Beloved cultural icon and legend of British fashion, Paul Smith tells his Story.

Sir Paul Smith was born in Nottingham, England on 5th July 1946. An avid cyclist until he was 17, when a road accident put paid to his competitive dreams, through a new friendship group Paul found himself amongst a new world of creatively minded young people and from there embarked on a life-long journey of discovery and exploration in design, music and fashion. Paul met his now wife Pauline when he was 21. It was Pauline who introduced him to visual arts, cinema and much more and her influence and training at the Royal College of Art was instrumental in developing Paul’s understanding and skill of tailoring and garment design.

From its origins in one small shop in Nottingham, England, Paul Smith has grown into a global business, selling to five continents, over 70 countries and 3,000 shops. Paul Smith remains an independent company, with Paul Smith himself holding the majority stake. He is renowned for his creative spirit, which combines tradition and modernity. Famous for men’s and women’s tailoring, clothing and accessories collections, Paul Smith specialises in an inventive use of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge design to create beautifully made, modern pieces. 　

The Art of Listening to Yourself is a quiet, practical guide for people who feel overwhelmed, over-stimulated, or just ready for something simpler.

In a world full of noise, this book offers calm.

No rituals. No pressure.
Just short reflections, small practices, and one simple invitation: Pause. Listen. Return to yourself.

Inside you’ll find:
• Gentle chapters designed to be read in any order
• Simple exercises and journaling prompts after each chapter
• A Listening Toolkit with 26 ways to reconnect
• Blank pages to capture your own thoughts, whispers, and clarity

Whether you’re burned out, disconnected, or just craving stillness—you don’t need to be spiritual, enlightened, or perfect. You just need a moment. And a willingness to hear what’s already inside you.

“What you’re looking for isn’t out there—it’s already inside you. Let me help you find it.”
— Pete Kind　

He believes that personal growth doesn’t need to be overwhelming or spiritual to be meaningful. With calm, practical guidance and short, relatable exercises, Pete helps readers quiet the noise, reconnect with themselves, and realize their potential from the inside out.

His work is for people who want to feel better—but don’t want to fake it, force it, or meditate about it.

If his books feel like a deep breath, that’s exactly the point.

Using newly discovered primary sources, Moretti examines Montessori’s lifelong pacifist work, including her ultimately unsuccessful push for the creation of the White Cross, a humanitarian organization for war-affected children. Moretti shows that Montessori’s educational theories and practices would come to define chilren’s rights once adopted by influential international organizations, including the United Nations. She uncovers the significance of Montessori’s evolving philosophy of peace and early childhood education within broader conversations about internationalism and humanitarianism. 　

通过运用新近发现的一手资料，莫雷蒂考察了蒙台梭利毕生的和平主义实践，包括她为建立“白十字会”（一个为受战争影响儿童提供人道主义援助的组织）所做的努力。 尽管这一倡议最终未能实现。莫雷蒂指出，蒙台梭利的教育理论与实践在被包括联合国在内的重要国际组织采纳后，逐渐成为界定儿童权利的重要基础。她揭示了蒙台梭利不断发展的和平哲学与幼儿教育理念，在更广泛的国际主义与人道主义讨论中的重要意义。(Wendy)

Richard Neupert first tracks the precursors to New Wave cinema, showing how they provided blueprints for those who would follow. He then demonstrates that it was a core group of critics-turned-directors from the magazine Cahiers du Cinéma—especially François Truffaut, Claude Chabrol, and Jean-Luc Godard—who really revealed that filmmaking was changing forever. Later, their cohorts Eric Rohmer, Jacques Rivette, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, and Pierre Kast continued in their own unique ways to expand the range and depth of the New Wave.

In an exciting new chapter, Neupert explores the subgroup of French film practice known as the Left Bank Group, which included directors such as Alain Resnais and Agnès Varda. With the addition of this new material and an updated conclusion, Neupert presents a comprehensive review of the stunning variety of movies to come out of this important era in filmmaking.　

Singapore surrendered to the Japanese in February 1942, and Tom became a Prisoner of War. He lost his treasured ukulele in the confusion and chaos of bitter fighting, but cleverly concealed the cherished ring his wife Irene had lovingly given to him as he left England.

