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The Gunpowder Age
The Gunpowder Age: China, Military Innovation, and the Rise of the West in World History by Tonio Andrade
The adventures of the gun. With frequent ventures into explaining fallacies in why China fell behind. (To be sure, sometimes the fallacies seemed a bit cherry-picked.)
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The Romance of the London Directory
The Romance of the London Directory by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley
About names. Shorter than his other two works I've read and crossing much of the same grounds. His historical assertions often show the time written (19th century), and his claim that the common use of Robert was all derived from Robin Hood is -- implausible at best. (Much ( Read more... ) -
English Surnames: Their Sources and Significations
English Surnames: Their Sources and Significations by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley
A 19th century book with an overview. In a few places, the history it discusses is dated. However, it's mostly a good history of names. In places, it turns into lists (which may be useful for someone looking for names). Mostly medieval since that was the origin ( Read more... ) -
Queens of the Wild
Queens of the Wild: Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe: An Investigation by Ronald Hutton
After an opening discussing the difference between the survival of paganism and a pagan survival, he dices up five images held to be pagan survivals. Only four of them female, actually.
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Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature
Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley
A somewhat broader treatment, since it starts with the Norman Conquest, to set the stage. Witty in a dry academic manner. Sometimes goes into lists of instances of name to prove their use. A 19th century work so limited to before that time.
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With Zeal and with Bayonets Only
With Zeal and with Bayonets Only: The British Army on Campaign in North America, 1775-1783 by Matthew H. Spring
An analysis of the American Revolution from a British point of view. Their purpose was to defeat the rebel forces and thus convince the majority of Americans that the minority who had led them into rebellion were unable to win.
Obviously, ( Read more... )
