Bøger af Frank McLynn

Genghis Khan was by far the greatest conqueror the world has ever known, whose empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to central Europe, including all of China, the Middle East and Russia. So how did an illiterate nomad rise to such colossal power, eclipsing Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Napoleon?

A vivid, brutal and enthralling account of the Burma Campaign - one of the most punishing and hard-fought military adventures of World War Two. The Burma Campaign was one of the most punishing and protracted military adventures of World War Two.

Marcus Aurelius is the one great figure of antiquity who still speaks to us today, nearly 2,000 years after his death.

'Fascinating. A compelling and intriguing volume.' Associated Press Scarcely over a hundred years ago, Africa was still the Dark Continent to Europeans-its geography and peoples largely unknown. The continent was Nature's last great fortress, made seemingly impregnable by disease, hostile tribes, dangerous animals, extremes of climate and an inhospitable terrain. However, the era of discovery eventually dawned: Africa was being opened up. Through the combination of individual endeavour and technological breakthrough, a handful of explorers began exploring and mapping Africa. Livingstone, Stanley, Burton, Speke, Baker, and others-these extraordinary characters risked their lives to uncover the mysteries of the Dark Continent. Frank McLynn proposes a thematic treatment of the subject; opening with an historical survey of the achievements and scope of the explorers, detailing the legendary search of the source of the Nile, the traversing of the Congo and Niger, and the recovery of Livingstone. The ensuing chapters deal then with different aspects of exploration over the period. The highly-praised Hearts of Darkness brings us the reality behind the myths and legends of England's first steps into the Dark Continent. Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean, Villa and Zapata and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books. Praise for Frank McLynn: 'A remarkable opus.' ALA Booklist 'An eye-opening safari into the history and psychobiography of Africa exploration.' Kirkus Reviews 'In sturdy, confident prose McLynn takes an intriguing tack by offering a thematic, comparative account of African exploration during the Victorian era.' Publishers Weekly 'A readable, well-written and worthwhile work.' Seattle Times 'A smoothly written account of African exploration during the Victorian era. [McLynn] presents fascinating derails on everything from the eating habits of the black mamba to the ravages of the tsetse fly on the European travellers.' Tampa Tribune and Times

'Refreshing ... Frank McLynn has plunged into an important episode in the modern Mexican experience - namely, the social and political revolution that rocked the country for some twenty years, cost two million lives and reshaped its institutions.' The Wall Street JournalThe Mexican Revolution erupted in 1910 to the cry of "Tierra y Libertad" - Land and Liberty. In the ten years that followed, bloody clashes between impassioned rebels and unscrupulous autocrats convulsed a nation in search of a new identity. It was the first massive social revolution of the twentieth century. Even as it visited further economic, cultural, and racial strife upon a country plagued by oppressive officials and crippled by poverty, it offered hope to the populace. And it made the rebel-outlaws Francisco (Pancho) Villa and Emiliano Zapata heroes in their time.Villa and Zapata vividly chronicles the decade of turbulent and violent events. The ruthless Pancho Villa and his army of ex-cowboys in the north and Emiliano Zapata, recruiting his infantry from the sugar plantations in the south, successfully waged a devastating war on two fronts and brought down a string of autocrats in Mexico City. Frank McLynn tells the story of the revolutionaries' chaotic fight for a cause that more towards agrarian reform than towards the amassing of political power. The struggle expertly reveals the inescapable influence of the United States, intertwined with the use of the railway network to transport men and weapons. This rousing history recounts, too, the downfall of these two revolutionary heroes. Despite their triumph and only meeting, in 1914, in the Mexican capital, they failed to make common cause and fell victim to intrigues more treacherous than their own. Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books.Praise for Frank McLynn: 'Frank McLynn's achievement ... is to give Charles Edward a solidarity and three-dimensional reality that he usually lacks ... His account of the risings themselves is exemplary and he offers the best case yet for the nearness to success of the '45. What is usually seen as the last shiver of an anachronistic and romantic throwback emerges as a genuine alternative to Whiggery and the Act of Settlement.' Brian Morton, TES'A broad canvas, dealing not only with sober historical truth but with the magic spell that either seduced or repelled Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Scott, Borrow, Buchan, Stevenson and a hundred Irish poets...' Diarmaid O'Muirithe, Irish Independent'A readable and fresh study ... thoroughly researched.' Esmond Wright, Contemporary Review'Valuable in covering the wide sweep of Scotland, England, Ireland and the Continent, and bringing together many diverse strands into a coherent whole. Its wide range and taut approach make it very useful.' Rennie McOwan, The Tablet'Packed with fascinating detail.' Denis Hills, choosing his book of the year in the Spectator'Fitzroy Maclean has found his Boswell in Frank McLynn.' Trevor Royle, Scotland on Sunday'Most entertaining.' Richard West'Important, timely and balanced.' Soldier

