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(Photo credit: The History Press)

Purchased in the centenary year of Captain Scott’s expedition to the South Pole, this book focuses on one particular member of the team that perished alongside Scott in March 1912.

Edward Wilson was a naturalist, doctor and artist as well as an explorer, who accompanied Scott on both of his Antarctic voyages. Indeed, Wilson was the only officer to go with Scott on both of these expeditions. He served as a surgeon and zoologist on board Discovery 1901-1904, and was Chief of Scientific Staff on the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition.

This biography by Isobel Williams is the first full account of the life of Edward Wilson and follows him from childhood through to his final days. He was an integral part of Scott’s team, not only in the vital role of medical officer. Wilson was the lead scientist and a meticulous researcher, his work, notes and collected specimens laid the foundations for many fields of Antarctic science. He was also a skilled artist and made accurate and detailed drawings and paintings on both expeditions, these were to be the last of their kind as photography soon took over as the preferred way to record voyages such as these.

This is a fascinating book that follows the extraordinary life of this Antarctic hero. Isobel Williams has written a detailed tribute to Edward Wilson which adds another layer to the story of Antarctic exploration.

This book forms part of our Graham Brown Collection. More information on With Scott in the Antarctic can be found in our catalogue.

As we near the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, many of us may feel we know all of the details of the tragic voyage. A great number of books, films, TV dramas and documentaries have detailed the events of 15 April 1912. We are familiar with the terrible story of 1500 people, struggling to survive in the icy waters of the Atlantic, as the ‘unsinkable’ ship went down.

Yet, what of those survived that night? How were their lives affected by this terrible experience? This is the focus of Andrew Wilson’s ‘Shadow of the Titanic’ which looks at the little documented impact of this event on those who were saved that night.

Seven hundred and five people survived the sinking that night. How did going through such a traumatic experience change the course of their lives? Andrew Wilson looks at the experience of a large number of survivors from all classes. The result is a unique insight into this enduring tale from the perspective of those who made it back.

You can find further details on Shadow of the Titanic : the extraordinary stories of those who survived on our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Cornell University Press)

The Eagle Watchers is a collection of 29 stories from leading eagle researchers, sharing their experiences in the field while studying these fascinating creatures.

The idea for the book was conceived by editor Ruth Tingay, while studying golden eagles on Skye. Her visiting parents were so captivated by the sight of the magnificent birds that Tingay realised that what she took for granted as part of her work, most people never experience or only experience as a once in a lifetime event.

The resulting work is a collection of stories intended for those of us who have never encountered an eagle, written by those who spend their lives with them. These are personal tales that did not feature in the authors’ scientific papers, and take place across the world from Scotland and the USA to Madagascar and New Guinea.

The book reads almost like a travelogue, covering six continents on the trail of 24 species of eagle. The species of eagle covered include the well-known bald and golden eagles as well as the more obscure such as the New Guinea harpy eagle and the critically endangered Philippine eagle and Madagascar fish eagle. The authors tell of their adventures in the search, containing diverse characters such as New Guinea tribesmen and grizzly bears.  However, the overriding theme is the passion and dedication of these people, who spend their lives studying the majestic eagle and striving for it’s conservation.

You can find more information on Eagle Watchers in our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Antique Collectors’ Club, ACC Editions)

Lost Worlds explores the most distinctive sites in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

This stunning publication represents the culmination of a three-year project by award-winning photographer Arthur Drooker. Drooker captures the magic and mystery of more than thirty ruins in sixteen countries.

His lumious images, shot in infra red format on a specially adapted digital camera, expose crumbling, overgrown walls, broken columns, and cracked arches in ways most readers will have never seen before.

These inspired photographs comprise a powerful visual meditation on the cultures, conflicts and conquests that forged the New World. He offers readers a new way of viewing the landscape as well as an enhanced vision of the collective identity of the Americas.

This extraordinary collection perfectly portrays the architectural, geographic and historical significance of ruins that are considered world wonders alongside little known gems.  It transports the reader on a journey to ancient temples, abandoned palaces and lofty citadels.

