Conqueror by Conn Iggulden

The nation of Genghis Khan is slowly tearing itself apart.  After the death of the mighty Genghis, several men have adopted the mantle of Khan, but none have been able to halt the slow decline in the fortunes of the Mongol nation.

Genghis’ grandson Kublai Khan dreams of one day ruling this mighty empire, but to achieve this goal he has to first learn the art of war and finally must face his brothers in a bloody civil war.

Conn Iggulden’s Conqueror series has already chronicled the rise of the Mongol nation, and now he turns his attention to the fascinating figure of Kublai Khan, a mixture of soldier, diplomat and scholar, who conquered an empire greater than that of Alexander or Caesar and ruled it with strength and wisdom.

Conqueror is a real page turner, bringing the tales of the Mongol empire vividly to life.  A great read for anybody who enjoys epic historical fiction.

The Romantic Revolution by Tim Blanning

In the early 19th century, a cultural revolution took place which rocked the world.  Spearheaded by such figures as Byron, Wordsworth, Wagner, Liszt, Goya and Turner, they sought to challenge all  the existing artistic rules.

The Romantics stressed individual expression, dismissed the idea that artists should be tied to powerful patrons and initiated the worship of art and artists that continues to the present day.  The Romantic Revolution seeks to provide an introduction as to the reasons why this cultural shift happened and how it can be said to have created the cultural truths that are still adhered to today.

In a little under 200 pages,Tim Blanning has produced an accessible work which not only stimulates the imagination but highlights the efforts and achievements of some of the most notable artists of all time.

Frankenstein Book Five – The Dead Town by Dean Koontz

The war against humanity is well under way.  Victor Frankenstein has created an army, and his plan is nothing less than the total annihilation of humanity.

In the town of Rainbow Falls, Montana, a scattered group of survivors find themselves under siege by Frankenstein and his monsters.  This small band of humans, plus Deucalion, Frankenstein’s original attempt at replicating life, must face Frankenstein and his creations, with the future of the human race hanging in the balance.

The fifth and final book in Dean Koonz’s series,updating the classic tale of Frankenstein, The Dead Town brings the series to a satisfying conclusion.  It’s a real page-turner, full of interesting characters, which pays tribute to the original story by Mary Shelley, whilst developing it for its new setting in the 21st century.

Survivors:Our Story – The Nolans

Given the highs and lows of their lives, Survivors is a very apt title.  Coleen, Bernie, Linda and Maureen take us through their story, which begins with a childhood full of love, but also affected by family violence and the strain of performing at a young age.

Success came early, with guest appearances on many popular tv shows in the mid 1970′s, followed by a string of hit singles.  But harder times were round the corner, and as the hits dried up each sister had their own problems to face.

From broken relationships, battles with breast cancer, bankruptcy and family feuds, there have been plenty of dark moments, but the triumphant reunion tour of a few years ago shows that their belief that the best is yet to come could be well founded.

With the sisters alternating chapters, Survivors is a inspirational and warm account of four eventful showbiz lives.

Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Life of Merlin: A New Verse Translation

For the first time in English, Mark Walker presents a verse translation of the epic twelfth-century poem by Geoffrey of Monmouth.  Life of Merlin shows us the original Merlin – who is not only mysterious and mad, but also a king, prophet and a modern Renaissance man.

Geoffrey remains best known today for his earlier work, the History of the Kings of Britain, which describes many of the Arthurian legends which endure to this day – including Arthur’s final showdown with Mordred and the wounded King’s removal to the Isle of Avalon.

Mark Walker provides a detailed introduction which places this work in the context of Geoffrey’s life and writings, whilst also explaining some of the more obscure references.  The translation is in English hexameter verse, which gives the reader a feel for the original, Latin, version.

Life of Merlin is an interesting read, in which Geoffrey mixes together various historical sources to create the figure of Merlin, a character that continues to fascinate people today.

