Canary Press Brochure

CANARYPRESS

S u m m E R 2 0 1 1

Contents

Popular Culture 5

History 12

True Crime 20

Know How 23

Reference 24

Travel & Architecture 26

£16.99 978-0-9561428-6-3 Hardback 192pp 4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

From Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Stephenie Meyer’s hugely successful Twilight series of books, writers, artists and film makers have been entranced by the vampiric legend for hundreds of years. In the West, the vampire myth is widely thought to have been based on the life of Vlad the Impaler, a 15th century Wallachian warrior-prince whose devotion to cruelty and killing made the lives of his subjects miserable, bloody and short. However, bloodsuckers of all shapes and sizes feature in many cultures. The most famous of these is the chupacabra, or ‘goat killer’, a creature that is rumoured to have attacked and mutilated as many as 2,000 animals in Puerto Rico and Latin America. The chupacabra is variously described as half alien, half tail-less dinosaur with quills running down its back, a panther with a long serpent’s tongue and a hopping animal that leaves an unbearable sulphurous stench in its wake. Whatever his form, one thing is for sure, the chupacabra shares little with his dark-cloaked, virgin-biting, garlic-hating, European cousin, apart from his lust for blood.

Vampires explores these diverse myths and legends, their impact upon popular culture and the possible explanations behind such phenomena. The book also investigates the lives of real-life individuals who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of blood, drawing on the vampiric tradition for their inspiration.

Contents

Introduction. Chapter 1 The Rise of the Vampire Myth: Vampire Panic, Vampirism & Corpses, Vampires & Disease, Vampires & Animals. Chapter 2 From Peasant to Nobleman: Baby Vampires, Vampires Detection, Vampire ‘Lifestyles’, Vampires & Immortality. Chapter 3 Myths and Legends: The Female Demons, The Chupacabra, Psychology & Anthropology. Chapter 4 Vampire Devotees: Vlad the Impaler, Elizabeth Báthory, Gilles de Rais, Peter Kürten, Fritz Haarmann. Chapter 5 Vampires of the Imagination: The Victorian Vampire Craze, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Modern Vampire Fiction, Vampire Novels, The ‘Twilight’ Series, Vampires on Screen, Vampire Movies, Vampires in Pop. Glossary. Index.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Charlotte Montague is a freelance writer who specialises in general history and true-crime. Her father was a naval officer, and as a child, she travelled the world with her family. After gaining an M.A. degree in History from Sussex University, she began writing on a variety of subjects including ethnic cultures, travel, and music. More recently, she developed an interest in the history of mythical creatures. Her current research has taken her to many parts of the globe, including Africa and the Far East. She travels for most of the year, but returns frequently to her home, a remote eighteenth-century cottage close to a famous smuggler’s cove on the Cornish coast.

Omnipress Publishing / Canary Press | 5

VampiresCharlotte Montague

publishing

Available as an eBook for iPad and Kindle

£16.99 978-0-9561428-8-7

Hardback 192pp

4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

Werewolves, or lycanthropes as they’re also known, have been around for thousands of years and are found in some form or another in many cultures. With shape-shifting horror stories appearing from Asia to the Americas, Europe to Africa, werewolves can range from the enormous, savage, wolf-like animal in Wales that, at some point in the 1790s, was said to have overturned a stage coach, ripping into one of the horses and biting it to death under the light of a blood-red full moon; to the story of King Lycaeon in ancient Greek and Roman mythology who was turned into a wolf by the gods for serving them human flesh at a banquet.

Wolves appear in children’s fairy stories as the symbol for a common and real evil – the wolf of Red Riding Hood is so human-like that he manages to fool the protagonist of the story by wearing her grandmother’s clothes. ‘Good werewolves’ also appear in legends from time to time for example the Lithuanian myth of the vilkacis – people whose souls move into that of a wolf’s and as long as they are left alone, will not cause any harm – leading many to believe that all humans have animal souls.

Werewolves explores the myths and the legends of this fantastical creature and questions the many realities behind the fantasies. Was it easier for society to blame serial murders on a demonic hairy beast with ravaging fangs than to admit a human being could commit such atrocities? Whatever the case, werewolves continue to live on and have been the stars of literature and film for decades. They are the sensitive bad boys of the monster world. Alone among those who rip, the werewolf has remorse and no control over his actions. He wakes up after a night of lunacy covered in blood and gore, appalled at what he’s done.

Contents

Introduction Myth of the Werewolf Werewolf Legends Real Werewolves Werewolves of the Imagination

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Zachary Graves is a writer who specialises in the occult. He grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA where he developed an early interest in voodoo, and later, as a student of cultural history, made several research trips to Haiti to further his interest. He has travelled widely, particularly in Africa and the Far East, where he lived for some time. He currently resides in New Orleans, close to the St Louis Cemetery, where Marie Lavaux, the voodoo queen of New Orleans, is buried.

6 | Omnipress Publishing / Canary Press

WerewolvesZachary Gravespublishing

£16.99 978-09562655-4-8 Hardback 192pp 4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

Inspired by horror films of the past, such as George Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead, zombies have come lurching back into the forefront of the public imagination with books such as the Jane Austen parody Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, video games such as Left 4 Dead and blockbuster movies like Zombieland. The living dead have never been so popular!