Included are

• monumental temples of Mexico’s Mayan civilization
• a Colonial era palace on the island of Haiti
• earthquake-ravaged cathedrals in Guatemala
• astonishing Incan citadels in Peru’s Sacred Valley – culminating with the breathtaking beauty of Machu Picchu.

In addition to the more than one hundred photographs, Lost Worlds features a foreword by noted writer Pico Iyer and brief text detailing the rise, fall and lasting significance of each ruin.

Evocative and enlightening, Lost Worlds will stir the imagination of those with a passion for photography, travel, history, architecture, and archaeology.

You can find further details of Lost Worlds on our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Penguin)

One evening in early 1966 a group of friends were gathered at a Manhattan dinner party, where the conversation turned to a subject a number of them had been thinking about: why couldn’t television be used to teach children?

Suddenly one of the most influential and durable shows in the history of broadcasting was born.

Sesame Street is the longest-running-and arguably most beloved- children’s television program ever created. Today, it reaches some six million preschoolers weekly in the United States and countless others in 140 countries around the world.

Street Gang is the compelling, comical, and inspiring story of a media masterpiece and pop- culture landmark.

Television reporter and columnist Michael Davis-with the complete participation of Joan Ganz Cooney, one of the show’s founders-unveils the idealistic personalities, decades of social and cultural change, stories of compassion and personal sacrifice, and miraculous efforts of writers, producers, directors, and puppeteers that together transformed an empty soundstage into the most recognisable block of real estate in television history.

It traces the evolution of the show from its inspiration in the civil rights movement through its many ups and downs – from Nixon’s trying to cut off its funding to the rise of Elmo – via the remarkable personalities who have contributed to it.

Michael Davis reveals how Sesame Street taught millions of children not only their letters and numbers, but also cooperation and fair play, tolerance and self-respect, conflict resolution, and the importance of listening.

You can find further details of Street Gang on our catalogue.

 (Photo credit: ‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky by Paolo Hewitt, Quercus (Quercus Editions Ltd.)

Sergeant Pepper. Woodstock. Altamont. Live Aid.

Moments that changed music forever.

Spanning the last 50 years from when Elvis Presley brought rock’n’roll to the mainstream via The Frank Sinatra Show to the death of Michael Jackson in 2009, influential music writer – and passionate music fan – Paolo Hewitt selects 50 key moments in the history of music.

The stories behind the iconic records and recordings, the untimely deaths, landmark live performances, on-screen incidents and all of the most outrageous moments are recounted in this captivating, comprehensive overview of the greatest musical form of the twentieth century.

Paolo Hewitt’s lively and readable text gives us a unique ‘insider’s view’ on each event explaining the background and immediate aftermath to the moment as well as its long term significance and legacy.

Each story is accompanied by an ‘at a glance’ box about each artist, their most significant achievements and contribution to rock history.

Alongside truly iconic moments, such as the birth of the Beatles and the shooting of Marvin Gaye by his father, less well-known, but equally sensational incidents include Sly Stone getting married during his own gig at Madison Square Garden, the Sex Pistols on the Bill Grundy show and Pete Doherty burgling the flat of his best friend and fellow Libertine Carl Barat.

Further details of  ‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky can be found on our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Nests / Sharon Beals. Chronicle Books, c2012)

As spring nears in the UK, we can look forward to watching the annual spectacle of birds pairing up and creating nests in which to raise their young. With so many nests built out of our sight, it is a rare treat to be able to see, close up, these intricate structures for ourselves. In ‘Nests : fifty nests and the birds that built them’, Sharon Beals allows us to do just this and gives us a fascinating insight into the lives of the birds who created them.

Beals has drawn on the collections of the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. Her work allows us to look in detail at 50 nests from around the world. These vary from the silky plant fibres and spider-webs of the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird to the sticks and leaves of the Greater Roadrunner.  Information on the creator of the nest and a detailed illustration accompanies each photograph.

As well as allowing us an insight into the variety of nests and the skills involved in making them – the work comes with a serious warning. As a result of environmental change, the birds responsible for building these nests are, in many cases, in decline. Beals warns us, changes in the way we live are required urgently, if we are to continue to enjoy the beauty of nests and their builders.