Fortuitously, Tom found a broken mandolin and, using its tuning pegs, made a homespun replacement ukulele. Although Tom said it was too small and not loud enough, it surprisingly survived for two years and gave Tom great solace whilst he slaved on the infamous Thai-Burma railway. Working in the heat and humidity of the Thai jungle was arduous. He suffered from several life-threating tropical diseases and illnesses; the food was sparse and unappetising, and the Japanese discipline was brutal. But they could not take away Tom’s powerful will to survive and his unending enthusiasm to entertain. Despite continuous adversity, he mustered the energy and in the darkest hours raised spirits by singing popular songs to his fellow Prisoners and was always ready to perform at camp concert parties.

After the railway’s completion, Tom built a second, more robust ukulele. He sketched its design and technical specification in his rough notebook, paying careful attention to the precise positioning of the frets. By scouring the prison camp, Tom collected discarded items and, using his ingenuity, improvisation and endless patience, he crafted a remarkable ukulele.

Concert parties provided an important distraction from the harsh realities of incarceration. Tom, with his new ukulele, thrived in the orchestras and choirs and performed in comedy routines, plays and musicals.

After the Japanese surrendered, Tom revealed the gold ring he had successfully kept hidden since his capture three and a half years previously. He soon returned home and, together with his ukulele, reunited with Irene and his family.

The Ukulele Man is a true story of Tom’s triumph over adversity through his passion for music and entertainment and not to let the Japanese defeat him. The Imperial War Museum North permanently displays the ukulele.　

1942年2月，新加坡向日军投降，汤姆沦为战俘。在激战的混乱与混沌中，他痛失珍爱的尤克里里，却巧妙藏匿了妻子艾琳在他离开英格兰时深情相赠的戒指。

机缘巧合下，汤姆发现一把破损的曼陀林，遂利用其弦钮，亲手制作了一把简陋的替代尤克里里。尽管这把琴太小且音色微弱，却在两年间奇迹般幸存，成为汤姆在臭名昭著的泰缅铁路奴役岁月中的莫大慰藉。在泰国丛林的酷热与潮湿中劳作异常艰辛：他饱受多种致命热带疾病的折磨；食物匮乏而难以下咽；日军的纪律残酷无情。然而，他们无法夺走汤姆求生的顽强意志与无尽的表演热情。纵使身处逆境，他仍积蓄力量，在最黑暗的时刻为战友们弹唱流行歌曲，鼓舞士气，随时准备在营地音乐会上献演。

铁路竣工后，汤姆打造了第二把更坚固的尤克里里。他在粗糙的笔记本上勾勒设计与技术参数，精心校准品柱的精准位置。通过搜罗战俘营中的废弃物品，凭借巧思、即兴创造与无尽耐心，他制作出一把非凡的尤克里里。

营地音乐会为囚禁的残酷现实提供了珍贵的暂时逃离。汤姆携新琴活跃于乐团与合唱队，在喜剧小品、戏剧与音乐剧中绽放光彩。

日本投降后，汤姆取出那颗在被俘三年半间成功藏匿的金戒指。他很快回到家乡，与尤克里里一起，与艾琳和亲人团聚。

《尤克里里琴师》是一个真实的故事，讲述了汤姆如何凭借对音乐与表演的热爱战胜逆境，决不让日本侵略者将他击垮。这把尤克里里如今永久陈列于帝国战争博物馆北方馆。(ZY)

雷的第二本书详述了斯托克波特柳林公墓中143座英联邦战争公墓委员会阵亡者墓地的个人历史。他将严谨的家族史叙事与每位安息者富有创意的影像相结合，书名为《名字背后：柳林公墓的战时墓地》。

自2021年起，雷在索尔福德的帝国战争博物馆北方馆担任志愿者。他对前远东战俘汤姆·博德曼制作的尤克里里展品产生了浓厚兴趣。2015年，雷结识了汤姆，并与汤姆及其子罗恩成为挚友。利用汤姆的日记与文件，雷为IWMN参观者开发了“深度解说讲座”，讲述汤姆如何制作尤克里里及其在泰缅铁路上的经历。

雷的其他志业还包括为英联邦战争公墓委员会的公众参与项目担任志愿者，进行关于CWGC工作的图解讲座，并协助组织重大纪念活动，例如2024年6月英国广播公司《The One Show》节目报道的诺曼底登陆纪念活动。

雷的父亲是诺曼底登陆老兵，他的父母曾是斯托克波特诺曼底老兵协会成员。雷现以财务主管的活跃角色，延续着他们的传统与记忆。

Ray Withnall is a retired IT project manager with a passion for researching British military history. Almost ten years ago, he came across a little-known former Japanese Prisoner of War camp in northeast Thailand at Ubon Ratchathani. By making connections in the town (Ray’s wife is Thai and lives in Ubon) and discovering available resources in the U.K., he thoroughly researched the camp. Five years later Ray self-published ‘UBON: The Last Camp Before Freedom’*.

