Library Results | Royal Museums Greenwich

Trading nature : Tahitians, Europeans, and ecological exchange /Jennifer Newell. "When Captain Samuel Wallis became the first European to land at Tahiti in June 1767, he left not only a British flag on shore but also three guinea hens, a pair of turkeys, a pregnant cat, and a garden planted with peas for the chiefess Purea. Thereafter, a succession of European captains, missionaries, and others planted seeds and introduced livestock from around the world. In turn, the islanders traded away great quantities of important island resources, including valuable and spiritually significant plants and animals. What did these exchanges mean? What was their impact? The answers are often unexpected. They also reveal the ways islanders retained control over their societies and landscapes in an era of increasing European intervention. Trading Nature explores - from both the European and Tahitian perspective - the effects of "ecological exchange" on one island from the mid-eighteenth century to the present day. Through a series of dramatic episodes, Trading Nature uncovers the potency of trading in nature. In the interweavings of chiefly power, ordinary islanders, the ambitions of outsiders, transplanted species, and existing ecologies, the book uncovers the cultural and ecological impacts of cross-cultural exchange. Evidence of these transactions has been found in a rich variety of voyage journals, missionary diaries, Tahitian accounts, colonial records, travelers' tales, and a range of visual and material sources. The story progresses from the first trades on Tahiti's shores for provisions for British and French ships to the contrasting histories of cattle in Tahiti and Hawai'i. Two key exportations of species are analyzed: the great breadfruit transplantation project that linked Britain to Tahiti and the Caribbean and the politically volatile trade in salt-pork that ran between Tahiti and the Australian colonies in the nineteenth century. In each case, the author explores the long-term impacts of the exchanges on modern Tahiti. Trading Nature is a finely researched and entertaining work that will find a ready audience among those with an interest in the Pacific, ecological history, and the startling consequences of entangling people, plants, and animals on island shores."--Provided by the publisher. 2010. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 382(4:963)

A Confederate biography : the cruise of the CSS Shenandoah /Dwight Sturtevant Hughes. "From October 1864 to November 1865 the CSS Shenandoah carried the Civil War around the globe, through every extreme of sea and storm. Her officers represented a cross section of the Confederacy, from Old Dominion first families through the Deep South aristocracy to a middle-class Missourian. Among these men were a nephew of Robert E. Lee, a grandnephew of founder George Mason, a son-in-law to Raphael Semmes, grandsons of men who fought at George Washington's side, and an uncle of Theodore Roosevelt. They considered themselves Americans, Southerners, rebels, and warriors embarking on the voyage of their lives, defending their country as they understood it and pursuing a difficult, dangerous mission in which they succeeded spectacularly after it no longer mattered. This book is, as Adm. Raphael Semmes describes, a biography of a cruise and a microcosm of the Confederate-American experience"--Provided by publisher. 2015 • BOOK • 1 copy available. 355.49"1861/1865"(73)

Heroes of Coastal Command : 1939-1945 /Andrew D. Bird. "In Heroes of Coastal Command, Andrew Bird examines the maritime war between 1939 and 1945, interweaving accounts of events of the period with personal stories of individuals caught up in them. Through interviews, letters, diaries and reports, all combined with his own research, the author looks afresh at the maritime conflict, reassessing long-held views of the Cinderella Service's defensive and offensive capabilities through the eyes of ordinary individuals battling for survival above the oceans against flak gun, enemy aircraft and weather as the stakes rose higher and the number of casualties become catastrophic. Heroes of Coastal Command makes the reader think again about the RAF's maritime arm, Coastal Command, which was established in 1936. Throughout the war, its crews worked tirelessly alongside the Royal Navy to keep Britain's vital sea lanes open. Together, they fought and won the Battle of the Atlantic, with RAF aircraft destroying 212 German U-Boats and sinking a significant tonnage of enemy warships and merchant vessels. Often working alone and unsupported, undertaking long patrols out over opens seas, Coastal Command bred a special kind of airman. This includes individuals such Lloyd Trigg, who was awarded the Victoria Cross; Roger Moorwood, a Blenheim pilot who flew in the Battle of France; Jack Davenport, who flew his Hampden; John Watson, the sole survivor of a Short Sunderland which was lost during a rescue mission; Maurice Guedj, a Frenchman who escaped from Morocco to join the Free French Air Force; Sam McHardy, who for a short while became a Coastal Command ground coordinator posted aboard a Royal Navy destroyer for a raid on Norway; and Ken Gatward, who flew a unique daylight mission over Paris to drop a Tricolore on the Arc de Triomphe. These are just some of the fabulous stories, full of daring and breath-taking courage, and individuals explored in this book."--Provided by the publisher. 2018. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 940.544.9(42)

