John Withington Livres

Looks at the role of floods in religion, mythology, literature, and art.

From ancient wars to terrorist attacks, now updated to include the 2008-2009 banking crisis   From AD61, when Queen Boudicca—outraged at her treatment at the hands of the Romans—marched on to the city and burned it to the gound, London has been hit by wave upon wave of destruction. This fascinating and unique book tells the story of more than 2,000 years of disaster from fire, water, disease, pollution, accident, storm, riot, terrorism, and enemy action. It chronicles well-known episodes like the Great Plague of 1655 and the Blitz, as well as lesser known events such as whirlwinds and earthquakes, and it also includes the human stories behind the catastrophes. This new editon also includes the terrorist attack of July 7, 2005, as well as a new section on the crises which have plagued the financial City, including the near-collapse of Britain's banks during 2008 and 2009. Ultimately, this history celebrates the spirit of a city and its people who have risen above it all.

The book explores the persistent threats to human existence throughout history, contrasting modern fears with those faced by previous generations. It examines natural disasters like volcanoes and floods, as well as pandemics such as cholera and smallpox, alongside the atrocities committed by figures like Hitler and Stalin. By highlighting these ongoing dangers, the narrative suggests that humanity's survival has always been at risk, challenging the perception that contemporary times are uniquely perilous.

How Britain has been bloodied but remained unbowed through a whole range of natural and man-made disasters.

Delves into some of the most despicable assassinations in history.

Gales, cyclones, blizzards, tornados, and hurricanes—few things demonstrate the awesome power of nature like a good storm. Devastating, diverse, and sometimes appearing completely out of nowhere, storms are also a source of both scientific and aesthetic wonder. In this book, John Withington takes an in-depth and unique look at the nature of storms and the impact that they have—both physical and cultural—on our lives. Withington shows how storms have changed the course of human history. From Roman times to the modern day, he shows how their devastating effects have wiped out entire communities, changed the fates of battle, and even reset the entire planet. He also shows how beneficial they have been to us: as an important feature of our atmosphere and climate, but also as a source of inspiration for nearly every artist who has ever lived, from Homer to Rembrandt, in works from the Old Testament to Robinson Crusoe. Beautifully illustrated, this book offers a fascinating look at Earth’s most fearsome events.

Secrets of the Centenarians delves into the reasons why the number of people living to 100 is growing at such an incredible rate.

An illumination of the glittering history of fireworks.

Už nejméně tři tisíciletí páchají lidé ze msty, touhy, zloby nebo zoufalství atentáty. Vrahové se neštítili vztáhnout ruku ani na svou rodinu, jako třeba turecký sultán, který nechal pobít svých devatenáct bratrů. Atentátů se dopouštějí dokonce i vlády. Kniha odhaluje fascinující detaily o pachatelích, promyšlené metody zabíjení, ale i nečekané důsledky.