Ray’s second book details the personal histories of all 143 Commonwealth War Grave Commission casualties in Stockport’s Willow Grove cemetery. He combined meticulous family history narrative with creative images of each individual resting place. It is called ‘Behind the Names: The War Graves of Willow Grove’.

Since 2021, Ray has volunteered at the Imperial War Museum North in Salford. He became interested in the exhibit of a ukulele made by ex-Far Eastern Prisoner of War Tom Boardman. Ray met Tom in 2015 and became good friends with him and Tom’s son, Ron. Using Tom’s diaries and papers, Ray developed an ‘Insight Talk’ for IWMN visitors. It informs them how Tom constructed his ukulele and his experience on the Thai-Burma railway.

Ray’s other interests include volunteering for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Public Engagement programme. This involves presenting illustrated talks about the work of the CWGC and assisting in major events, such as the D Day Commemoration featured on the BBC’s One Show in June 2024.

Ray’s father was a D Day Veteran. His parents were members of the Stockport Normandy Veterans Association, and Ray proudly continues their tradition and memory with an active role as treasurer.

Whilst much has been written about Churchill at the Admiralty, and even more concerning his wartime premiership, the ups and downs in-between have received somewhat less attention. Hence this volume, which seeks to tell the tale of the period beginning with him being unceremoniously sacked in 1915. As Lloyd George’s mistress and confidante wrote: ‘It seems strange that Churchill should have been in politics all these years, & yet not have won the confidence of a single party in the country, or a single colleague in the Cabinet.’

She was mistaken. One politician still valued Churchill’s gifts: the Prime Minister from 1916, David Lloyd George himself. But he had to act cautiously. Only in July 1917, during a broader reshuffle, did he dare risk appointing Churchill as Minister of Munitions. This was a courageous move. As one Tory grandee put it: ‘some of us myself included only joined L[loyd] G[eorge] on the distinct understanding that W[inston] Ch[urchill] was not to be a member of the Gov[ernmen]t.’

Lloyd George got away with it however, and few would dispute that his judgement was vindicated. As the man responsible for providing the British and wider Allied cause with the munitions of war, a vast undertaking by any standards, Churchill proved both competent and effective. Indeed, he was still in post at the end of the conflict in 1918, which is where this book ends.　

Charles Stephenson is a native of, and still lives in, north Wales. As an established author of military, naval, and political history his previous works for Pen & Sword encompass: The Siege of Tsingtau: The German-Japanese War 1914 (2017); Stalin’s War on Japan: The Red Army’s Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation 1945 (2021); and The Eastern Fleet and the Indian Ocean, 1942–1944: The Fleet that Had to Hide (2021).

This book looks at the facts regarding the Dardanelles campaign and Churchill’s other contributions to victory in WW1. That the facts are very different to the commonly held views is not surprising.　

Rex Bashford has been an avid student of military history at all periods during the whole of his life. He has collected an extensive library with many source materials on a wide variety of historical subjects, especially the military history of WW1 and WW2. He was admitted the Supreme Court of NSW as a Barrister in 1985 and has practiced as a consultant to many of the largest companies in Australia and international concerning insurance programs.