The London County Council : bomb damage maps 1939-1945/Laurence Ward. "The aerial bombardment of London during the Second World War is one of the most significant events in the city's modern history. Between 1939 and 1945, London and its environs experienced destruction on a huge and deadly scale, with air raids and rocket attacks reducing entire buildings and steets to rubble. The London County Council Bomb Damage Maps, meticulously hand-coloured to document the level of damage being wrought on London's built environment, represent a key record of the destruction, the impact of which can still be seen in the capital's urban and social landscapes. They also speak of the human experience of war - of loss and camaraderie, of tragedy and heroism - conjuring the days of blackout and the 'Spirit of the Blitz.' They tell a story, moreover, that was echoed in towns and cities across Britain and throughout the war. Featuring new, high-quality images of each of the 110 maps that make up the set, this book marks the first occasion on which these truly remarkable documents - part historical artefacts, part social history - have been published for a general audience. A clear and fascinating introduction by expert Laurence Ward, one of the principal archivists at London Metropolitan Archives, sets the maps in the full historical context of the terrible events that gave rise to them. Also included is a series of extraordinary photographs of the damage done to the City of London in particular, taken with a sympathetic yet unflinching eye by police constables Arthur Cross and Fred Tibbs. Complete with additional archival photographs and tables of often grim statistics, this landmark publication offers an invaluable graphic representation of one of the most dramatic and affecting episodes in the history of London."--Provided by the publisher. 2015. • FOLIO • 1 copy available. 940.5432

The Royal Navy : a history since 1900 /Duncan Redford and Philip D. Grove. "Since 1900, the Royal Navy has seen vast changes to the way it operates. This book tells the story, not just of defeats and victories, but also of how the navy has adjusted to over 100 years of rapid technological and social change. The navy has changed almost beyond recognition since the far-reaching reforms made by Admiral Fisher at the turn of the century. Fisher radically overhauled the fleet, replacing the nineteenth-century wooden crafts with the latest in modern naval technology, including battleships (such as the iconic dreadnoughts), aircraft carriers and submarines. In World War I and World War II, the navy played a central role, especially as unrestricted submarine warfare and supply blockades became an integral part of twentieth-century combat. However it was the development of nuclear and missile technology during the Cold War era which drastically changed the face of naval warfare - today the navy can launch sea-based strikes across thousands of miles to reach targets deep inland. This book navigates the cross currents of over 100 years of British naval history. As well as operational issues, the authors also consider the symbolism attached to the navy in popular culture and the way naval personnel have been treated, looking at the changes in on-board life and service during the period, as well as the role of women in the navy. In addition to providing full coverage of the Royal Navy's wartime operations, the authors also consider the functions of the navy in periods of nominal peace - including disaster relief, diplomacy and exercises. Even in peacetime the Royal Navy had a substantial role to play. Covering the whole span of naval history from 1900 to the present, this book places the wars and battles fought by the navy within a wider context, looking at domestic politics, economic issues and international affairs. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in naval history and operations, as well as military history more generally."--Provided by the publisher. 2014. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 355.49"1900/..."(42)

Britannia Royal Naval College 1905-2005 : a century of officer training at Dartmouth /Jane Harrold and Richard Porter. "In 2005 Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) celebrated one hundred years of officer training and education at the shore-based establishment in Dartmouth. As part of the year long commemorations of the centenary of BRNC, Dr Jane Harrold and Dr Richard Porter have written a definitive history of the College, the genesis of Royal Naval Officers throughout the twentieth and into the twenty-first century. The story of BRNC is recounted focusing on the people and events that have shaped the College and the Royal Navy over a hundred years. The book starts by looking back at life for the cadets on board the College's predecessors HMS Britannia and HMS Hindostan, before exploring the Edwardian architecture of Aston Webb's College, using photographs of its unique architectural details. The development of naval education is examined, from the Selborne-Fisher Scheme of 1902, through the introduction of an all eighteen year old entry in the 1950s, up to present day restructuring of the syllabus and academic faculty. The College has also enjoyed a close association with the Royal Family, three twentieth century monarchs having received a Dartmouth education, in addition to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duke of York. The two World Wars also left their mark on the College and their impact is assessed. The first conflict saw the mobilisation of the College for war, while the second witnessed the bombing of the College itself. Finally the day-to-day life of the College, throughout a century punctuated by change, is examined to prove that the fundamental values of tradition, respect and leadership remain as valid today as one hundred years ago."--Provided by the publisher. 2005. • FOLIO • 1 copy available. 359.00711423592

