Originally written in 1921 for the author's grandchildren, Hendrik Willem van Loon's The Story of Mankind has charmed generations with its warmth, simplicity, and wisdom. Rather than the dry recitation of events so common in school textbooks, van Loon's witty, amiable tone animates the story of human history as a grand and perpetually unfolding adventure. Beginning with the origins of human life and sweeping forward to illuminate all of history, van...

Widely referred to as the "Father of History", Greek Historian Herodotus lived during the 5th century BC and "The Histories" is generally accepted as the first work of historical literature in Western Civilization. Departing from the ancient Homeric tradition of treating historical subjects as epically romantic figures, Herodotus instead approached his subjects with a systematic method of investigation. "The Histories" of Herodotus describe the important...

"A trailblazing account of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolution-from the development of agriculture and cities to the emergence of "the state," political violence, and social inequality-and revealing new possibilities for human emancipation"--

The harrowing story of one of America's first and costliest wars—featuring a new foreword by bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick
At once an in-depth history of this pivotal war and a guide to the historical sites where the ambushes, raids, and battles took place, King Philip's War expands our understanding of American history and provides insight into the nature of colonial and ethnic wars in general. Through a careful reconstruction...

The work of a master storyteller, Quo Vadis is a panoramic historical novel that has captivated readers for generations. "Sienkiewicz wrote Quo Vadis for the entire world and the world took it to its heart," commented James Michener. Now, a sparkling new translation restores the original glory and splendor missing from earlier English translations of this great tale. Set at a turning point in history (A.D. 54-68), as Christianity replaces the era...

Autumn 1944. World War II is nearly over in Europe but is escalating in the Pacific, where American soldiers face an opponent who will go to any length to avoid defeat. The Japanese army follows the samurai code of Bushido, stipulating that surrender is a form of dishonor. This book takes readers to the bloody tropical-island battlefields of Peleliu and Iwo Jima and to the embattled Philippines, where General Douglas MacArthur has made a triumphant...

"In this important contribution to the history of Newport, Rhode Island, and New England, Rockwell Stensrud charts the story of the founding of the settlement in the seventeenth century, following its history and the lives of key characters to the late twentieth century in an engaging and readable narrative. Impeccably researched and illustrated, and newly published in softcover format, this is not a heavy academic text, but is full of drama and interest...