Bøger af Desmond Seward

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.

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.

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 brilliant new interpretation of one of the most dramatic periods of British history.The Wars of the Roses didn't end at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Despite the death of Richard III and Henry VII's victory, it continued underground into the following century with plots, pretenders and subterfuge by the ousted white rose faction. In a brand new interpretation of this turning point in history, well known historian Desmond Seward reviews the story of the Tudors' seizure of the throne and shows that for many years they were far from secure. He challenges the way we look at the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, explaining why there were so many Yorkist pretenders and conspiracies, and why the new dynasty had such difficulty establishing itself.King Richard's nephews, the Earl of Warwick and the little known de la Pole brothers, all had the support of dangerous enemies overseas, while England was split when the lowly Perkin Warbeck skilfully impersonated one of the princes in the tower in order to claim the right to the throne. Warwick's surviving sister Margaret also became the desperate focus of hopes that the White Rose would be reborn. The book also offers a new perspective on why Henry VIII, constantly threatened by treachery, real or imagined, and desperate to secure his power with a male heir, became a tyrant.Praise for Desmond Seward's A Brief History of the War of the Roses:'It is hard to imagine a historian more in command of his subject... The result is history as compelling as any novel' Independent 'This is a splendidly and vividly written book.' Evening StandardA Brief History of the Hundred Years Wars:'A well-written narrative, beautifully illustrated, and which takes into account most recent scholarship. It is also a good read.' Richard Cobb, New Statesman

During the fifteenth century England was split in a bloody conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster over who should claim the crown. The civil wars consumed the whole nation in a series of battles that eventually saw the Tudor dynasty take power. In A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses, Desmond Seward tells the story of this complex and dangerous period of history through the lives of five men and women who experienced the conflict first hand. In a gripping narrative the personal trials of the principal characters interweave with the major events and personalities of one of the most significant turning points in British history.

The Plantagenets reigned over England longer than any other family - from Henry II, to Richard III. Four kings were murdered, two came close to deposition and another was killed in a battle by rebels. Shakespeare wrote plays about six of them, further entrenching them in the National Myth.Based on major contemporary sources and recent research, acclaimed historian Desmond Seward provides the first readable overview of the whole extraordinary dynasty, in one volume.

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.