Torpedoes, tea, and medals : the gallant life of Commander D.G.H. 'Jake' Wright DSC** Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve /by Captain Chris O'Flaherty, Royal Navy ; foreword by Vice Admiral Jerry Kyd CBE. "Derek Wright learnt about small boats from his father, who tragically died when Derek was just 14 years old. Sent away from his family to finish his education, he left school at 16 to join the global tea trade. Soon after he finished his training with Brooke Bond, famous for their 'Dividend' tea, Hitler invaded Poland and Britain was at war. By then known to his friends as 'Jake', he was one of the first Volunteer Reserves to be called up to fight for his country. Plucked from his naval training in HMS King Alfred, his warfighting initiation was on the beach at Dunkirk, helping evacuate stragglers after Operation DYNAMO. He then volunteered for Motor Torpedo Boats, where he served with valour and distinction. Whilst Hitler's U-Boats were torpedoing shipments of tea bound for Great Britain, Jake Wright reciprocated by torpedoing Axis coastal shipping off Europe. His first Command was MTB 331, trained for a daredevil mission to puncture German boom defences protecting their battleships. In his next Command, MTB 32, he was wounded in action whilst torpedoing a German convoy, but kept his small ship fighting against the odds to win the action and sink his enemy; for his bravery he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Further acts of gallantry in action, combined with tactical innovation, saw him earn two bars to his DSC as well as a Mention in Despatches; he became one of only 44 officers in the Second World War to receive a DSC with two Bars. After demobilisation he returned to the tea trade, rising to become one of Brooke Bond's senior directors supplying Britain's beloved beverage. He even helped refine how to make the perfect cup of tea. This is the life story of a determined, brave, innovative and decorated officer who has earned a place in the hearts of our nation. It is the story of Derek 'Jake' Wright, DSC**"--Provided by the publisher. 2022. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 359.0092

The perils of interpreting : the extraordinary lives of two translators between Qing China and the British Empire /Henrietta Harrison. "The 1793 British embassy to China, which led to Lord George Macartney's fraught encounter with the Qianlong emperor, has often been viewed as a clash of cultures fueled by the East's disinterest in the West. In The Perils of Interpreting, Henrietta Harrison presents a more nuanced picture, ingeniously shifting the historical lens to focus on Macartney's two interpreters at that meeting--Li Zibiao and George Thomas Staunton. Who were these two men? How did they intervene in the exchanges that they mediated? And what did these exchanges mean for them? From Galway to Chengde, and from political intrigues to personal encounters, Harrison reassesses a pivotal moment in relations between China and Britain. She shows that there were Chinese who were familiar with the West, but growing tensions endangered those who embraced both cultures and would eventually culminate in the Opium Wars. Harrison demonstrates that the Qing court's ignorance about the British did not simply happen, but was manufactured through the repression of cultural go-betweens like Li and Staunton. She traces Li's influence as Macartney's interpreter, the pressures Li faced in China as a result, and his later years in hiding. Staunton interpreted successfully for the British East India Company in Canton, but as Chinese anger grew against British imperial expansion in South Asia, he was compelled to flee to England. Harrison contends that in silencing expert voices, the Qing court missed an opportunity to gain insights that might have prevented a losing conflict with Britain. Uncovering the lives of two overlooked figures, The Perils of Interpreting offers an empathic argument for cross-cultural understanding in a connected world."--Provided by the publisher. 2021. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 327.5104109033

Conquering the Pacific : an unknown mariner and the final great voyage of the Age of Discovery /Andrâes Resâendez. "The story of an uncovered voyage as colourful and momentous as any on record for the Age of Discovery - and of the Black mariner whose stunning accomplishment has been until now lost to history. It began with a secret mission, no expenses spared. Spain, plotting to break Portugal's monopoly trade with the fabled Orient, set sail from a hidden Mexican port to cross the Pacific - and then, critically, to attempt the never-before-accomplished return, the vuelta. Four ships set out from Navidad, each one carrying a dream team of navigators. The smallest ship, guided by seaman Lope Martâin, a mulatto who had risen through the ranks to become one of the most qualified pilots of the era, soon pulled far ahead and became mysteriously lost from the fleet. It was the beginning of a voyage of epic scope, featuring mutiny, murderous encounters with Pacific islanders, astonishing physical hardships - and at last a triumphant return to the New World. But the pilot of the fleet's flagship, the Augustine friar mariner Andrâes de Urdaneta, later caught up with Martâin to achieve the vuelta as well. It was he who now basked in glory, while Lope Martâin was secretly sentenced to be hanged by the Spanish crown as repayment for his services. Acclaimed historian Andrâes Resâendez, through brilliant scholarship and riveting storytelling - including an astonishing outcome for the resilient Lope Martâin - sets the record straight. "--Provided by publisher. 2021. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 959.9/01092