'McLynn's splendid and eminently readable biography gives us not Charles the myth but the man ... as he shows, the key to understanding the prince lies in the entanglement of the inner personal drama with the tragedy played on the public stage.' Kevin Sharpe, SpectatorIn this highly acclaimed biography Frank McLynn brings vividly before us the man Charles Edward Stuart who became known to legend as Bonnie Prince Charlie and whose unsuccessful challenge to the Hanoverian throne was followed by the crushing defeat at Culloden in 1746. The prince was to play out the rest of his career dogged by a sense of failure and betrayal. Yet Frank McLynn argues powerfully that failure was far from inevitable and history in 1745 came close to taking quite a different turn. This insightful study also encompasses some of the other leading players of the era and its significant events, including the Gaeta Campaign, the failure of the Elibank Plot, the effective end of Jacobitism, the Pope's refusal to recognise the prince as 'Charles III' on his return to Rome and the negotiations with Choiseul over the projected French invasion of England. Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books.Praise for Frank McLynn: 'The definitive biography.' TLS'Does much to explain the contradictory accounts left to us of the man.' London Review of Books 'Frank McLynn's achievement ... is to give Charles Edward a solidarity and three-dimensional reality that he usually lacks ... His account of the risings themselves is exemplary and he offers the best case yet for the nearness to success of the '45. What is usually seen as the last shiver of an anachronistic and romantic throwback emerges as a genuine alternative to Whiggery and the Act of Settlement.' Brian Morton, TES'A broad canvas, dealing not only with sober historical truth but with the magic spell that either seduced or repelled Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Scott, Borrow, Buchan, Stevenson and a hundred Irish poets...' Diarmaid O'Muirithe, Irish Independent'McLynn is to be congratulated on a great success, a work ... of mature reflection, acute judgement and great humanity.' Jeremy Black, History'A readable and fresh study ... thoroughly researched.' Esmond Wright, Contemporary Review'Packed with fascinating detail.' Denis Hills, choosing his book of the year in the Spectator'Fitzroy Maclean has found his Boswell in Frank McLynn.' Trevor Royle, Scotland on Sunday'Most entertaining.' Richard West'Important, timely and balanced.' Soldier

'In short, McLynn's is a much more conventional literary biography, and those devoted to that genre will find it exemplary.' Booklist ReviewRobert Louis Stevenson is most famously remembered as the author of 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.' But the life of the writer was as extraordinary as some of his creations. Having grown up in Scotland, Stevenson was shaped by the experiences of his childhood: Calvinism, strained family relations and persistent ill health. These themes would carry on throughout his short life, and be reflected in his novels. In efforts to escape his deteriorating health, combined with a genuine love of adventure, Stevenson took up residence all over the globe, most notably in Samoa where he spent his final years. Much of Stevenson's literary ideas were sparked from his travels, seeing him embark on adventurous missions in order to produce work. The acclaimed biographer Frank McLynn offers a thoroughly detailed insight into the life and times of Stevenson, drawing attention to his genius and the era he wrote in. The curtain is drawn back, so we are able to glimpse the private life of Stevenson, as husband and father. The book also addresses the writer's public life and the impact of his novel's on a Victorian mindset, which his works helped to challenge and shape. This comprehensive biography of Robert Louis Stevenson will appeal to fans of both history and literature alike.Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books.Praise for Frank McLynn: 'Excellent ... entertaining.' The Spectator'The definitive biography.' TLS'Does much to explain the contradictory accounts left to us of the man.' London Review of Books'Frank McLynn's achievement ... is to give Charles Edward a solidarity and three-dimensional reality that he usually lacks ... His account of the risings themselves is exemplary and he offers the best case yet for the nearness to success of the '45. What is usually seen as the last shiver of an anachronistic and romantic throwback emerges as a genuine alternative to Whiggery and the Act of Settlement.' Brian Morton, TES'A broad canvas, dealing not only with sober historical truth but with the magic spell that either seduced or repelled Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Scott, Borrow, Buchan, Stevenson and a hundred Irish poets...' Diarmaid O'Muirithe, Irish Independent'McLynn is to be congratulated on a great success, a work ... of mature reflection, acute judgement and great humanity.' Jeremy Black, History'A readable and fresh study ... thoroughly researched.' Esmond Wright, Contemporary Review'Packed with fascinating detail.' Denis Hills, choosing his book of the year in the Spectator'Fitzroy Maclean has found his Boswell in Frank McLynn.' Trevor Royle, Scotland on Sunday'Most entertaining.' Richard West'Important, timely and balanced.' Soldier

