Bøger af Jem Duducu

A history of 600 years - an epic story of a dynasty that started as a small group of cavalry mercenaries to become the absolute rulers of the greatest and longest lasting Islamic empire in history.

Over 1000 years, five groups of Asiatic horsemen conquered the world. In his own attractive style - 'as accessible as it is informative' ('Deus Vult') - Jem Duducu gallops across 1000 years of conquest on horseback.

"The Busy Person's Guide to British History" is the perfect light history read. In less than 350 pages you are whisked from the distant stone age all the way up to 1945. It is serious but tinted with a sense of humour with each chapter opening with a great illustration. It also dwells on the eras that don't get a lot of love. Everyone knows who Henry VIII is but how much do you know about King Stephen? This is a chance to highlight the importance of Henry I or Henry III and point out the Vikings had a longer and greater impact on the country than the Restoration. This book fills in the gaps, enhancing your understanding rather than just going for the easy targets of the Romans, the Tudors and the Victorians.

The year is 1291, the place is the Middle East. Acre, the last Christian city held by the West is awash with trade and political intrigue. Powerful interests beyond the horizon greedily eye this prize as it simmers in the tensions of opposing interests. Meanwhile, just outside Acre's walls, a seemingly unstoppable empire slowly encircles the city, hoping to topple the Christian stronghold once and for all. In the midst of this maelstrom of power and religious fervour stands a lone woman. Maria d'Acre is a trader by nature and a voice of reason at heart, a woman married to the work that fills a hole left by the unobtainable love of her life. As she tries to reign in the excesses of the powerful men around her, she faces opposition and danger at every turn. Will common sense prevail or will the worst excesses spill out onto the streets of this mighty citadel? And as people of all faiths pray for deliverance, why is there no answer from the Almighty? As well as telling Maria's personal story, And God Watched brings to life the complex history behind the fall of Acre. The cosmopolitan atmosphere of this great medieval city sets the stage for the bloody clashes where both attackers and defenders believe that God is on their side.

Silent Crossroads explores the terrible events of the first half of the twentieth century through the lens of one family, shattered by war but united in love. This is the story of the only man to have fought on both sides in both world wars. Harry Woods is a seventeen-year-old Tommy thrown into the maelstrom of WW I. As the reader follows him over the course of the next three decades, he makes the journey from immature youth to battle-hardened soldier. His decisions about home, wife and work are made at the silent crossroads that determine the course of his astonishing life. While Harry fights across the world, his wife and daughter face mortal danger on the home front as real as anything Harry confronts on the battlefield. They, too, have decisions to make. This is a novel for readers who like an unflinching war story as well as compelling romance. The story is strewn throughout with agonizing ethical dilemmas and raises questions which will prompt the reader to consider the devastating moral implications of choices, both personal and national. Who has first claim to our loyalties? What happens when good men make bad choices? At what point is anyone culpable for the actions of their country?

Edge of Life is the story of two nurses separated by a century but linked by a raging pandemic. Dorothy in the age of Spanish flu and Ash in the era of Covid. The story shows you how these New York nurses dealt with the biggest health crisis of their lives. It also reveals the huge social changes happening at the same time. The story is about every day people with everyday lives trying to survive through extraordinary times. It reveals how events from a century ago are still resonant and echo in the modern world.

A fun but informative look at Hollywood¿s more-than-a century long love affair with historical figures, events, and places. This book delves into what really happened in history, as opposed to the Hollywood interpretation of events, and reveals why the movies don¿t usually reflect the reality of our known history.

A collection of weird and wonderful snippets of world history from prehistory right up to the present day.

Weird and wonderful tales from the history you never knew happened

Discover the history behind the facts. The British Empire had a rich, varied and controversial history, commonly perceived to have spanned 500 years from the era of Columbus and his voyages of discovery to the aftermath of the Second World War. Many statements are made about this era that shaped our nation, but what are the stories behind these facts? Which are true and which are merely beliefs that have grown into fact? Jem Duducu takes us on a whirlwind tour of the Empire and its history, condensing the gigantic story into easy-to-read, bitesize sections. He examines some of the most important aspects of the Empire, from exploration and discovery in the era of Elizabeth I, to the Slave Trade, to the eventual decline after the Second World War.

'Deus Vult' - or 'God wills it' - were the words allegedly uttered by the crowd of people present when Pope Urban II's rousing speech caused the start of the First Crusade. Prior to 9/11 the Crusades had been seen as a somewhat obscure backwater of history; if they were mentioned it was usually as a background to Robin Hood stories. However, post the terror attacks against New York and later Madrid and London, the Crusades have increasingly been referred to in the media, usually by politicians and, more rarely, by medieval historians. To extremists of both sides they are shown to be proof positive of an inevitable clash of civilisations between Islam and Christianity. The real story of the Crusades, however, is also the story of Europe. It is the story of great bravery, sheer folly and, surprisingly, diplomacy between East and West. The conflict takes place in the giant and ancient cities of the Near East, the mist-filled forests of the Baltic, the baking deserts of North Africa and the Christian epicentre of Europe - France. The story charts the origins of holy war to the fading away of one of the most prevalent movements in European history. Deus Vult takes you on an exotic journey where politics and dynastic squabbles often take precedence over the will of God.