You can find further details of Nests : fifty nests and the birds that built them on our catalogue.

(The diary is shown here alongside the original. Photo credit: Extraordinary Editions. www.saswardiary.co.uk)

In 1946, after the end of the Second World War and once the SAS had been disbanded, a former soldier gave himself the task of collecting whatever documentation he could find so that the story of the SAS would not be forgotten. The result was a huge, leather bound diary weighing over 25lbs. This was then locked away for over 50 years until the soldier gave it to the SAS Regimental Association shortly before he died.

To mark the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the SAS, this diary has now been reproduced.  The SAS War Diary 1941-1945 is one of a limited edition print of a full scale reproduction of the 1946 original diary, and National Library of Scotland has recently purchased this extraordinary volume.

This collection of material, some of which cannot be found elsewhere, tells the full story of the SAS from its creation and throughout the Second World War. Many of the documents found here were previously classified Top Secret, including the actual order authorising the first ever SAS operation, reports on the capture of David Stirling and the role of the SAS in France for D Day.  These reports are complemented by 25 maps and over 300 photographs, many of which were taken on operations.

In the original diary, the soldier had left some blank pages at the end of the book. In this reproduction, these pages have been used to add to the story by including material from the SAS Regimental Association’s archives which highlight the history of 2 SAS and wartime SBS. Moreover, the edition purchased by the National Library also contains an additional chapter detailing the post-war activities of the SAS which, despite being disbanded, ran a War Crimes Investigation Team.

The result is a complete and full history of the SAS told in its own words, capturing the feel of the time in a way that a textbook never could. This diary is a must see for anyone interested in military history.

You can find further details of the SAS War Diary 1941 – 1945 in our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Duckworth Overlook)

Today, 7th February 2012, is the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’s birth.

Although a writer from the Victorian era, Dickens’s work transcends his time, language and culture. He remains a massive contemporary influence throughout the world and his writings continue to inspire film, TV, art, literature, artists and academia.

During his thirty-five years at the top of the literary tree in the English-speaking world, Dickens published fourteen and a half full-length novels and a great amount of shorter fiction, including five Christmas books and twenty Christmas stories as well as a mass of sketches, essays, topical journalism and other prose.

He also edited a monthly miscellany for two years and two successive weekly magazines for twenty years. He made dozens of eloquent and powerful speeches to a great variety of charitable organisations up and down the country and busied himself with an immense amount of work in this field including, for many years, actively overseeing the running of a ‘Home for homeless women’.

During the last twelve years of his life he also gave phenomenally successful public readings of his own work to enraptured audiences throughout Britain and in the north-eastern United States.

Michael Slater has spent half a century reading Dickens, writing about him and most of all enjoying him. In his inspiring book, The genius of Dickens, Slater captures the ideas and beliefs, the social and artistic ideals of  ‘Dickensian values’ and the ambition that helped shape Dickens’s prodigious output.

You can find further details of The genius of Dickens on our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Quercus)

From the ancient origins of astronomy to Dark Matter and Dark Energy, The Story of Astronomy charts the discoveries of some of the greatest minds in human history, and their attempts to unveil the secrets of the stars.

Written in an accessible and entertaining style, The story of astronomy demystifies some of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of science, as well as explaining why we have 60 minutes in an hour, how the Romans bodged the invention of the leap year and when people really discovered the Earth wasn’t flat (a thousand years before Columbus).

In the most straightforward and compelling of ways, Peter Aughton demonstrates the beauty and wonder of what Newton, Einstein, Hubble and Hawking really achieved. Richly informative and readable this is a fascinating journey through 3000 years of stargazing.

Included are chapters on:

• The Origins of Astronomy
• Astronomy in the Dark Ages
• Galileo – the great telescope maker
• Jeremiah Horrocks – father of English astronomy
• William Herschel – gazing deeper into space
• Albert Einstein – Relativity redefines astronomy
•  The Hubble universe
• Beyond the Visible Spectrum,
• Stephen Hawking – exploring the boundaries of space

Further details of The story of astronomy can be found on our catalogue.