We all know that zombies are by no means a modern phenomenon but where did this zombie fascination come from, and where did people like Romero get thier inspiration? The earliest citation on zombies stems from the Afro-Caribbean belief system / religion of voodoo, which is a culmination of African religions such as loa together with the Catholicism of the European settlers. Voodoo is extremely popular on the West-Indian island of Haiti, and there are records of ‘real’ zombies having existed. Haitians believe that zombies were once normal people who have undergone zombification by a sorcerer’s spell or potion. The victim then dies and becomes a mindless automaton, incapable of remembering the past, unable to recognise loved ones and doomed to a life of miserable toil under the will of the zombie master.

Zombies takes a look at all aspects of this gruesome entity and delves into the less well-known mythological and historical side of this fascinating subject.

Contents

The Voodoo Zombie: Vodun and Voodoo, Haitian Vodou, Voodoo and Necromancy, Hoodoo, The Bokor, Zombie Powder, Characters of the Haitian Zombie, Zombie Magic. ‘Real’ Zombies: The Zombie Myth, The Duvalier Dynasty, Zombie Sightings, The Case of Felicia Felix Mentor, The Case of Clairvius Narcisse. The Horror Zombie: From Slave to Monster, The Legend of Frankenstein, White Zombie, Zombie Apocalypse, Tales From the Crypt, Night of the Living Dead, The Romero Zombie, Legacy of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, ‘Living Dead’ Sequels, Evolution of the Horror Zombie, Evolution of the Horror Zombie II: The Seventies & Beyond, Zombie Movies, Zombies in Pop, Zombie Literature, Zombie Books, Zombie Comics, Zombie Computer Games.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY



ZombiesZachary Graves

publishing


£16.99 978-0-9561428-0-1

Hardback 192pp

4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

The romantic image of the pirate has been seen as something of a Hollywood cash cow ever since Errol Flynn first climbed the rigging for the film Captain Blood, in 1935. The hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, starring the megastar Johnny Depp, proved undoubtedly that swashbuckling sells. But what do we know about the real Captain Jack Sparrows of yesteryear? Who were they? Where did they come from? And what heinous and daring acts did they perform on the path towards riches and infamy?

Pirates and Privateers delves into the real lives of these men and women, whose seafaring adventures have become legendary. It explores the criminal careers of some of the most fascinating scoundrels and scallywags in history, including Blackbeard, the Barbarossa Brothers, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonney and Mary Read.

Contents

Pirates: Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Calico Jack, Anne Bonney and Mary Read, Capt. Kidd, Henry Morgan, L’Olonnais, Henry Avery, Black Bart, Charles Vane, Black Caesar, James Kelly, Richard Cole and John Richardson, John Gow, Kanhoji Angria, Thomas Tew. Women of the Sea: Grace O’Malley, Mrs Ching, Charlotte de Berry, Lady Killigrew, Mary Crickett. Privateers: Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Martin Frobisher, Sir Christopher Newport, Sir Thomas Modyford, Fortunatus Wright, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Richard Hawkins, Michael Geare, Sir Christopher Myngs , Alexander Godfrey, Joseph Barss, Robert Morris, Athanase Postel, Ambroise Louis Garneray, Robert Surcouf, Modern Piracy.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Charlotte Montague is a freelance writer who specialises in maritime history. Her father was a naval officer, and as a child, she travelled the world with her family. After gaining an M.A. degree in History from Sussex University, she began writing on a variety of subjects including ethnic cultures, travel, and music. Since then, she has continued to write on costumes, on flags, on knots, on body adornment, on sea shanties, and many other topics. More recently, she developed an interest in the history of crime at sea, not only in Europe but further afield. Her current research has taken her to many parts of the globe, including Africa and the Far East, particularly the islands of the South Pacific. She travels for most of the year, but returns frequently to her home, a remote eighteenth-century cottage close to a famous smuggler’s cove on the Cornish coast.


Pirates and PrivateersCharlotte Montaguepublishing


£16.99 978-1-907795-06-0 Hardback 192pp 4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

At one time or another, most people have experienced a creepy, spine-tingling sensation they can’t explain. Science may rationalise these fears, blaming a natural fear of the unknown, an open window or a drafty doorway, but millions of people believe there is much more to it than that – and who can say they are wrong?

Belief in ghosts is nothing new, uncertainty about death and the afterlife is part of the human condition and their existence is deeply rooted in most worldwide cultures and religions.

In Taoism and Buddhism, the Hungry Ghost Festival celebrates the belief that, once a year, ghosts and spirits are released from the afterlife and walk amongst the living. In the West, ghost stories were established in ancient folklore and tend to embrace the same classic themes as today’s horror movies: romance, tragedy and terror. Writers of antiquity used ghosts and hauntings as a way to provide background information or foretell coming events, and Shakespeare, the father of English literature, used the same techniques in his plays. Glamis castle in Scotland, made famous by Shakespeare’s Macbeth is said to be haunted by a whole host of ghostly residents. Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, another spooky literary hub, is perhaps one of the most nerve-wracking places on earth – but are these feelings imagined or real?

Ghosts traces the cultural and literary origins of the paranormal, reveals the secrets behind many mysterious myths and legends, and analyses our continued fascination with visitors from the other side.

Contents

Introduction: Definition of a ghost, difference between ghost and poltergeist. Discussion on the afterlife and immortality. Ghosts as messengers – distinction from angels. Connection with other aspects of the paranormal/supernatural: exorcisms, vampires.

Continuing popularity of ghosts: ghost walks, ghost tours, ghost-hunting as a hobby, Halloween, seances, ouija board. Ghosts in religion, culture, folklore, mythology: Holy ghost in religion, Hungry Ghost Festival, Day of the Dead, Bon Festival, Lemuria, Pontianak, Egyptian Book of the Dead.

