 20 engaging
activities will guide you through the seasons and include working with
clay, printing, collaging, sewing and embroidery with a fun and modern
painterly twist. Including a comprehensive guide to getting started
with painting, Paint, Make Create will help you develop an
understanding of types of paints, surfaces, colour palettes and mixing
your own colours whilst also arming you with the tools and confidence
to create your own original pieces. Drawing on author Becki's vast
experience in the creative world, alongside each project's step by step
guide are helpful hints and tips, perfect for beginners wanting to
experiment with paints. Your creativity will flourish with each
contemporary craft project, from creating painterly table settings for
Summer gatherings right through to painting Christmas gifts and
decorations.
Superb
I can't help thinking that this superb craft book could have been
published eighteen months ago at the outset of the pandemic...
Gabriele Esposito: Napoleon's Imperial Guard
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th June 2021
A
detailed analysis of the organization, uniforms and weapons of the
French Imperial Guard created by Napoleon I. The author describes how
this large military body evolved from the Consular Guard created by
Bonaparte as early as 1799 and how this came to include dozens of
different military units belonging to each branch of service (infantry,
cavalry, artillery, specialist corps). The Imperial Guard was a
'miniature army' made up of veteran soldiers, who were dressed with the
most spectacular and elegant uniforms ever seen on the battlefields of
Europe. The Guard also included several 'exotic' non-French units that
are also covered in the text: Egyptian Mamelukes, Polish and Lithuanian
lancers, Tatar scouts, Dutch grenadiers and lancers. The way in which
Napoleon employed the Guard in battle is discussed and also how it
differed from the rest of the French Army in terms of military dress
and weaponry.
Everything you could possible wish to know about Napoleon's elite Imperial Guard.
Gareth Glover: Nelson's Navy in 100 Objects
Published
by Pen and Sword 8th June 2021
The
Royal Navy of Nelson's time was such a huge organisation, that it is
sometimes hard to comprehend its full scope. Indeed, during the
Napoleonic Wars it was by far the largest employer in the entire world.
Not only did the Royal Navy maintain a fleet of close on 1,000 ships,
including over 100 line of battle ships, but it was also responsible
for the entire organisation of maintaining them at sea. From the
recruitment of crews, the maintenance and protection of bases
throughout the world, the production and delivery of food supplies to
feed this vast fleet and the procurement of naval supplies to keep the
ships at sea, it was all the responsibility of this vast organisation.
The Royal Navy was often Britain's last line of defence and many of its
most successful officers became superstars, although none eclipsed
Admiral Lord Nelson, who became the personification of the Navy. The
whole country revelled in their successes and ‘Jolly Jack Tar' became a
source of national pride and a huge number of naval terms were taken
into normal life and many are often still used to this very day.
Nelson's Navy in 100 Objects investigates all aspects of this
incredible organisation and the lives of the men who served within it,
including Nelson himself, using historical artefacts and naval terms
that are now part of everyday language to illustrate them.
This
is the latest in Pen and Sword's "100 objects" series, this time focusing on Admira Lord Nelson. Excellent.
Sarah Durber: Make Your Own Indoor Garden
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th June 2021
This
book aims to cover the most commonly asked questions by new plant
owners and will help people who want to have more greenery in their
lives but don’t know where to start. It will advise on the best plant
for a variety of home conditions so that everyone should be able to
find plants that suit their space. Having and maintaining an indoor
garden can be possible for anyone, the book will give you step by step
guides to creating and designing your own terrariums, cacti &
succulent gardens and even kokedamas (Japanese for Moss Ball). It will
include descriptions of the equipment needed, and how to find this
inexpensively so that the hobby is accessible to everyone. Readers of
the book will discover a newfound joy of plants and nature as well as
learn a brand-new skill. The book will go into detail about what may be
causing damage to a plant, and how to look after plants so that they
last. It will also focus on how plants can improve physical and mental
health, to encourage readers to fill their homes with greenery for
practical and aesthetic reasons. The innate human need to be around
nature is called Biophilia, and this book will tap into that need
without over complicating things. The focus will be on low maintenance,
good-looking greenery.
With
gardening in the ascendancy because of the pandemic, this is a
practical and priceless look at how to install plants and flowers
within the home - primarily for people living in flats or simply
without access to gardening space. A superb book.
Phil Carradice: A Hundred Years of Spying
Published
by Pen and Sword 30th June 2021
Early
espionage organisations like Walsingham’s Elizabethan spy network were
private enterprises, tasked with keeping the Tudor Queen and her
government safe. Formal use of spies and counter spies only really
began in the years after 1909, when the official British secret service
was founded. Britain became the first major proponent of secret
information gathering and other nations quickly followed.
The
outbreak of war in 1914 saw a sudden and dramatic increase in the use
of spies as the military quickly began to realise the value of covert
intelligence. Spying ‘came of age’ during the war on the Western Front
and that value only increased in the run up to the Second World War,
when the threat of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany began to make
themselves felt.
The
Cold War years, with the use of moles, defectors and double agents on
both sides of the Iron Curtain saw the art of spying assume record
proportions. The passing on of atom secrets, the truth about Russian
missiles on Cuba, it was the age of the double agent, the activities of
whom managed to keep away the looming threat of nuclear war.
A Hundred Years of Spying takes
the reader through the murky world of espionage as it develops over the
course of the twentieth century, where the lines of truth and reality
blur, and where many real-life spies have always been accompanied,
maybe even proceeded, by a plethora of spy literature.
This
book will look at the use of and development of spying as an accepted
military practice. It will focus on individuals from Belgians like
Gabrielle Petite to the infamous Mata Hari, from people like Reilly Ace
of Spies to the British traitors such as Philby, Burgess and McClean.
The activities of American atom spies like the Rosenbergs will also be
covered as will Russian double agent Oleg Penkovsky and many others.
Fans
of the TV series Spooks will be captivated by Phil Carradice's look at
the history of spying during the last 100 years. Absolutely enthralling.
The
small print: Books
Monthly, now well into its 24th
year on the web,
is published on or slightly before the first day of each month by Paul
Norman. You can contact me here.
If you wish to submit something for publication in the magazine, let me
remind you there is no payment as I don't make any money from this
publication. If you want to send me something to review, contact me via
email at paulenorman1@gmail.com and I'll let you know where to send it.
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