Genres: History
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

From servants to monarchs in one generation. You know the names, but do you know the reality? The Tudors weren't supposed to be kings. They began as a whisper – a secret affair between a widowed Queen and her Welsh servant. But through luck, bloodshed and sheer ruthlessness, their son seized the throne of England and refused to let go. Jude’s Slice: The Tudors takes you on a no-nonsense ride through the 118 years that defined Britain. This is the complete story with all the scandal, but none of the waffle. From the origins in Wales, we go to the muddy battlefield where Henry VII claimed the crown and to the terrifying court of Henry VIII,who burned through friends and wives in a desperate quest for an heir. We look at the brutal religious whiplash of Edward VI and "Bloody Mary", the tragic manipulation of Lady Jane Grey,and unravel the...

Genres: General Nonfiction, History
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

Standing proudly in North Yorkshire, the city of York is a living testament to nearly ten millennia of British history: Anglo-Saxon camp, Roman fortress, Viking town, medieval city, model of Victorian industry, centre of chocolate and railways, tourist destination… York has been at the centre of some of Britain's most pivotal moments. But why? Why did just about everyone who invaded Britain throughout history want to occupy this surprisingly small city? And why is it small? And how did it become the centre of chocolate in the UK? To answer those questions, we’ll go on a journey through the history of York over the last few thousand years, exploring the major milestones that have shaped the city: Roman York: Eburacon to Eboracum Anglo-Saxon York: Eoforwic Viking York: Jorvik Medieval York Tudor and Stuart York Georgian and Victorian York Modern York It's a fascinating story with a few surprising twists along...

Genres: General Nonfiction, History
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback

This Slice is the biography of tennis in about 80 pages! We'll start with the monks amusing themselves in the monasteries by playing jeu de paume, and we'll trace the history and development of the game right up to the present day. Along the way, we'll find out why it's called tennis, and why we use that weird scoring system. We'll learn about the major tournaments of the modern Open Era: the Grand Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open – and the ATP and WTA Finals. We'll see how these tournaments work and how a young up-and-coming player might rise through the ranks to one day step out onto court at one of the biggest sporting events on the planet. We'll even go behind the scenes at Wimbledon, to find out how this most prestigious event is staged with such precision and class every year. And,...

Genres: General Nonfiction, History
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

In this biography of the world's tallest mountain, we’ll learn about the birth of Everest in an ancient seabed and why it's still rising! We'll find out exactly why high altitude is a problem and what it really does to the body. We’ll meet the mountaineering pioneers who raced to be the first to the summit, from heroes like Mallory and Irvine of the 1922 expedition, through to Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing who reached the summit in 1953. We'll look at some notable climbs and world records, as well as some of the darker stories from these adventures. We’ll also meet the Sherpas, the local mountain people who continue to risk their lives many times on each expedition, and we’ll consider what makes them do it. And, of course, we’ll discuss the environmental and economic impact all these expeditions have on the mountain and on Nepal. We’ll even find...

Genres: General Nonfiction, History, Nature/Science
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated and the first ‘man-made’ species. Today, there are hundreds of recognised dog breeds, each with its own unique set of physical and behavioural characteristics… but they all retain certain instincts and behaviours that can be traced back to their origins as wolves. But where did it all start? I’m pretty sure I can’t grab a wolf, give it a snack and expect it to curl up in my living room. So how and why did this happen, and when? Why are dogs such an important and even fundamental part of human lives? And why not bears or foxes? How did we end up with so many different breeds? And how different are they really? In this Slice, we’ll answer all those questions by looking at wolf and dog evolution and some of the early dog breeds and their purposes. We’ll also find...

Genres: General Nonfiction, History
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

In this Slice, we'll find out what Columbus really discovered... and why the USA isn't called the United States of Columbia. We'll learn about the Pilgrims and the Puritans, and how their conflicting visions have influenced modern America... We'll see how the loyal British colonies were mistreated for generations by the British Parliament back home until, finally, they had no choice but to rise up and fight back. This is the history of colonial arrogance that puts a few myths to rest and uncovers the real facts behind one of the biggest events in history... right up to the mythical 'shot that was heard around the world' and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This is the real story of America, from Columbus to Washington, discovery to independence.