True ghost stories: Amityville Murders, Tower of London, Enfield Poltergeist, Borley Rectory, Resurrection Mary, Joshua Ward House, Pendle Hill, Glamis Castle, Dracula’s Castle. Ghost ships: Mary Celeste, The Flying Dutchman.

Ghosts in popular culture: Literature: Hamlet, A Christmas Carol, The Canterville Ghost, Macbeth, The Shining. Television: Ghost Whisperer, Most Haunted, Ghost Hunters, Supernatural. Film: Ghost, The Ring, The Grudge, The Woman in Black, Poltergeist, The Sixth Sense, What Lies Beneath, Just Like Heaven, Sleepy Hollow, White Noise, Ghostbusters.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY



GhostsZachary Graves

publishing

£16.99 978-0-9561428-2-5

Hardback 192pp

4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

Over fifty per cent of Americans and over one third of British people believe that we all have a guardian angel that protects us throughout our lives. More people believe in these divine bodyguards than in global warming. It is truly astonishing how many spiritually aware people have seen or sensed an angel’s presence at a time of contemplation or hardship.

Angels have been protecting us for centuries. In Ancient Greece the idea that the gods sent protective watchers was common, while modern-day protective spirits helped guide 9/11 victims to ultimate safety in the aftermath of the bombing of the World Trade Center.

Angelic imagery is all around us, from the Renaissance paintings of the fourteenth century to Banksy’s modern day ‘drunk angel’ graffiti in London. Considered to be one of the most inspirational movies of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) portrays a guardian angel, Clarence Odbody, preventing the Christmas Eve suicide of James Stewart’s character, George Bailey.

Angels explores the cultural origins of the heavenly messengers that guide and heal every one of us, reveals compelling real-life encounters and examines the varied characterisation of the ‘angel’ within art, literature, music and film. The result is a fascinating insight into the world of angels and their everyday presence among us.

Contents

Angels in History (to include): Angels through the ages. First recorded depiction of an angel, Greek and Roman mythology, Angels in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Kabbalism. Angels and the links with black magic, occultism and ancient astrology. Paganism.

Angels as Healers: What angels are used for, how to invoke your angel, how to tune into your angel’s advice and guidance, what your angel can do for you.

Angels and Popular Culture: Angels in modern art – famous paintings and sculptures, literature, television, films, music. Iconic angel imagery. Why is the depiction of angels in the arts so popular?

Angel Encounters: Real-life stories from people around the world, including infamous encounters such as the Angel of Mons (WWI account) and the Soviet cosmonaut sightings.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Charlotte Montague is a freelance writer who specialises in general history. After gaining an M.A. degree in Cultural History from Sussex University, she began writing on a variety of subjects including ethnic cultures, travel, and music. More recently, she developed an interest in the history of mythical creatures. Her current research has taken her to many parts of the globe, including Africa and the Far East. She travels for most of the year, but returns frequently to her home, a remote eighteenth-century cottage on the Cornish coast.


AngelsCharlotte Montaguepublishing

£16.99 978-0-9561428-7-0 Hardback 192pp 4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

Rock paintings of the rainbow serpent in Arnhem land, Australia, date back more than 6000 years and orally the legend has been passed down for even longer. The Aboriginal dreaming about this mystical being, who some think of as human and others as a long mythical creature with a kangaroo’s head and crocodile’s tail, is the personification of fertility and abundance as well as that of community spirit and keeper of the peace. Its significance to the culture of certain groups of indigenous Australians is priceless. Whether or not it ever existed is unimportant as the riches come from the lessons the rainbow serpent teaches about life, death, survival and love.

Interest in mythology has grown over the years and we now realise that many ancient legends in circulation, either through verbal story-telling, ancient script or paintings, have in fact assisted the human race in understanding the complex world we live in, even if they have been embellished over the years. They have helped us mould societies and given people reason to live, they are the blocks that when linked together can help us find the answers we as a human race have been searching for.

Myths and Legends brings together the principal mythologies, legends and folklore of ancient and modern cultures and explores the relationship that they have with their people and with the major religions of the world.

Contents

Popular topics covered by mythology: Creation; male and female relationships; natural disaster; survival. Principal myths and legends of the world: Greek mythology, Roman mythology, Celtic myths and legends; Pagan; Arthurian legend; Greenman and other British folklore characters; Norse; Voodoo; Anancy and other Caribbean folk hero; giants, dragons and unicorns; Maori gods Rangi and Papa (Sky and Earth); Dreamtime of the Indigenous Australians; Bon of Tibet; Chinese mythology; Native American tribal stories; Mythology and Religion: Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism, Taoaism.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

John Pemberton is a freelance writer who specialises in ancient and modern folklore. He grew up in Ireland where he became fascinated by Celtic myths and legends. He has since travelled widely, particularly in Central and South America, studying the cultural history of the Aztecs and Incas at the University of Lima in Peru, where he lived for some time. He currently resides in Tintagel, North Cornwall close to the legendary castle of King Arthur.

Myths and LegendsJohn Pemberton

publishing


£16.99 978-0-9561428-5-6

Hardback 128pp

4c × 4c 246 × 188mm

This is a heart-wrenching account from Mary, an eleven-year girl, who lived through the fifty-seven harrowing nights of the London Blitz. She recollects her feelings of terror, sadness and happiness as Germany bombarded the streets of London. She remembers her friends from the East End of London and how many of them rallied to help those less fortunate than themselves. Some children, like Mary and her sister Ellen, were evacuated to the country. Mary tells of her time on a farm in the West Country and how different life was for the evacuees. Mary’s father, a firefighter, left many memories of the efforts to save buildings and their inhabitants, as the city burned night after night. Finally, Mary recounts the joy of the day she met Winston Churchill as he visited the devastation and debris left in the wake of The Blitz.