South Pacific cauldron : World War II's great forgotten battlegrounds /Alan Rems. "While the Pacific War has been widely studied by military historians and venerated in popular culture through movies and other media, the fighting in the South Pacific theater has, with few exceptions, been remarkably neglected. Worthy of remembrance no less than Wake Island, Leyte Gulf, and Tarawa are the great unsung battlefields of Buna, Shaggy Ridge, and the Driniumor River on New Guinea, as well as the torpedo-infested waters off New Georgia; and the deadly skies over Rabaul and Wewak. Authoritative, yet written in a highly readable narrative style, "South Pacific Cauldron" is the first complete history embracing all land, sea and air operations in this critically important sector of that oceanic war. Unlike most other World War II accounts, this work covers the South Pacific operations in detail, including the little-known final Australian campaigns that continued until the Japanese surrender. Author Alan Rems breathes life into the major figures of the South Pacific campaigns, including brilliant and imperious General Douglas MacArthur, audacious and profane Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, and bibulous and indelicate Australian General Thomas Blamey. No less interesting are others that will be mostly new to readers, including many from the Japanese side, like the indomitable generals Noboru Sasaki and Hatazo Adachi. As for the fighting men, many of their stories are captured in accounts of the actions for which some were awarded the Medal of Honor, Victoria Cross, and other decorations for valor. "South Pacific Cauldron"'s story is enhanced with 16 maps and 40 photographs, many rarely seen, that were carefully chosen from official American and Australian sources. The book includes a detailed chronology to put the widely separated operations in context and a detailed bibliography for additional reading on the subject."--Provided by the publisher. [2014]. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 940.542.6

Conciliation on colonial frontiers : conflict, performance, and commemoration in Australia and the Pacific Rim /edited by Kate Darian-Smith and Penelope Edmonds. "Spanning the late 18th century to the present, this volume explores new directions in imperial and postcolonial histories of conciliation, performance, and conflict between European colonizers and Indigenous peoples in Australia and the Pacific Rim, including Aotearoa New Zealand, Hawaii and the Northwest Pacific Coast. It examines cultural 'rituals' and objects; the re-enactments of various events and encounters of exchange, conciliation and diplomacy that occurred on colonial frontiers between non-Indigenous and Indigenous peoples; commemorations of historic events; and how the histories of colonial conflict and conciliation are politicized in nation-building and national identities"-- 2015. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 305.8009182/3

Enlightenment travel and British identities : Thomas Pennant's tours of Scotland and Wales /Mary-Ann Constantine "Thomas Pennant of Downing, Flintshire (1726-1798), naturalist, antiquarian and self-styled 'Curious Traveller', published accounts of his pioneering travels in Scotland and Wales to wide acclaim between 1769 and 1784, directly inspiring Dr Johnson, James Boswell and hundreds of subsequent tourists. A keen observer and cataloguer of plants, birds, minerals and animals, Pennant corresponded with a trans-continental network of natural scientists (Linnaeus, Simon Pallas, Joseph Banks, Gilbert White), and was similarly well-connected with leading British antiquarians (William Borlase, Francis Grose, Richard Gough). Frequently cited as witness or authority across a wide range of disciplines, Pennant's texts have seldom been themselves the focus of critical attention. There is as yet no biography of Pennant, nor any edition of his prolific correspondence with many of the leading minds of the European Enlightenment. The 'Tours' were widely read and much imitated. As annotated copies reveal, readers were far from passive in their responses to the text, and 'local knowledge' would occasionally be summoned to challenge or correct them. But Pennant indisputably helped bring about a richer, more complex understanding of the multiple histories and cultures of Britain at a time when 'Britishness' was itself a fragile and developing concept. Because the 'Tours' drew on a vast network of informants (often incorporating material wholesale), they are, as texts, fascinatingly multi-voiced: many of the period's political tensions run through them. This volume of eleven essays seeks to address the comparative neglect of Pennant's travel writing by bringing together researchers from literary criticism, art history, Celtic studies, archaeology and natural history. Attentive to the visual as well as textual aspects of his topographical enquiries, it demonstrates how much there is to be said about the cross-currents (some pulling in quite contrary directions) in Pennant's work. In so doing they rehabilitate a neglected aspect of the Enlightenment in relation to questions of British identity, offering a new assessment of an important chapter in the development of domestic travel writing."--Provided by publisher. 2017. • BOOK • 1 copy available. 92PENNANT

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