The Graves Are Walking: The Great Famine and the Saga of the Irish People

John Kelly. A fresh, fair look at the causes of the devastating Irish potato famine. While there already exists solid coverage of this tragic episode in history, Kelly provides a comprehensive exploration of the crisis in terms of the Irish demographic and geographical makeup, economic infrastructure, tenant-farming patterns, landowner manipulation and wrongheaded British relief policy. Roundly researched work with many poignant stories of misery and loss.--Kirkus

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Heretic Queen: Queen Elizabeth I and the Wars of Religion

Susan Ronald. Ronald sets the Elizabethan age within the context of the Catholic-Protestant wars of religion that flared across Europe throughout the latter half of the 16th century. She deftly pulls together a vast amount of historical research into a compelling narrative that is essential reading for anyone interested in the strife-torn world in which this most fascinating queen used both wits and diplomacy to safeguard her kingdom, despite almost insurmountable odds.--Publisher's Weekly

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The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire

Anthony Everitt. Unlike its decline and fall, Romeas rise enjoys no literary tradition, but this fine history will satisfy curious readers. After dutifully recounting the founding legends, historian Everitt introduces the Republic. Born, according to tradition, in 509 B.C.E., after the overthrow of a monarchy, the Republic was an oligarchy ruled by elected consuls and a nonelected Senate. Sensibly avoiding parallels with todayas geopolitics, Everitt delivers an often unsettling account of a stubbornly belligerent nation-state that became the Westas first superpower.

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