Contents

The Way It Was, Evacuated to Safety, The East End Kids, Taking Shelter, My Father the Firefighter, Civilian Nursing during the Blitz, Bethnal Green Tube Disaster, The Bombing of the Docklands, St Paul’s Cathedral, The King and Queen of England, Picking up the Pieces.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Mary Hanway was born in 1930 in Bethnal Green in the East End of London. To say she has seen a few changes in her life would be an understatement and her incredible memory of life during the Blitz makes this book an unmissable read. She still lives in London and passes her twilight years by painting scenes of the years gone by. From her window she can see the hustle and bustle of water traffic as it goes about its daily life on the Thames.

the BlitzMary Hanwaypublishing


£16.99 978-0-9557438-0-1 Hardback 208pp 4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

If time travel were to become a reality most people would choose to visit a significant moment in history; witness the first flight, JKF’s assassination in Dallas, Texas or the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb. These are just a few of the incredible events described in Witness to History. This book features first hand accounts of major events by those who saw it happen, including such prominent historical figures as Buzz Aldrin, Captain Scott, Orville Wright and Che Guevara as well as those who, like suffragette Lady Constance Lytton, remained in the shadows, but saw everything!

Few of us will ever find ourselves at the right place at the right time when a major event occurs, and those of us who do sometimes live to regret it. Witness to History puts the reader in the very privileged position of being there in the thick of the action, without actually having to be there. Time travel, for the time being anyway, is not a real possibility, Witness to History is as close as most people are ever likely to come.

Contents

The destruction of Pompeii, Dinner with Atilla the Hun, The Murder of Thomas Becket, The Voyage to America, The Execution of Mary Queen of Scots, The Great Fire of London, Boarding a slave ship,The first flight, The death of Billy the Kid, Force-feeding a suffragette, Reaching the South Pole,1912, Discovering Tutankhamen’s tomb, Hitler’s attempted coup, 1923, Watching Hitler opening the Second World War, 1939, The Battle of Britain, Pearl Harbor, Shooting down a Japanese war plane, The Soviet army takes Berlin, The ending of the Second World War, Surviving the Hiroshima atom bomb, The Cuban revolution,The assassination of JFK, A UFO seen from Apollo 11, The 9/11 terrorist attacks plus many others.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Rodney Castleden has a passionate interest in history and archaeology, and has written extensively on these subjects over the last thirty years. Reviewers and readers have commended his meticulous research, fluency of expression and the originality of his ideas. He is the author of thirty published titles, including People Who Changed the World, The Making of Stone Henge, Minoans, Mycenaeans and Attack on Troy. Rodney lives in Seaford, East Sussex.


Witness to HistoryRodney Castleden

publishing

“I yelled ‘Hey we want to take your picture’ … he started to bring his head up to look at me and … the shot rang out”Jean Hill – 22 November 1963, Dallas, Texas

£0.99 978-1-907795-41-1

eBook

A fascinating chronological guide to all the key events and people who have helped shape the world today.

From the Big Bang through the rise and fall of the greatest empires to the great technological achievements of modern times, this book will help readers view our collective past in panorama, making sense of the confusing world in which we live today.

Contents

Introduction, The Ancient World, The Medieval and Renaissance World, The Enlightened World, The Nineteenth Century, The Modern World.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Gordon Kerr has worked in book selling, publishing and the wine trade. His journalism includes a regular column on book jacket design for Publishing News and he is a contributing editor to The Book Magazine. His book The Time Traveller’s Guide to Georgian London (Watling Street) is published in Autumn 2007. He is the editor of the annual Poetry Writers’ Yearbook and a limited edition of his poetry, You Can’t Get to East Kilbride From Here, illustrated by Ralph Steadman, was published in 2004. He lives in Hampshire and south west France and is married with two children.


timeline of World HistoryGordon Kerrpublishing


£12.99 978-0-9537976-6-0 Hardback 160pp 4c × 4c 257 x 127mm

The first Britons did very little to impose upon or alter the landscape they inhabited, and the gods they worshipped were those of nature itself. From as early as 5000 bc, farm tools, stone axes, pottery and antler combs were in common use by a nomadic community who lived entirely off the land and disposed of their dead using a burial rite known as ‘corpse exposure’, which means simply leaving a body in the open air to be devoured by animals and birds.

It goes without saying that much has changed in Britain throughout the centuries, from the building of Stonehenge for ritual or astronomical purposes in 2500 bc, to the industrial revolution and the invention of the power loom by James Kay in 1733. Timeline of Britain charts the rich history of our green and pleasant land, from its birth in prehistory to the present day.

Follow the lives and careers of British folk heroes from King Arthur and the Warrior-Queen Boudicca, to William Wallace, Robin of Sherwood, John Lennon and Sid Vicious. Read about the introduction of tea-drinking to British society in the mid 17th century and the first UK based tea clippers, the most famous of which was the Cutty Sark – named after the revealing dress worn by the ship’s figurehead. Timeline of Britain will reconnect the reader with our collective past, inspire minds of all ages, and remind a few of us what it actually means to be a Brit.

