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  Visiting the Fallen: Arras North

  Peter Hughes

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  Like Ypres, Arras was a front line town throughout the Great War. From March 1916 it became home to the British Army and it remained so until the Advance to Victory was well under way. In 1917 the Battle of Arras came and went. It occupied barely half a season, but was then largely forgotten; the periods before and after it have been virtually ignored, and yet the Arras sector was always important and holding it was never easy or without incident; death, of course, was never far away. The area around Arras is as rich in Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries as anywhere else on the Western Front, including the Somme and Ypres, and yet these quiet redoubts with their headstones proudly on parade still remain largely unvisited. This book is the story of the men who fell and who are now buried in those cemeteries; and the telling of their story is the telling of what it was like to be a soldier on the Western Front. 'Arras-North' is the first of three books by the same author. This volume contains in depth coverage of almost sixty Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries and is a veritable 'Who's Who' of officers and other ranks who fell on this part of the Western Front. It provides comprehensive details of gallantry awards and citations and describes many minor operations, raids and other actions, as well as the events that took place in April and May 1917. It is the story of warfare on the Western Front as illustrated through the lives of those who fought and died on the battlefields of Arras.There are many unsung heroes and personal tragedies, including a young man who went out into no man's land to rescue his brother, an uncle and nephew killed by the same shell, a suicide in the trenches and a young soldier killed by a random shell whilst celebrating his birthday with his comrades. There is an unexpected connection to Ulster dating back to the days of Oliver Cromwell and William of Orange, a link to Sinn Fein and an assassination, a descendant of Sir Isaac Newton, as well as a conjuror, a friend of P.G. Wodehouse, a young officer said to have been 'thrilled' to lead his platoon into the trenches for the first time, only to be killed three hours later, and a man whose headstone still awaits the addition of his Military Medal after almost a century, despite having been involved in one of the most daring rescues of the war. This is a superb reference guide for anyone visiting Arras and its battlefields.

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  Haunted Auburn and Opelika

  Michell Smith, Faith Serafin,...

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  Discover the ghostly presences that haunt this historic region of the South and its famed university—photos included!   The Auburn and Opelika region is home to one of the most historic universities in the South. It is a region with a history stretching back generations—and it is a history that is very much still alive.   Chilling remnants of the past continue to haunt Auburn-Opelika and the communities of Alabama’s Lee County. Join a team of expert ghost hunters as they reveal for the first time the stories of the spirits still lingering throughout the area. The haunting of the University’s Samford Hall, the legend of historic Springvilla mansion, and the Headless Man of Highway 80, among many other ghostly tales, uncover the darker side of Auburn-Opelika.  

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  The Ledge - An Adventure Story...

  Jim Davidson, Kevin Vaughan

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  On June 21, 1992, two best friends summited Mount Rainier. Within hours, their exquisite accomplishment would be overshadowed by tragedy. On their descent, Jim Davidson fell through an ice bridge on Rainier's northeast flank, plunging eighty feet into a narrow crevasse inside the Emmons Glacier and dragging Mike Price in after him. Mike fell to his death; Jim, badly injured and armed with minimal gear, faced an almost impossible climb back out of the crevasse, up a nearly vertical ice wall. Mourning his friend's death, he miraculously climbed out of the crevasse and lived to relate his experiences.Told in parallel narratives of the tragedy and the climbers' lives, The Ledge is both a riveting, wrenching story and an inspirational adventure tale.

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  The Ukimwi Road - from Kenya to...

  Dervla Murphy

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  Allowing herself several months to unwind, Dervla Murphy, at sixty, set off on a three-thousand-mile bike ride from Kenya to Zimbabwe via Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. She soon realized that, for travellers in search of tranquillity, Africa is best avoided. Beguiled by the loquacious people she met, she was nevertheless preoccupied by their immense hardships: the devastating effects of AIDS (or ukimwi as it's called in Swahili); drought and economic collapse; scepticism about Western aid schemes; and corruption and incompetence. During her journey, Murphy was sustained by her extraordinary thirst for adventure. Despite being beaten by paramilitaries, and having to endure starvation and a bout of malaria, her deeply personal, compassionate and often humorous description of East Africa and its peoples is high-spirited and hugely compelling.

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  My Holiday in North Korea - The...

  Wendy E. Simmons

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  “You remember Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun? Yeah, this really isn’t like those. It’s better” (San Francisco Chronicle).   Most people want out of North Korea. Wendy Simmons wanted in.   In My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth, Wendy shares a glimpse of North Korea as it’s never been seen before. Even though it’s the scariest place on Earth, somehow Wendy forgot to check her sense of humor at the border.   But Wendy’s initial amusement and bewilderment soon turned to frustration and growing paranoia. Before long, she learned the essential conundrum of “tourism” in North Korea: Travel is truly a love affair. But, just like love, it’s a two-way street. And North Korea deprives you of all this. They want you to fall in love with the singular vision of the country they’re willing to show you and nothing more.   Through poignant, laugh-out-loud essays and ninety-two never-before-published color photographs of North Korea, Wendy chronicles one of the strangest vacations ever. Along the way, she bares all while undergoing an inner journey as convoluted as the country itself.   “Much of the humor and poignancy comes from the absurdity of a fun-loving free spirit taking a vacation that’s more rigidly scripted and controlled than a presidential motorcade . . . Simmons’ photos—including an eerie image of a classroom full of schoolgirls playing accordions—further illustrate the bizarre nature of a country that, whether for good or bad, has been carefully controlled for generations.” —San Francisco Chronicle  “An irresistible read . . . A rare and fascinating look at the tourist’s North Korea in a work that is humorous, appalling, and very sad. A highly recommended and revealing glimpse into a secretive land.” —Library Journal  

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  History Culture Norway

  Michael Felix

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  Discover Norway, land of the Vikings. 
  Norway is a land where the echoes of the past resonate through its breathtaking landscapes, from the jagged peaks of the fjords to the quiet, ancient forests. But what if your journey to this Nordic wonder could be something more than just admiring the views? What if you could peel back the layers of time and truly connect with the stories that have shaped this land? This book is your key to doing just that. 
  This isn’t just a guidebook—it's an invitation to peer deeper into Norway’s soul. You’ll uncover the secrets of the Viking Age, where legends like Harald Fairhair and Leif Erikson carved out their place in history.  
  As you read, you’ll find that Norway’s past is not just about events and dates, but about people—warriors, explorers, kings, and everyday folk who all left their mark on this rugged land.  
  History, Culture, Norway goes beyond history; it’s about connecting those stories to the Norway you’ll experience today. It’s about understanding why the midnight sun shines over this land in summer, and why the Northern Lights dance across its winter skies. It’s about knowing the cultural significance behind a local festival or a traditional dish, and how these pieces of the past still pulse through Norwegian life today. 
  With this book in hand, your journey through Norway will be richer and more meaningful. You’ll see more than just sights—you’ll understand the deeper currents that have shaped this nation. 
  So whether you’re planning your first adventure to Norway or returning to explore more, this book offers a unique blend of history, culture, and insight that will transform your experience. It’s not just about where you go—it’s about how you see it. Get ready to discover Norway in a way that’s more than just memorable—it’s unforgettable.

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