europe

"Orphaned from infancy, Catherine de' Medici endured a tumultuous childhood. Married to the French king, she was widowed by forty, only to become the power behind the French throne during a period of intense civil strife. In 1546, Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Elisabeth de Valois, who would become Queen of Spain. Two years later, Catherine welcomed to her nursery the beguiling young Mary, Queen of Scots, who would later become her daughter-in-law. Together, Catherine, Elisabeth, and Mary lived through the sea changes that transformed sixteenth-century Europe, a time of expanding empires, religious discord, and populist revolt, as concepts of nationhood began to emerge and ideas of sovereignty inched closer to absolutism. They would learn that to rule as a queen was to wage a constant war against the deeply entrenched misogyny of their time. Following the intertwined stories of the three women from girlhood through young adulthood, [this book] paints a picture of a world in which a woman could wield power at the highest level yet remain at the mercy of the state, her body serving as the currency of empire and dynasty, sacrificed to the will of husband, family, kingdom"--Provided by publisher.

This guide presents the changes that led to the revolution, important inventions and innovations, societal and economic consequences, and the Second Industrial Revolution in the United States.

NOVA's expert team looks for the signature of a volcanic eruption big enough to have blasted a huge cloud of ash and sulfuric acid into the atmosphere. Killer Volcanoes spotlights the search for the mystery volcano that plunged the globe into a deep freeze and inflicted famine on medieval Europe.

Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion ... Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life. Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world. The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

An illustrated, historical overview of World War II, focusing on the European and African campaigns, and featuring time lines, photographs, and text describing the Munich Conference, Blitzkrieg, Operation Barbarossa, D-Day, and related topics.

Compares and contrasts the lives, motivations, and dictatorial policies of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin and presents commentary from historiams and psychologist on the factors that allowed each to come to power.

"When Hitler invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Virginia Hall was traveling in Europe. Which was dangerous enough, but as fighting erupted across the continent, instead of returning home, she headed to France. In a country divided between freedom and fascism, Virginia was determined to do her part for the Allies. An ordinary woman from Baltimore, Maryland, she dove into the action, first joining a French ambulance unit and later becoming an undercover agent for both the British Special Operations Executive and the US Office of Strategic Services. Working as a spy in the intelligence network, she made her way to Vichy, coordinating Resistance movements, assisting in the sabotage of Nazis, and rescuing downed Allied soldiers. She passed in plain sight of the enemy, and soon found herself being hunted by the Gestapo. But Virginia cleverly evaded discovery and death, often through bold feats and daring escapes. Her covert operations, efforts with the Resistance, and risky work as a wireless telegraph operator greatly contributed to the Allies' eventual win"--.

Explains why the Great Depression occurred in the 1930s, features excerpts from speeches, letters, diaries, and other primary source materials that provide insights into the events of the worldwide economic slump, and includes photographs and opinions from historians.

Presents a photographic introduction to castles, explaining what they are, reviewing the history of castle building and use, looking at various rooms in a castle, and discussing life in the castle environment.

"Of all the many crimes and atrocities the Nazis committed during World War II, those that occurred in the camps arguably constitute the worst in human memory. This is especially true of the death camps, which were designed specifically to exterminate people. Filled with eyewitness testimony, this volume tell the . . . story of the atrocities committed in those camps. It also describes the eventual liberation of the camps."--Provided by publisher.