Contents

Our timeline will be split into the following sections: Prehistory and the Romans, The Norman Invasion, The Late Middle Ages, Reformation and Restoration, Industrial Revolution, The 20th Century- present day.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Gordon Kerr has worked in book selling, publishing and the wine trade. His journalism includes a regular column on book jacket design for Publishing News and he is a contributing editor to The Book Magazine. His book The Time Traveller’s Guide to Georgian London (Watling Street) was published in Autumn 2007. He is the editor of the annual Poetry Writers’ Yearbook and a limited edition of his poetry, You Can’t Get to East Kilbride From Here, illustrated by Ralph Steadman, was published in 2004. He lives in Hampshire and south west France and is married with two children.


timeline of BritainGordon Kerr

publishing

“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king”Elizabeth I, Tilbury Speech, 1588


£12.99 978-0-9537976-7-7

Hardback 160pp

4c × 4c 257 x 127mm

Periods of great conflict have peppered the human experience for as long as we have existed, but the motivation for warfare, the identity of the combatants and their chosen equipment and methods have changed drastically over time.

Of course, war is violent and destructive by its very nature, but wartime is often also a period of great social and technological change. Some of the most important inventions ever conceived were meant as solutions to the problems of wartime. In 1881, Hiram Maxim, an American born inventor was visiting an exhibition in Paris when he was told by an acquaintance “If you wanted to make a lot of money, invent something that will enable these Europeans to cut each other’s throats with greater facility.” He went on to develop the first machine gun. Hitler created the autobahn in order to radically improve the German infrastructure, and therefore ready his people for war. In 1946, Raytheon scientist and war hero Percy Spencer discovered that the magnetron device he was developing (the heart of a military radar set) could be used to melt chocolate, and the microwave was born.

The Timeline of War charts the history of warfare and the implications of conflict from the birth of war in Mesopotamia in 5000BC, to the emergence of Al Qaeda and the declaration of war on terrorism in the early 21st century.

Contents

Early Warfare, The Roman Empire, The Middle Ages, Early Modern Warfare, Enlightenment, The Modern Era, VJ Day – Present Day.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Rod Nicholls is a writer and researcher who comes from a large family of GPs and surgeons. Having rejected a career in medicine due to his natural aversion to dissecting small animals, he found solace in the power of the written word as an editor for the Evening Standard.


timeline of WarR. A. Nichollspublishing



The story of monarchy in Europe is a long and extremely bloody one, fraught with appalling violence, scandal and controversy. The position of monarch was once one of absolute power granted by God. Royalty was considered closer to divinity than to the masses. Today this notion is generally frowned upon, and the royal families of Europe spend enormous PR budgets on attempting to convey a sense that their members are ‘just like us’. Timeline of Kings and Queens charts the major events in the monarchy of Europe from the very beginnings to the present day, in an attempt to explore – among many other things – how this ideological u-turn occurred.

Compare the lives and careers of monarchs such as Charles I of Spain, Henry VIII and Queen Victoria and learn about Elizabeth I’s role in defending England against the Spanish Armada, as well as King Philip II of Spain’s motives for provoking a war between the two nations. Discover the truth about the madness of King George III, was he truly out of his mind or suffering simply from the effects of arsenic poisoning? How did Marie Antoinette, a beautiful but naive 14-year-old girl from Vienna become the Queen of France? This illustrated volume allows the reader to view history in panorama, making more sense of the confusing world in which we live.

Contents

Charlemagne to Medieval Kingdoms, Renaissance Monarchs, Rise of Empire, Rebellion and Revolution, The Struggle to Survive, Appendix, Glossary of Royal Terms.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY


timeline of Kings & QueensGordon Kerr

publishing

“The first art of a monarch is the power to endure hatred”Seneca, Roman Philospher 1st century ce




The 1960s have gone down in history as the most dynamic decade of the 20th century. Developments in all areas of life reflected the new-found energy of the times – from the shocking arrival of Mary Quant’s miniskirts on the streets of London in 1963, to the American moon-landing in 1969 – fashion, music, politics and science were all marching relentlessly, bravely forward. While skirt-hems and space rockets shot to grand new heights, long-held inhibitions and the ‘traditional ways’ fell away, only to be replaced by a new world-order of rock music, recreational drugs and promiscuity. The implications of these dramatic changes continue to shape the way we live today.

How did events in the lives of incredible individuals such as Malcolm X, John Lennon or Andy Warhol influence the world around them? What smaller events conspired to trigger momentous news-stories of the 60s, such as Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a Dream...’ speech, or John and Yoko’s bed-in? Timeline of the Sixties charts all the major events of the decade in order to present them in a cultural and historical context. This fully illustrated volume will allow the reader to explore the past in panorama, providing a valuable resource for any 1960s enthusiast.

Contents

Our timeline will be chronologically arranged with and include entries on the following subjects: Power and Politics, Society and Culture, Science and Technology, The Arts, Sport.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY



timeline of the sixtiesGordon Kerr

publishing

“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on”John F. Kennedy

£16.99 978-0-9557438-1-8

Hardback 192pp

4c × 4c 288 × 222mm

A well-liked, respected, caring pillar of the community – or an outsider, socially inept and with a frightening appearance? Wearing many different masks, serial killers are among the most disturbing and dangerous violent criminals in existence.

They are individuals who have a history of multiple murders, normally committed over a long period of time and often with periods of apparent normality in between.

With their different appearances and motives serial killers are hard to identify and often much harder to understand. Yet they must be caught because the one unifying characteristic all serial killers share is their inability to feel remorse for their actions, and consequently their need to keep on killing...