“…this is a most valuable, well-written and scholarly work…Churchillians will want to read and admire it.” - Finest Hour, official publication of The International Churchill Society

“Winston Churchill Soldier, The Military Life of a Gentleman at War is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding Churchill and how his political career was underpinned, shaped and informed by his time in the army. I would recommend it as a key text, one that stands out in the field, with appeal to a wide general readership.” - Allen Packwood, OBE Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, author of How Churchill Waged War and editor of The Cambridge Companion to Winston Churchill

“To understand Winston Churchill, one has to appreciate his time serving with the army, where so many of his character traits were shaped. No book does this nearly as well as Doug Russell’s volume, which gives an exhaustive overview of every aspect of Churchill’s military career, with rare insights, copious never before revealed details and a narrative that is both totally engaging and academically profound.” - Phil Reed, OBE, Curator Emeritus- Churchill War Rooms

“When Douglas Russell’s Winston Churchill Soldier was published in 2005 it was a groundbreaking piece of scholarship, and it has stood the test of time. His expert examination of Churchill’s military career, which had so many implications and reverberations decades later in the Second World War, still stands as required reading for anyone wanting to understand the career of one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century.” - Andrew Roberts, Lord Roberts of Belgravia, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny

As a young man Winston Churchill set out to become a hero, to make a name for himself in the public eye as a soldier and so make possible a life of politics and statesmanship. There were many chances to fail and many close calls in the face of sword, spear and bullet along the way. Yet Churchill survived and succeeded- an early measure of his courage and stubborn will that the world would come to know so well in the Second World War.

This is the first full-length, fully-researched biography of Churchill’s colourful military career. Using an unrivalled range of sources, and with previously unpublished photographs, and detailed maps by Sir Marin Gilbert, it brings vividly to life Churchill’s motives, abilities, experiences, successes and failures, and his unswerving sense of destiny as an officer in the British Army. The result is a story to echo the man himself- rich in action, courage, charismatic self-belief, patriotism and humour.　

“这是一部极具价值、文笔优美且学术严谨的著作，所有丘吉尔研究者都会渴望阅读并赞赏。”——《光辉时刻》，国际丘吉尔学会官方出版物

《“温斯顿·丘吉尔从军记》讲述了这位战时绅士的戎马生涯，是所有希望理解丘吉尔、了解他的政治生涯如何由军旅岁月支撑、塑造并赋予洞见者的必读之作。我愿将其推荐为核心读物，这一领域中的杰出著作，将吸引广大普通读者。”——艾伦·帕克伍德，丘吉尔档案中心主任，《丘吉尔如何发动战争》的作者，《剑桥丘吉尔指南》的编辑

“要理解温斯顿·丘吉尔，必须了解他的军旅岁月，他的诸多性格特质正是在此间形成。没有哪本书能像道格·拉塞尔的著作这样出色地完成这一任务。该书全面概述了丘吉尔军事生涯的方方面面，提供了罕见的洞察、大量前所未见的细节，其叙述既引人入胜又具学术深度。”——菲尔·里德，丘吉尔战时办公室荣誉馆长

“道格拉斯·拉塞尔的《温斯顿·丘吉尔从军记》于2005年出版时，便是一部开创性的学术著作，且经得起时间考验。他对丘吉尔军事生涯的精深研究，这段经历在数十年后的二战中产生了诸多深远影响，至今仍是任何希望理解这位20世纪最重要人物之一者的必读之作。”——安德鲁·罗伯茨，贝尔格莱维亚的罗伯茨勋爵，《丘吉尔：与命运同行》的作者

青年时代的温斯顿·丘吉尔立志成为英雄，渴望以军人身份在公众视野中崭露头角，从而为从政之路奠定基础。在刀锋、长矛与子弹的威胁下，他经历无数次濒临失败的险境，却最终幸存并取得成功，这正是世界后来在二战中所熟知的、贯穿其一生的勇气与顽强意志的早期写照。

本书是首部全面深入、基于详尽研究的丘吉尔多彩军事生涯传记。作者运用无与伦比的资料来源，配以马丁·吉尔伯特爵士绘制的详尽地图及此前未公开的照片，生动再现了丘吉尔作为英国陆军军官的动机、能力、经历、成败得失，以及他不可动摇的宿命感。最终呈现的故事恰如丘吉尔本人，充满行动、勇气、具有魅力的自信、爱国情怀与幽默感。(ZY)

Douglas S. Russell was educated at Grinnell College, The Defense Language Institute, and The University of Iowa College of Law. He served in the United States Army, Military Intelligence. He is a retired Judge of the Iowa District Court and lives in Iowa City, Iowa, USA. He is the author of the acclaimed The Orders, Decorations and Medals of Sir Winston Churchill. He is married to Susan M. Feeney and the proud step-father of Cybil, Liz, Mindy and Kyle.

