Book House

The British Royal Family is a perennial source of fascination around the world, and few aspects of their lives are more celebrated and scrutinised than their weddings. This fascinating, accessible guide to some of the more eventful and momentous royal weddings in history covers everything from the notorious nuptials of Henry VIII to the achingly romantic recent marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton ...

As an American pilot joining the RAF during World War Two, you'll experience many ups and downs, and no doubt you'll discover what a 'Mae West' is for! Get used to the lingo, commands and controls, otherwise it's time to bail out! Educational, informative and engaging, this book teaches children the risks taken and sacrifices made in World War II. The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative a...

Step inside an ancient Egyptian building site where one of mankind's most spectacular creations is slowly taking shape. Discover how the Egyptians constructed these vast buildings with such incredible precision, without using wheels, machines or iron tools. Their aim: to preserve their pharaoh not just from tomb robbers, but from death itself. An Egyptian Pyramid is an exciting and superbly-illustrated look...

Yorkshire is well known for its miners, pudding and cricket, but Yorkshire: A Very Peculiar History scrapes beyond the surface and past the cliches. Featuring a host of characters from Yorkshire past and present, from Guy Fawkes to Michael Parkinson, it's not all grit and grime! Tracing Yorkshire's history back through Roman and Viking rule, to the various tribes which populated the area in prehistoric tim...

Discover the horrible and hilarious secrets of Edinburgh's chequered (or perhaps tartaned) past. Fiona Macdonald presents a history of Scotland's most powerful city, from ancient to modern, gracious to grimy. Edinbroo! 'Auld Reekie', 'Quite enchanting - like fairlyland!','The Athens of the North', 'Edina, Scotia's darling seat', 'World Festival City'(modest, huh?)' or even a 'Mad God's Dream' of architectur...

How to Draw Scotland features step-by-step instructions showing how to draw many of Scotland's most recognised landmarks. Including Edinburgh Castle, Balmoral and Holyrood Palace as well as some well-known Scottish icons, such as a bagpiper and a Highland dancer, this is an essential book for any budding artist who would like to master the art of drawing Scotland.

The Tudors were an odd bunch, more odd than their subjects, perhaps. When they weren't beheading wives and enemies they were threatening to, or going around earning themselves nicknames like 'Bloody Mary' and 'The 9 Day Queen'. The Tudors: A Very Peculiar History tells the story of the Tudor monarchs, their castles, their lives and their subjects in a time when it was fashionable to slash up your clothes f...

Scotland! The home of the clans. All around the world, people of Scots heritage proudly claim their 'own' clan membership, name, tartan, ancestral home territory etc etc. To them and to others, the very mention of the word inspires dramatic, romantic and cinematic images. This fascinating book delves into the origins and backgrounds of key Scottish clan names which have formed a part of the country's modern...

Volume II of this England Peculiar History trilogy explores the Wars of the Roses, the Industrial Revolution and everything in between. From Henry VIII and his six wives to The Great Fire of London, from The Great Plague to the sinking of the Mary Rose - this book discovers the history of England in the traditional 'peculiar hisory' style, packed full of amusing anecdotes, fascinating facts and mind-bogglin...

It boasted libraries, palm tress, swimming pools, a 50-phone switchboard and was nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower. No, she's not a skyscraper, she's the Titanic! To commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the White Star Liner RMS Titanic in 2012, Titanic, A Very Peculiar History delves into the human stories of both crew and passengers and the incredible feats of engineering and design involved in her...

World War Two, A Very Peculiar History explores the most destructive event of the twentieth century, a war that defined and shaped the world we live in today. Jim Pipe introduces the nations, as well as individuals, that participated and the politics that drove them, alongside the Cherished Library-style fascinating trivia and quirky facts. In this book you can learn about mad British schemes and the atomic...

This drawing handbook features top tips for drawing well-known London landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and Big Ben. It also introduces concepts such as light, tone, perspective and composition. With its clear step-by-step labelled drawings, this is an essential book for any budding artist who would like to master the art of drawing some of London's best-loved landmarks and icons.

'Whisky, A Very Peculiar History' takes a sideways look at this most inebriating beverage from its simplistic origins to its pride of place in the drinks cabinets of the world. When Henry VIII disbanded the monasteries and let those brewing monks out into the wilderness, he had no idea of the kind of beast he'd unleashed. Whisky was used as a medicine, giving 'the glow of apparent well-being' and even hors...

Step inside one of the marvels of the Victorian age! In the middle of the 19th century, steam railways were the very latest transport technology: fast, comfortable (if you could afford a first-class ticket), safe and reliable. Learn about this triumph of engineering and about the army of workers who laboured long hours to keep it going. A 19th Century Railway Station is an exciting and superbly-illustrated ...