Showing results by publisher "Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd" in History

For more than a century Major Thomas has been a footnote in diverging historical arguments. A proper hearing is long overdue. Opinion is still sharply divided on whether Breaker Morant and his Australian co-defendants were criminals who got what they deserved or scapegoats used by the British Empire. Major Thomas, the bush lawyer drafted in at the last minute to defend them, is invariably depicted as either a hero or an incompetent fool. Now, for the first time, Greg Growden attempts to unravel the truth about the lawyer and soldier who returned from South Africa a broken man. 

Every now and again America confronts its demons, walks away from deep internal division, and strives towards justice. Barack Obama: The Movement for Change tells the story of a visionary leader who refuses to be limited by America's history and determines instead to change it.

Deep down she knew she was only dreaming, knew that whatever feelings she cherished for him could never be fully returned. After all, he was the heir to the biggest clay works in all of Cornwall, and she was but the daughter of one of their workmen. For just as an unexpected passion began to blossom between Morwen Tremayne and Ben Killigrew, the fates seemed determined to stifle its growth. A long, bitter struggle between owner and workforce brought about Charles Killigrew’s sudden illness, and with it Ben’s summons to the head of the family firm.

Although Prime Minister Robert Menzies used to say Australians were "British to the bootstraps", there were some who worried we were not engaging enough with the countries in our own region. In the late 1970s and early 80s broadcaster Tim Bowden recorded interviews with some of Australia's pioneering journalists for their work in the Asia Pacific region and beyond, including Margaret Jones – the Sydney Morning Herald’s first correspondent accredited to Peking, in 1973, and Pat Burgess, perhaps most known for his coverage of the Vietnam War.

Does free speech have limits? Can torture be justified? Who is really in charge of your rights? Every day we are confronted with news of foreign governments who refuse to acknowledge liberties that we in the Western world take for granted. But civil liberties are nearly always under threat, no matter where you live. Tom Head traverses the globe in order to provide a clear introduction to what civil liberties are and why they're worth defending.

The Beat Generation was a revolutionary group of American writers in the late 50s and early 60s who fused an open approach to literature with a bohemian lifestyle. Immortalised through Kerouac’s On the Road and Ginsberg’s Howl, their relaxed, gritty, and candid writing continues to inspire anyone drawn to the unconventional.

Malinche was the Amerindian woman who translated for Hernan Cortès - from her lips came the words that triggered the fall of Moctezuma's Aztec empire to the Spanish in 1521. In Mexico Malinche's name is synonymous with "traitor". Yet folklore and legend still celebrate the mystique of this remarkable young woman. Malinche became a slave to strangers when just a girl, and was then passed on to Cortès as a concubine. She became his interpreter, indispensible to his campaigns, and mother to his son, only to be married off to another conquistador.

In Big Men, Broken Dreams, Bob Connolly and Robin Anderson relive the vicious tribal struggle that took place in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea through the 1980s while they were there to film documentaries. Connolly and Anderson recount to presenter Tim Bowden the devastating effects that blind ambition, welfare, destruction, and grief have on human beings - and how they managed to record 60 hours of footage while living in a grass hut with their 2-year-old daughter, Catherine.

Between 1941 and 1945, Wynne Brooks waited for her young soldier husband, Mickey, to return to her. In all the time he was away she wrote to him - first daily, then weekly, never knowing his whereabouts. In 1945, at the end of the war, her letters were returned, their messages of comfort and love unread, bearing the War Office stamp "No Trace".

With the ideology under more global scrutiny than ever in the wake of the war on Iraq and suspicions over election results, David Beetham offers new insights into democracy. He looks at real examples, such as the role of the citizen and how large corporations affect democracy. He also contemplates the future of democracy in the developed and developing worlds.

A thorough overview of the full spectrum of NATO's military and non-military activities. This is a comprehensive yet concise and accessible introduction to the history, role, activities, and future challenges facing NATO. Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, author Jennifer Medcalf guides the reader through the complex structure of this organization, providing ample support with a glossary, guide to further reading, and chronology. Despite predictions of its imminent demise, NATO is in fact more prominent than ever in international affairs.

For nearly half a century the world was divided in two, wrenched apart by superpowers that perceived the nations of the world only as either capitalist or communist. The Cold War was a battle not of weapons but rather of minds, fought by intelligence agencies, propaganda and covert government envoys. Using evidence from newly opened archives, Merrilyn Thomas peels back layers of deception and intrigue to dispel the myths of the Cold War. From the power of Mao’s Little Red Book to the menace of nuclear annihilation, this compelling account brings to life one of history’s most contentious periods, the legacy of which still haunts us today.

The mysterious art of magic has been a source of wonderment since before the time of Christ. Ranging from the supernatural practices of "black" magic to demonstrations of dazzling illusion, magic has been called on to conjure the evil eye, burn villages to the ground, and slice women in half. From the astrology of the three wise men to David Blaine's "stunts", Robert Ralley delves into this magical underworld and illuminates the dangerous balance between illusion, fraud, and wickedness that still exists today.

Science makes the modern world go round, driving the economy, shaping politics, and influencing the food we eat, the films we watch, and the authorities we trust. Although we are surrounded by its triumphs, science’s past is littered with disagreements, doubts, and misfires, while new developments are increasingly mired in controversy.

Why do good things happen to bad people? Can we prove whether God exists? What is the difference between right and wrong? Medieval philosophers were centrally concerned with such questions, questions which are as relevant today as a thousand years ago when the likes of Anselm and Aquinas sought to resolve them. In this fast-paced and enlightening guide, Sharon M. Kaye takes us on a whistle-stop tour of medieval philosophy, revealing the debt it owes to Aristotle and Plato.

In this clear and accessible introduction to Hinduism, Klaus K. Klostermaier offers a unique overview of a tradition that spans thousands of years. Explaining the origins, beliefs, scriptures, and philosophies of the religion, Klostermaier succeeds in capturing the rich diversity of rituals and gods that comprise Hinduism, whilst keeping the tone both entertaining and informative. Klostermaier’s exploration of this fascinating and long-lasting belief system is essential for students, followers, and interested listeners alike.

The Middle East is notoriously complex and difficult. This compact book on the topic by the University of Oxford's leading expert does not shirk the challenge. Organised thematically, and dealing with all the pivotal issues in the region, from oil and religion to gender and conflict, this comprehensive primer is both easy-to-read and full of insight. Stuffed with historical background, real-life examples, profiles of key figures from Nasser to Gadaffi, and even popular jokes from the area, The Middle East: A Beginner’s Guide will captivate tourists, students, and the interested general reader alike.