A lighthearted look at paranormal sightings and an eerie account of British history that will fascinate and inform. The titles in the Very Peculiar History series are absorbing and easy-to-read guides to a wide range of historical and biographical subjects, featuring witty anecdotes, incredible information, and timelines. Royal Ghosts mixes spooky stories with solid history. The text moves from the thirteenth century to the reign of Victoria, exploring the historical background of the various ghosts and the palaces and other buildings in which they appeared, like the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace. Stories include those of Henry VIII's unfortunate wife Anne Boleyn--often spotted carrying her own head--and John Brown, a source of comfort for Queen Victoria after the death of Albert, who is said to walk the many corridors of Balmoral wearing a kilt.

With the echo of regal church bells still ringing in the ears of royalists and well-wishers worldwide, Fiona Macdonald take a look at the quirky, odd and downright bizarre circumstances surrounding the weddings of the kings, queens, princes and princesses of Britain. One must leave one's sense of decorum at the palace gates as the author tells the wacky stories surrounding the preparations, dresses, ceremonies and national moods that went with the excitement of a royal wedding, from England's resident marriage addict Henry VIII, through Anne Hyde, the 'commoner' who birthed two queens, right up to Prince Charles, Princess Diana and their son and daughter-in-law to be. Featuring facts, figures and family trees, Royal Weddings, A Very Peculiar History is sure to keep one in the spirit of things, even after the last fleck of confetti has touched the ground.

British Prime Ministers, A Very Peculiar History explores the lives, triumphs, tragedies and disasters of Great Britain’s prime ministers. Covering everything from the early wheeling and dealing of Robert Walpole and the dodgy building work at Number 10 Downing Street to the bloody killing of Spencer Perceval, the heroism of Winston Churchill and the controversies surrounding the influence of Thatcher and Blair. Featuring black and white illustrations, witty anecdotes, incredible information, a timeline and glossary, readers of all ages will be entertained and educated.

Which king's guards massacred a group of his supporters by mistake? Who had an oversized tongue and had to slobber when they ate food? Who was so large when they died that they had to be buried in a square coffin? Who survived seven assassination attempts? As you can tell from the bizarre questions above, it wasn't all thrones and sceptres for British kings and queens. Some of them were completely batty, and others were downright vicious. On the other hand, some monarchs were an icon to the people and represented the power and importance of Britain and England. 'Kings & Queens, A Very Peculiar History' explores some of the most marvellous monarchs to have ruled Britain and ekes out their bizarre habits and idiosyncracies, featuring quirky stories and fascinating facts and lists.

“Startlingly good” stories of Nepali society set against the backdrop of violent Maoist insurgencies (San Francisco Chronicle). From an author like “a Buddhist Chekhov,” The Royal Ghosts features characters trying to reconcile their true desires with the forces at work in Nepali society (San Francisco Chronicle). As political violence rages, these people struggle with their duties to their aging parents, an oppressive caste system, and the complexities of arranged marriage, striving to find peace and connection, and often discovering it in unexpected places. These stories, from the Whiting Award–winning author of Arresting God in Kathmandu and The Guru of Love, brilliantly examine not only Kathmandu during a time of upheaval, crisis, and cultural transformation but also the effects of the city on the individual consciousness. “Like William Trevor, Samrat Upadhyay compresses into a short story the breadth of vision and human consequence we expect from a novel, and he does so in a prose that seems as natural as breathing.” —Scott Russell Sanders, author of A Private History of Awe “Takes us straight into the heart of the troubled and enchanting kingdom of Nepal.” —The Washington Post “Upadhyay’s not-so-simple stories are lucid and often luminous.” —Publishers Weekly

Rooted in place, slipping between worlds - a rich collection of unnerving ghosts and sinister histories. 'An impressive line-up of established and emerging names.' The Sunday Times 'These eerie, unsettling stories are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.' Daily Express Eight authors were given the freedom of their chosen English Heritage site, from medieval castles to a Cold War nuclear bunker. Immersed in the past and chilled by rumours of hauntings, they channelled their darker imaginings into a series of extraordinary new ghost stories. 'Subtly evocative of human relations loss, grief, or the fear of loneliness.' TLS 'A satisfying and spooky read.' Sun Also includes a gazetteer of English Heritage properties which are said to be haunted.

With the centenary of the outbreak of the The Great War coming in 2014, 'World War One, A Very Peculiar History' commemorates the events of the time by looking at some of the incredible lengths, no matter how risky or bizarre, people went to to defend their country. From Front pigs to hairy beasts, author Jim Pipe looks at the nicknames coined at the time, while providing mind-boggling lists and figures about the battles, the equipment used and the harsh conditions the troops faced. Laced throughout this chronological description of the events leading up to and during the war are tales of human endeavour, charity and daring - some scary, some quirky, and some truly unbelievable. So take the time to take in the sheer scale of sacrifice, destruction and political tension that World War One resulted in, because we won't be able to ask first-hand what it was like to fight in World War One for much longer.