Reg G. Grant Books

"From the early pioneers to the latest space flight technology, this ... book charts the ... story behind humankind's conquest of the skies."--Back cover.

This title presents comprehensive coverage of the most dramatic moments in the history of aviation, from early attempts at flying to the exciting breakthroughs in contemporary technology. The book features archive images.

From Alexander the Great's conquest of the known world to the generals leading today's campaigns in Afghanistan, Commanders casts new light on the leaders who have forged history on the battlefield. Focusing on the greatest leaders in naval, field, and aerial warfare, such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon, and Horatio Nelson, the book gives an at-a-glance overview of each commander's life, provides a timeline, key data, and a psychological profile outlining the commander's strengths and weaknesses. Commanders also follows great leaders from outside the Western tradition, including the great Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Native American, and African leaders, explaining who fought whom and why.

From the Wright brothers' first powered flight, to Concorde's final voyage and the tragic crash of the Columbia, this is an enthralling history of aviation. Charting the trailblazers, jet test pilots and constant progress at the cutting-edge of technology, every aspect of flight is explored. Recalling memorable events - record-breaking flights, aerial warfare and terrorist hijackings - this is the story of how man's dream to fly became a reality and central to modern history.

A soldier's life, on and off the battlefield, in a new ebook(PDF) format From the Samurai of Japan to US riflemen, explore the dramatic experiences of soldiers who�ve fought battles and paid the price of warfare. Experience life on the frontline through personal accounts of the training, living conditions and engagements from 2,500 years of military history. Learn about fighting techniques and tactics from each era, and see the armour, uniforms, kit and weapons used in the field. Virtual tours take you inside the fortresses, ships, tanks and aircraft in which soldiers have battled, from a Viking longship to the cockpit of a B17 bomber. Foreword from Colonel Tim Collins (OBE), who made headlines with his inspirational �Eve-of-Battle� speech during the Iraqi conflict. An essential visual record of the fighting man.

This fascinating journey through a century of flight captures the spirit and excitement of aviation past and present, from the Wright brothers' first airborne attempts to the story behind the space race. Travellers Live through the bone-jarring, first moments of flight with pioneers such as Orville Wright, Harriet Quimby and Roland Garros. With absorbing profiles of the key personalities and the planes they flew, witness how flight became a reality. Trailblazers Adventurous fliers like Lindbergh and Earhart pushed the boundaries even further during the "golden age" of flight in the 1920s and '30s. Discover how these trailblazers conquered transatlantic routes and paved the way for new luxury passenger jets. Tragedies and Triumphs Remarkable images of flying boats, airships and space rockets combine with accounts of events such as the Hindenburg disaster, the U-2 spy plane crisis and life aboard the Mir space station to make this a thrilling and encyclopaedic record of aviation history.

From the first recorded battle, fought between the Canaanites and the Egyptians at Megiddo, to the modern era of Mutually Assured Destruction, warfare is as old as human history itself. Battle is the definitive record of this remarkable but brutal story. Battle features indispensable detail and insight into every aspect of war, providing you with the ultimate reference to 5,000 years of armed combat. The conflicts - from classical times to the present day, pinpoints the causes, events, and consequences of each war. The generals - from Alexander the Great to General Schwarzkopf - meet the pre-eminent military leaders of each age. The weapons - from chariots to laserguided missiles, examine the tools and technology of war. On the field of battle - witness the intensity, courage, and horrific reality of warfare through gripping and moving personal accounts.

A wonderful story of wartime days, fifty years ago, told in the words of both the GIs who crossed the Atlantic and the British people who made them welcome - most of the time. Fifty years ago, the first of 1 1/2 million American GIs landed on British soil, there to join their English cousins in a desperate fight against Hitler's Germany. Soon this "friendly invasion" spread all over the British Isles, as secret preparations got underway for a climactic invasion of continental Europe. Yanks were everywhere, the British thought, complaining about warm beer in the pubs, Brussels sprouts at every meal, and the typical British weather: rain, fog, dampness, and mud. While charming British girls and teaching them to jitterbug, surrounding themselves with gangs of English children demanding "Any gum, chum?" the GIs spent their money freely. "Overpaid, oversexed, and over here," muttered some of the natives. But the GIs had come primarily to fight Hitler. The mighty 8th Air Force flew countless perilous bombing raids deep into Germany, and, when D-Day finally came, Americans fought heroically on the beaches of Normandy, alongside British, Canadian, and Australian troops. That story has been told, but not this one - and highly entertaining it is!

Examines the history of the Berlin Wall and how it affected life in a politically divided city.