Masterly.' - CHARLES VYVYAN, STANDPOINT'Fascinating stuff.' - SPECTATOR'Possibly the finest, most comprehensive analysis of the home front in the Great War ever produced.' - LITERARY REVIEW'Every bit as good as its two predecessors.
That it should have changed so radically was very largely the work of an astonishingly dynamic and high-minded group of people - politicians and philanthropists, writers and thinkers - who in a matter of decades fundamentally remade the country, its institutions and its mindset, and laid the foundations for modern society.
Exploring Britain during its imperial peak, the narrative uncovers the underlying tensions and fierce rivalries that characterized the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Through richly detailed historical accounts, it reveals the complexities of a nation that appeared opulent on the surface while grappling with significant social and political conflicts.
A stirring anthology of speeches from every period of British history.
"Be in no doubt: the beer was drunk but the man drank the beer." "We must avoid vulgarities like 'front up'. If someone is 'fronting up' a television show, then he is presenting it." Simon Heffer's incisive and amusingly despairing emails to colleagues at the The Daily Telegraph about grammatical mistakes and stylistic slips have attracted a growing band of ardent fans over recent years. Now, in his new book Strictly English, he makes an impassioned case for an end to the sloppiness that has become such a hallmark of everyday speech and writing, and shows how accuracy and clarity are within the grasp of anyone who is prepared to take the time to master a few simple rules. If you wince when you see "different than" in print, or are offended by people who think that "infer" and "imply" mean the same thing, then this book will provide reassurance that you are not alone. And if you believe that precise and elegant English really does matter, then it will prove required reading.
The book critiques the evolution of the English language, particularly highlighting the negative impact of social media and the internet on linguistic standards. It addresses common confusions and unidiomatic expressions, as well as the rise of neologisms and lazy language habits. The author expresses dismay over the deterioration of grammatical accuracy and clarity, advocating for a return to precise and elegant communication. With a blend of humor and sharp observation, it serves as both a warning and a call to uphold the integrity of the English language.
In his best-selling Strictly English , Simon Heffer explained how to write and speak our language well. In Simply English he offers an entertaining and supremely useful A–Z guide to frequent errors, common misunderstandings, and stylistic howlers. What is the difference between amend and emend, between imply and infer, and between uninterested and disinterested? When should one put owing to rather than due to? Why should the temptation to write actually, basically, or at this moment in time always be strenuously resisted? How does one use an apostrophe correctly, ensure that one understands what alibi really means, and avoid the perils of the double negative? With articles on everything from punctuation to tabloid English to adverbs and adjectives, Simply English is the essential companion for anyone who cares about the language and wants to use it correctly.
This book offers practical advice and guidance for teaching primary grammar, linked to the National Curriculum.
'An epic new history . . . a work of epic scholarship, breathtaking range, and piercing originality' Daily Express 'An astonishing achievement of narrative history . . . I think the word is \"magisterial\".' Spectator 'Excellent, thorough, detailed and combatively argued.' Sunday Times ______________________________________ Sing As We Go is an astonishingly ambitious overview of the political, social and cultural history of the country from 1919 to 1939. It explores and explains the politics of the period, and puts such moments of national turmoil as the General Strike of 1926 and the Abdication Crisis of 1936 under the microscope. It offers pen portraits of the era's most significant figures. It traces the changing face of Britain as cars made their first mass appearance, the suburbs sprawled, and radio and cinema became the means of popular entertainment. And it probes the deep divisions that split the nation- between the haves and have-nots, between warring ideological factions, and between those who promoted accommodation with fascism in Europe and those who bitterly opposed it. __________________________________________ 'Magisterial . . . an extraordinary achievement.' Literary Review 'A masterful portrayal of political, social and cultural upheaval between the wars.' Daily Mail
From the mid-nineteenth century on, America and Japan were caught in an extraordinary political, military and economic duel. This clash was characterised by a cultural incompatibility that was to haunt the negotiations of their two leaders, Emperor Hirohito and General MacArthur. Hirohito was a remarkable man. Diffident, uncharismatic and apparently obtuse, he survived as god-ruler of Japan for six decades through internal strife, war, defeat, occupation and economic victory. But Hirohito met his equal in MacArthur. Brash and domineering, MacArthur merited the honorary Japanese epithet shogun or 'army leader' for his almost single-handed six year rule over Japan. In this absorbing dual biography Robert Harvey traces their tense and complex relationship. His broad scope encompasses two great nations in war and peace - a momentous period of history which provides illuminating insight into American actions across the world today.