This book illuminates the critical role of intelligence officers in the Second World War, providing new insight into their often-unseen contributions to military strategy and espionage. Through Wilfred’s experiences, readers will discover the complex world of codebreaking, tactical intelligence, and the quiet heroism of those working behind the frontlines. His story offers a rare and invaluable perspective on the art of war, showing how intelligence shaped battles and altered the course of history.

Beyond military service, this memoir is a rich family legacy, offering a profound and inspiring account of sacrifice, resilience, and bravery. Filled with powerful images and historical documents, it stands as both a tribute to Wilfred’s courage and a testament to the enduring impact of one family’s contributions to the war effort. His story, filled with tragedy, triumph, and a legacy of quiet leadership, will inspire and astound readers for generations to come.　

Jack Needler is a passionate military history enthusiast, based in Windsor and has dedicated much of his life to researching the Second World War and writing about the untold history. Specialising in the stories of those who served, with a particular focus on uncovering untold narratives, Jack’s work reflects his commitment to preserving the legacy of the past and sharing the remarkable histories of those who shaped the course of history, particularly that of his grandfather, Wilfred Needler.

Harry Walker was a young doctor in a mobile surgical unit which worked close behind the fighting front. He was a witness to these great events and his letters to Annie and Flo illuminate the bald facts of the campaign. Unlike many other published wartime letters or diaries Kate Venables’ book has a strong, researched contextualising social and military history which is not only authoritative but also written in fluent everyday English which simplifies an often complex war situation. At the same time, it is a personal document by Harry’s daughter and is generously illustrated with images from the family collection as well as from public archives.

Harry’s letters are written in tents, bunkers, and abandoned buildings. As well as Allied soldiers, he treats Japanese prisoners, escaped Allied prisoners-of-war, and Javanese civilians. In the quiet times between surges of casualties, he writes letters about the government’s conduct of the war and what the world might be like afterwards, about books, the vagaries of the mail, and the quality of cigarettes. Annie and Flo, his correspondents and old family friends, respond to his descriptions and his grouses. The letters create a grounded and familiar world away from the mud and blood, a world of Middlesbrough and the moors, family and friends, books and talk, where he is a boy again.　

KATE VENABLES is Harry Walker’s daughter and followed him into medicine. She is an Emeritus Reader and Fellow at the University of Oxford where she specialises in epidemiology and on the occupational causes of disease. She has used the life histories, letters and memoirs of individual doctors and nurses to explore the experience of ordinary people during the Second World War in a series of articles in the history and life-writing press and is currently working on a memoir that draws on her father’s early death and their shared profession of medicine. Her website is at katevenableswriting.wordpress.com.

Dennis Oliver is the author of over twenty books on Second World War armoured vehicles including Panther Medium Tank: German Army and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 and Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer: German Army, Western Europe 1944-1945.

This book in the Images of War series is a highly illustrated record of German tanks and armour that fought in the Ukraine between 1941 and 1944. It describes how these deadly machines fought and supported the infantry on the battlefield. It depicts how these formidable weapons were adapted and up-gunned to face the ever-increasing enemy threat. With rare and often unpublished photographs this book provides a unique insight into German armour in the Ukraine from its early triumphant days in 1941 and 1942 to its slow and painful retreat in 1944.　

Ian Baxter is an avid collector of WW2 photographs. His previous books in this Series include Hitler’s Boy Soldiers, Nazi Concentration Camp Commandants and German Army on the Eastern Front – The Advance, German Army on the Eastern Front – The Retreat and Nazi Concentration Camp Commandants, The Crushing of Army Group (North) and the SS Waffen Division series including SS Leibstandarte Division and SS Totenkopf Division At War. He lives near Chelmsford, Essex.

Dennis Oliver is the author of over twenty books on Second World War armoured vehicles including Panther Medium Tank: German Army and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 and Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer: German Army, Western Europe 1944-1945.

Dennis Oliver is the author of over twenty books on Second World War armoured vehicles including Panther Medium Tank: German Army and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 and Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer: German Army, Western Europe 1944-1945.

Dennis Oliver is the author of over twenty books on Second World War armoured vehicles including Panther Medium Tank: German Army and Luftwaffe Units, Eastern Front, 1944 and Jagdpanther Tank Destroyer: German Army, Western Europe 1944-1945.