In 100 Facts

Sparked by the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars became one of the largest European conflicts in history as Napoleon fought to expand his French Empire. The wars were instrumental in the formation of Europe as we know it today, and confirmed Britain's dominance as a seafaring nation. It was a period famous for strategic warfare and cunning battle tactics. From this background emerged Nelson as national hero and politician. The Napoleonic Wars in 100 Facts covers the twenty-five years of war from the 1790s to the final victory in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. Jem Duducu guides us through some of the key figures and their stories, for example Wellington, Napoleon and Nelson, as well some of the major battles and tactics in this era of epic conflict that took British troops to Egypt, Argentina, America and of course a little town in Belgium called Waterloo.

Ancient Greece was never just one nation: it was a disparate collection of independent city-states, often embroiled in war with each other, with separate governments, their own armies and distinct politics, economies and societies. However, together these vibrant and diverse peoples made one of the greatest civilisations the world has ever known, endowing the western world with cuttingedge philosophy, science, literature, architecture, visual arts, military prowess and democracy – to name but a few of their enduring contributions to the modern world.The Ancient Greeks in 100 Facts tells the story of this fascinating civilisation, from its earliest Bronze Age beginnings as described by Homer and Hesiod, to the wars with and eventual subjugation by the Romans. Visit the Minoans and the Spartans, the Macedonians and the Athenians; meet Plato and Aristotle, Sophocles and Socrates; follow Alexander the Great to the end of the world; and witness the birth of historical writing through Herodotus and Thucydides.These 100 gripping facts provide an enjoyable and accessible introduction to one of the world's great civilisations.

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.

Clive Pearson takes us on an engaging whirlwind tour of the fifty-three men and three women who have so far held the office of Prime Minister. We discover how they got to the top of the greasy pole and assess their performance once in power. Perhaps more importantly, we find out what lasting influence they have had on our lives today. The author also offers up entertaining little-known facts about these key players. Eighteenth-century prime ministers were generally a poor lot, often beset by health problems such as gout and apoplectic fits; later, one nineteenth-century premier spent his evenings prowling the streets at night looking for prostitutes to 'reform'. This book casts a light on this colourful cast of characters, and offers an entertaining and accessible introduction to those who over the last three centuries have held the highest office in the land.

Love him or loathe him, everybody is interested in the phenomenon that is Donald Trump. In the 100 facts contained within, Ruth Ann Monti brings us up close to the man and the brand. Even seasoned Trump watchers will find things they never knew. Did you know that Trump's children aren't allowed to keep pets? That he has been married more times than any other president? How many businesses bearing his name have gone under? Did you know he once proposed a tax on the 'superwealthy' to wipe out the national debt? How about the theory that The Donald is descended from a 'werewolf ' –or at least from his lover? Whether you approach this book as a dip-in fact file or a straight read, your jaw will hit the floor.

The Anglo-Saxon age was one of great change and unrest. Lasting from the departure of the Romans in approximately AD 400 until the Norman invasion in AD 1066, this era was defined by the continued spread of Christianity, the constant threat of Viking raids and the first stirrings of a nation that would become known as England. With its strange customs and unfamiliar names, the Anglo-Saxon era became mysterious and misunderstood, ironically by the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons, the English people themselves. Archaeological discoveries have forced us to re-evaluate these ingenious and skilled people, and to acknowledge the debt we owe to them. Martin Wall seeks to 'de-mystify' the period, breaking it down into easy-to-read, bitesize chunks, and to show that the so-called 'Dark Ages' were by no means backward or inferior. It was a truly heroic age, whose exemplars, such as King Offa, Alfred the Great, Lady Aethelflaed or Athelstan, stand beside the giants of world history. In 100 excerpts from these turbulent, bloody and exciting centuries, a proud, complex, but ultimately doomed civilisation is revealed.

The English Civil War pitted Parliament against the Crown following a breakdown in their relationship, ultimately caused by a struggle over power, religion and control. The Civil War split the country and resulted in the execution of Charles I and the exile of his son, and the English monarchy was replaced first by the Commonwealth of England and then the Protectorate. Oliver Cromwell dominated the politics of the new rule and still divides opinion today, with some seeing him as a brutal dictator and others seeing him as a hero of liberty.The English Civil War in 100 Facts examines the twenty years of intermittent warfare, covering the first, second and third wars, from the initial conflict with Charles I to the fight of Charles II's supporters with the Rump Parliament. Dr Andrew Lacey guides us through some of the key figures and their stories as well as some of the key battles and politics in this period that drastically altered the structure of English rule.