Some profilers believe that serial killers don’t learn from their mistakes. This book explores the greed-factor that sets in and explains how killers come to think that the more they kill and get away with it, the easier it will become.

Contents

Serial Killers explores the fascinating case histories of the most dangerous and most prolific serial killers of all time on both sides of the Atlantic, ranging from that of William Palmer - the Rugely poisoner of 1856, to Angel Resendiz who used the train network of America to travel the length and breadth country, killing anyone who got in his way. Articles include: Jack The Ripper, Ted Bundy and Peter Sutcliffe (alias The Yorkshire Ripper), Jeffrey Dahmer and Fred and Rose West, Harold Shipman, Aileen Wournos and Andrei Chikatilo among many others.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

William Murray is a freelance writer and true-crime enthusiast who is currently working and living in London. He has 15 years experience in the UK book trade and regularly contributes to a number of true crime publications based both in the UK and the USA.


serial KillersWilliam Murraypublishing


£16.99 978-0-9557438-8-7 Hardback 192pp 4c × 4c 265 × 185mm

If the walls of number 25 Cromwell Street had ears, what horrifying acts would they have overheard during the occupancy of serial killers Fred and Rose West? A house where brutal torture sessions and grisly murders were a regular occurrence, and young women and girls were routinely dismembered and buried in the cellar or under the garden patio. When the police investigation concluded that the Wests had between them murdered at least 12 females whilst living at the house and their killers were finally brought to justice, 25 Cromwell Street had to be torn down to stop sick souvenir hunters from collecting items from the grounds to sell or to keep as memorabilia.

There is little doubt that such buildings retain something of their previous lives. Even after the evidence has been removed and the perpetrators imprisoned or executed, an aura of horror, fear and disgust can linger on for decades, sometimes centuries. These places become ‘the haunted house’, or ‘the bogey man’s lair’ to generations of local school children, who stare at the pavement or run quickly past in order to avoid whatever evil still lurks behind the darkened windows. Houses of Death explores these buildings, the murderers and victims who called them ‘home’, as well as the bizarre and bloody events that took place within their walls.

Contents

Countess Erzsebet Bathory: Castle Csejthe, Eastern State Penitentiary, The Bender family log cabin, Sing Sing, Lizzie Borden: 92 Second Street, Fall River, H H Holmes, The Murder Castle, Chicago, Newgate Prison, Lemp Mansion, St Louis, Bangkwang Prison, Collingwood Manor Massacre, Washington State Penitentiary, John Christie, 10 Rillington Place, Ed Gein, Gein’s Farm, Plainfield, Wisconsin, Holloway Prison, Alcatraz, The Manson Family,10050 Cielo Drive, Los Angeles, Jonestown, Fred and Rose West, 25 Cromwell Street, Jeffrey Dahmer, 213 Oxford Apartments, Gary Heidnik, 3520 North Marshall Street, Ian Huntley, 5 College Close, Soham.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY



Houses of DeathGordon Kerr

publishing


£7.99 Paperback

448pp 1c × 1c

178 × 111mm

Serial Killers978-0-9562655-7-9

A well-liked, respected, caring member of the community – or an outsider, socially inept and with a frightening appearance? Wearing many different masks, serial killers are among the most disturbing and dangerous violent criminals in existence. They are individuals who have a history of multiple murders, normally committed over a long period of time and often with periods of apparent normality in between.

With their different appearances and motives, serial killers are hard to identify and understand. Yet they must be caught. For the one unifying characteristic serial killers share is their inability to feel any remorse, and consequently their need to keep on killing…

Killers in Cold Blood978-0-9562655-8-6

Killers In Cold Blood looks inside the dark side of the criminal mind. These are the men and women who commit heinous acts with a gruesome disregard for human life. They do not conform to what society considers to be ‘normal’ standards, they seem to act purely for self gratification in their own little world of perversion. The difficulty in bringing these monsters to justice is proving whether they are just bad or mad, whether in fact the individual is mentally ill or whether they are fully aware of what they have done.

Charles Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer are fine examples of men who killed in cold blood. They knew exactly what they were doing, they knew right from wrong, and yet they still committed their crimes.


true Crimepublishing

£6.99 Hardback 160pp 1c × 1c 197 × 130mm

Granny’s Household Hints978-0-9562655-3-1

Granny used these helpful, labour-saving household hints and tips not only to save herself money but to give herself more time to spend with her friends and family. In her day there were no convenience stores, no supermarkets and very few labour-saving devices, so she needed to be resourceful and make do with what she had. Granny was always on the lookout for helpful tips like an easy way to take stains out of the carpet, achieve smear-free windows or prevent salt from going lumpy. There is something for everyone in Granny’s Household Tips, so why not revert to some of the old methods which will not only save you money, but will help make our planet greener at the same time.

Granny’s Household Hints978-0-9562655-2-4

From time to time we all suffer from them, minor ailments like cold sores, athlete’s foot, bruises and boils. Annoying and painful complaints that don’t require a doctor’s visit, but need treating with expensive medicines that will be used once or twice and then sit at the back of a cupboard gathering dust.

Granny’s Natural Remedies offers the reader a plethora of effective alternative treatments for everything from nits to nail infections, with the added benefit that they are all made from natural ingredients that can already be found in the average kitchen or garden! If you don’t know your aloe from your elbow this book is perfect for you, it will introduce the novice to hundreds of granny-endorsed products you never knew were medicinal, such as nutmeg, honey, vinegar, bacon fat and garlic, tell you exactly how to use them and how to store the remedies you have made so that they stay fresh for as long as possible.