Robbie and Garry – It’s Complicated by Paul Scott

As Take That began their record breaking 2011 “Progress” tour, all eyes were on two of its members, Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow.  After Robbie left the group in the mid 1990′s, they  subsequently found themselves locked in one of the bitterest feuds in pop history.

Paul Scott’s book takes an in-depth look at their relationship, to try and understand exactly how this happened.  Certainly, there’s no doubt that Robbie felt constrained in Take That Mk 1, with Gary having almost total creative control.

Robbie’s later incredible solo career was matched by Gary’s complete failure as a solo artist.  The story is brought up to date with Gary’s new found success in Take That Mk 2 and the return of Robbie to the fold, but few would bet against more twists to come in the future.

This is a very readable unauthorised biography which goes some way to explaining the dynamic between the two stars.

Hugh Trevor-Roper: The Biography by Adam Sissman

Although long regarded as one of the most brilliant historians of his generation, it is for his catastrophic authentication of the forged Hitler diaries in the early 1980′s, that Trevor-Roper is best known today.

Adam Sisman’s well researched biography sheds new light on the hoax that was to prove his epitaph, but there’s a great deal more to his story than that.  An intelligence officer in WW2, Trevor-Roper was involved in code-breaking and interrogation, whilst shortly after the end of the war, his book The Last Days of Hitler was published.  It remains, after sixty years, a valuable account of Hitler’s final days.

Post-war, Trevor-Roper fell into the academic world, becoming notorious for his acerbic attacks on other historians whilst his tragicomic tenure as Master of Peterhouse is the final chapter in a full and varied life.  This is a comprehensive and entertaining biography, highlighting the successes and failures of a complex man.

Scream of Eagles by Robert K. Wilcox

In the darkest days of the Vietnam War, the US Navy’s kill ratio had fallen to 2:1, meaning that for every enemy plane destroyed, two of their own were lost.  Something drastic had to be done, and so the Fighter Weapons School, better known as Top Gun, was formed.

Using genuine enemy planes in brutally realistic dogfights, the Top Gun instructors drilled their students to a whole new level of fighting expertise.  This training paid off, and their eventual total air dominance was the one victory the US could take from the Vietnam War.

Through interviews with many of the pilots involved, Robert K. Wilcox is able to give the reader a vivid cockpit-view of the varied dog-fights that took place.  Originally published in 1990,  Scream of Eagles is a  readable and well researched history of the air war in Vietnam.

Nelson’s First Love by Patrick Delaforce

Lady Frances “Fanny” Nelson, nee Woolward, later Duchess of Bronte, was a gentlewoman of good family, brought up in the West Indies, on the rich plantation of Nevis.  In 1787 she married an unknown naval captain.  He was unpopular locally, with few prospects, and seen as a very poor catch.

However, within a few short years, her husband, Horatio Nelson, would come to be regarded as one of England’s greatest heroes, his legend cemented for evermore after his heroic death at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In biographies of Nelson, a great deal of space has been given to his adulterous affair with Emma Hamilton, ensuring that his wife’s part in his life has been sidelined and virtually ignored.  Patrick Delaforce’s biography, written from Frances’ viewpoint, and originally published in 1988, aims to redress the balance.

Nelson’s First Love is a compact, well illustrated book, which illuminates a neglected side of the story of Horatio Nelson.

Antony & Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy

The story of Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most famous of all time, and through countless plays, books and films continues to fascinate. Antony was one of the three men in control of the Roman Empire. Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt, former lover of Julius Caesar.

Over the centuries, their story has been retold many times, with many inventions and embellishments obscuring the true facts. Now, Adrian Goldsworthy, a noted writer on Ancient Rome, has gone back to the original sources and archaeological evidence to try and uncover the real people behind the myths.

Given the patchiness of the ancient sources, there are going to be gaps and speculation, but Goldsworthy always points these out, never allowing supposition to be recorded as fact.

With Antony and Cleopatra, Adrian Goldsworthy has produced a well-written and accessible work, explaining the complex political machinations of the day, as well as allowing the two central characters to emerge as more rounded figures than before.