Granny’s seriesBrenda Evans

publishing

£7.99 978-1-907795-02-2

Hardback 160pp

1c × 1c 197 × 130mm

In today’s busy world, where text-speak seems to be the prevalent form of written English, and the average teenager can barely form a proper sentence without using the numbers ‘4’ or ‘8’ as substitutes for letters, is the pun becoming an endangered species?

As a society we have come to regard wordplay as old-fashioned, obvious humour, because it hinges simply on one word having multiple definitions, spellings or sound-a-likes. It may not be controversial, edgy or even topical, but it actually takes a great deal of skill, wit and general knowledge to come up with a decent pun – not everyone can do it.

The Little Book of Puns explores the dying art of paronomasia and gives us a taste of the very best wordplay history has to offer. It harks back to the heady days when intelligence was measured at dinner parties rather than behind a school desk, when people still wrote letters instead of emails and actually read newspapers instead of checking out a website. This book may as well exist in anti–gravity, because you’ll find it almost impossible to put down!

Contents

Introduction, William Shakespeare, Thomas Hood, Lewis Carroll, William Archibald Spooner, Oscar Wilde, Hector Hugh Munro: Saki, W. C. Fields, Robert Benchley, Groucho Marx, Mae West, Dorothy Parker, Tommy Cooper, George Carlin, Tim Vine, Knock, knock…, Doctor, Doctor, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Funniest Joke Award, Loadsa Pun – Best Tabloid Headlines.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Alison Westwood, originally from London, now lives by the south coast. She studied English to postgraduate level and has since worked for various publishing houses. In her spare time she is a freelance journalist, regularly contributing to national magazines and newspapers. It was her keen interest in words and phrases that drove her to compile this book of puns.


the Little Book of PunsAlison Westwoodpublishing

“I backed a horse last week at ten to one.

It came in at quarter past four”

Tommy Cooper

£7.99 978-0-9559425-4-9 Hardback 160pp 1c × 1c 197 × 130mm

Many of the phrases we use everyday are so woven into our vocabulary that we never think to question their origin or meaning. How often we comfort the broken-hearted with the reassurance that there are ‘plenty more fish in the sea’, or ruin a surprise by ‘letting the cat out of the bag’. We don’t really mean our friend should consider dating a fish, nor do we keep cats in bags, but we use these phrases regardless. Did you know that telling someone to ‘get off their high horse’ comes from the 13th century? Or that ‘hair of the dog’ wasn’t originally a hangover cure, but a belief that applying a dog hair to a dog bite would cure the wound? In the times of Roman Baths, getting the ‘wrong end of the stick’ didn’t translate as a simple misunderstanding, it actually referred to a communal toilet where a stick was used to pass a cloth from person to person, unfortunately some would often receive the wrong end...

The Little Book of Clichés explores the history and meanings behind hundreds of phrases that we use, from everyday idioms to Shakespearian sayings.

Contents

Introduction, Animal Inanities, Biblical Biddings, Roman Remarks, Shakespearian Sayings, Nautical Nuggets, Great Scott, Miscellaneous Maxims.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Alison Westwood, originally from London, now lives by the south coast. She studied English to postgraduate level and has since worked for various publishing houses. In her spare time she is a freelance journalist, regularly contributing to national magazines and newspapers. It was her keen interest in words and phrases that drove her to compile a list of clichés and investigate their origins.


the Little Book of ClichésAlison Westwood

publishing

“Ask a silly question and you’ll get a silly answer”As modern as this sounds, a medieval version, expressing the same sentiment, can be found in William Caxton’s retelling of Aesop’s Fables (1484): ‘For to a folysshe demaunde behoueth a folysshe ansuere.’ (For a foolish question warrants a foolish answer).

£25.00 978-0-95379-762-2

Hardback 192pp

4c × 4c 300 × 300mm

A beautifully illustrated and detailed guide, Landmarks of the World takes the reader on a magnificent journey across the globe, spanning both past and present to explore some of the most famous sites on the planet. Whether recognized as supreme examples of human creativity, for their outstanding natural beauty, or for their functional or symbolic significance, each incredible place has its own fascinating story to tell. Some tell epic tales of triumph and of loss, others of lavish wealth or humble beauty. There are buildings that speak of cultures long past and others that point resolutely towards the future. Though diverse, each location has firmly secured its position as a member of this most illustrious club: the greatest landmarks in the world.

Contents

Landmarks of the World will be alphabetically arranged, including the following entries: Alcatraz, Alhambra Palace, The Amazon, Angel Falls, Angkor Wat, The Arc De Triomphe, Atomium, Big Ben, Brandenburg Gate, Burj Al Arab, Chartres Cathedral, Chichen Itza, Statue of Christ the Redeemer, The CN Tower, Colosseum, Dead Sea, Death Valley, Delphi, Dome of the Rock, Duomo, Easter Island, Edinburgh Castle, Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, Forbidden City, Galapagos, Giants Causeway, Golden Gate Bridge, Grand Canyon, Grand Palace Bangkok, Great Barrier Reef, Great Wall of China, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Hermitage Museum, Hollywood Hills, Hoover Dam, Knossos, Kremlin and Red Square, Lake Baikal, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Loch Ness, Louvre, Machu Picchu, Mont-Saint- Michel, Mount Everest, Mount Fuji, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Rushmore, Mount Vesuvius, Niagara Falls and many more.

AUtHoR BIoGRA PHY

Bill Price is a freelance writer and seasoned traveller currently working and living in North London. For fifteen years he worked in various areas of the UK book trade, but more recently he has built a reputation as a specialist in nature/ travel writing and has become a regular contributor to a large number of international travel publications as well as popular reference books. His book entitled Landmarks of the World will be published by Canary Press in September 2007. When he is not exploring the more far-flung corners of our planet, he enjoys spending time at the sheep farm in rural Herefordshire where he grew up.


Landmarks of the WorldBill Pricepublishing

£25.00 978-0-9557438-5-6Hardback 192pp 4c × 4c 300 × 300mm

A truly great skyline can tell the story of a civilization and inspire thousands. For example, New York’s skyline has ignited the imaginations of film makers, writers and artists since construction began on the Empire State Building in 1930. Built during the dark days of the great depression, the Empire State Building has come to stand for highly prized American values of progress, hope, freedom, determination and wealth, and the panorama it inhabits is widely perceived to be the most spectacular of its kind.

As China continues to develop as a major economic power its cities grow upwards and outwards with unrelenting energy. The skylines of cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen now rival European cities like London and Frankfurt. Who knows, in a few years we could be regularly watching blockbuster movies set amongst the bustling boulevards of swinging Beijing. Skylines is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the stories behind these incredible vistas. What factors make a skyline iconic, and who are the architects behind them?

Contents

Skylines will include articles on: London - UK, Paris - France, New York - USA, San Francisco - USA, Hong Kong - China, Chicago - USA, Shang Hai - China, Singapore - Singapore, Tokyo - Japan, Toronto - Canada, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia, Shenzhen - China, Seattle - USA, Dubai - United Emirates, Seoul - South Korea, Sydney - Australia, Frankfurt - Germany, Sao Paolo - Brazil, Pittsburgh - USA, Dallas - USA, Guangzhou - China, Houston - USA, Atlanta - USA, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, Melbourne - Australia, Johannesburg - S. Africa, Osaka - Japan, Boston - USA, Panama City - Panama, Las Vegas - USA, Philadelphia - USA, Montreal - Canada, Berlin - Germany, Moscow - Russia.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Bill Price is a freelance writer and seasoned traveller currently working and living in North London. For fifteen years he worked in various areas of the UK book trade, but more recently he has built a reputation as a specialist in travel writing and has become a regular contributor to a large number of international travel publications as well as popular reference books. His book entitled Landmarks of the World was published by Canary Press in September 2007. When he is not exploring the more far flung corners of our planet, he enjoys spending time in the sheep farm in rural Herefordshire where he grew up.

skylinesBill Pricepublishing



£25.00 978-0-9561428-5-6

Hardback 192pp

4c × 4c 300 × 300mm

A society’s architecture can tell us a huge amount about the people in question, including their collective priorities, their deepest fears as well as their hopes for the future. A great building can do many things. It can sanctify or nurture, expose or protect, it can seem strong and impenetrable or warm and welcoming. The very best architects make their names and their livings from manipulating materials in order to stimulate both users and the public. Brand new buildings such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, can appear incredibly alien and exotic. Occasionally a space is successfully redefined; London’s Tate Modern was once a power station but has since been transformed into an internationally recognised powerhouse for the arts.

Great Modern Buildings explores the high-rise corporate cathedrals, museums, temples and homes that have impressed themselves on the collective conciousness through creativity of design, clever use of materials or sheer proportions. From the tallest skyscrapers to subterranean light installations, Great Modern Buildings is a beautifully illustrated architectural oddysey.

Contents

Great Modern Buildings includes articles on: Sydney Opera House, Asahi Brewery, Lloyd’s Building, Lotus Temple, World Arab Institute, Louvre Pyramid, Burj Al Arab, Guggenheim Museum, Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Lord’s Media Centre, Petronas Twin Towers, Vitra Fire Station, Fred and Ginger, UFA–Palast Cinema, Getty Center, 30 St Mary Axe, Allianz Arena, Tate Modern, City Hall, City of Arts and Sciences, Imperial War Museum, Jewish Museum, Kunsthaus Graz, Milwaukee Art Museum, Peckham Library, Scottish Parliament, Seattle Public Library, Selfridges Building, Taipei 101, Torre Agbar, Turning Torso, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Serpentine Gallery, Caltrans District 7 Headquarters, Parco Della Musica, Royal Ontario Museum, National Grand Theatre (China), Denver Art Museum, Prada Boutique, Laban Contemporary Dance Centre, Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati), The Deep, Mercedes-Benz Museum, Copenhagen Opera House, BMW–World, Barajas Airport, Phaeno Science Center, The Esplanade, National Aquatics Centre.

AUtHoR BIoGRAPHY

Bill Price is a freelance writer and seasoned traveller currently working and living in North London. For fifteen years he worked in various areas of the UK book trade, but more recently he has built a reputation as a specialist in travel writing and has become a regular contributor to a large number of international travel publications as well as popular reference books. His book entitled Landmarks of the World was published by Canary Press in September 2007. When he is not exploring the more far flung corners of our planet, he enjoys spending time in the sheep farm in rural Herefordshire where he grew up.

Great Modern BuildingsBill Pricepublishing

CANARYPRESS

Chantry House22 upperton RoadEastbourneEast Sussex BN21 1BF

T. +44 (0)1323 412 716F. +44 (0)1323 430 [email protected]

Documents

Canary Press Brochure