'Meticulously and grippingly told.' Evening StandardHenry Morton Stanley took his life and reputation into his own hands when he decided to explore the most dangerous parts of uncharted Central Africa in the 19th Century. Born into poverty, Stanley grew up in a Welsh workhouse - only to forge his own path to success and international acclaim within the dangerous world of exploration.Undaunted by many obstacles, Stanley braved life and limb with fierce determination on his quest to uncover unexplored realms of the earth. He traversed the length of the Congo River, the circumference of Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika - and even finished his adventure with the famed encounter with Dr Livingstone. McLynn takes the reader on a wild journey steeped in details of the man behind the mission. The biography captures the colour and drama of Stanley's engrossing narrative. McLynn combines the success of Stanley's achievements with a deeper look into his motivations and personal history to create an insightful study into of a genuine hero, whose legacy resonates today.Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books.Praise for Frank McLynn: 'Excellent ... entertaining.' The Spectator'The definitive biography.' TLS'Does much to explain the contradictory accounts left to us of the man.' London Review of Books'Frank McLynn's achievement ... is to give Charles Edward a solidarity and three-dimensional reality that he usually lacks ... His account of the risings themselves is exemplary and he offers the best case yet for the nearness to success of the '45. What is usually seen as the last shiver of an anachronistic and romantic throwback emerges as a genuine alternative to Whiggery and the Act of Settlement.' Brian Morton, TES'A broad canvas, dealing not only with sober historical truth but with the magic spell that either seduced or repelled Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Scott, Borrow, Buchan, Stevenson and a hundred Irish poets...' Diarmaid O'Muirithe, Irish Independent'McLynn is to be congratulated on a great success, a work ... of mature reflection, acute judgement and great humanity.' Jeremy Black, History'A readable and fresh study ... thoroughly researched.' Esmond Wright, Contemporary Review'Packed with fascinating detail.' Denis Hills, choosing his book of the year in the Spectator'Fitzroy Maclean has found his Boswell in Frank McLynn.' Trevor Royle, Scotland on Sunday'Most entertaining.' Richard West'Important, timely and balanced.' Soldier

'A very clear account of this famous episode in history.' The Sunday Times The Jacobite uprising - a period of turmoil following the removal of James II, in favour of his daughter, Mary II and her husband William III. The following century would witness political plots, military conflict, acts of espionage and religious scheming to secure the throne of the United Kingdom for both James and his son, 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'. The Jacobite cause drew in allies and enemies, domestic and foreign. James, while exiled in both France and Italy, endures a life of boredom, repeated illness and loneliness as Charles breaks off contact. Funding, both Papal and French, is used up as efforts to return to rule culminate in defeat at Culloden. Frank McLynn has thoroughly researched this incredible period of history moving forward into the Hanoverian dynasty with careful assessment of all that Jacobitism stood for. Frank McLynn is a British author, biographer, historian and journalist. He is noted for critically acclaimed biographies of Napoleon Bonaparte, Robert Louis Stevenson, Carl Jung, Richard Francis Burton and Henry Morton Stanley. He is also the author of Fitzroy Maclean and Bipolar, a novel about Roald Amundsen, published by Sharpe Books. Praise for Frank McLynn: 'Frank McLynn's achievement ... is to give Charles Edward a solidarity and three-dimensional reality that he usually lacks ... His account of the risings themselves is exemplary and he offers the best case yet for the nearness to success of the '45. What is usually seen as the last shiver of an anachronistic and romantic throwback emerges as a genuine alternative to Whiggery and the Act of Settlement.' Brian Morton, TES 'A broad canvas, dealing not only with sober historical truth but with the magic spell that either seduced or repelled Fielding, Sterne, Smollett, Burns, Scott, Borrow, Buchan, Stevenson and a hundred Irish poets...' Diarmaid O'Muirithe, Irish Independent 'A readable and fresh study ... thoroughly researched.' Esmond Wright, Contemporary Review 'Valuable in covering the wide sweep of Scotland, England, Ireland and the Continent, and bringing together many diverse strands into a coherent whole. Its wide range and taut approach make it very useful.' Rennie McOwan, The Tablet 'Packed with fascinating detail.' Denis Hills, choosing his book of the year in the Spectator'Fitzroy Maclean has found his Boswell in Frank McLynn.' Trevor Royle, Scotland on Sunday'Most entertaining.' Richard West'Important, timely and balanced.' Soldier

A new perspective on the long and bloody Burma campaign, focusing on the four Allied commanders who battled not only the Japanese and their allies but also one another This book, in essence a quadruple biography, tells the story of the four larger-than-life Allied commanders whose lives collided in the Burma campaign, one of the most punishing and protracted military adventures of World War II. Ranging from 1942, when the British suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the Empire, through the crucial battles of Imphal and Kohima ("the Stalingrad of the East"), and on to ultimate victory in 1945, this account is vivid, brutal, and enthralling.Frank McLynn opens a new window on the Burma Campaign, focusing on the interactions and antagonisms of its principal players: William Slim, the brilliant general commanding the British 14th Army; Orde Wingate, the ambitious and idiosyncratic commander of the Chindits, a British force of irregulars; Louis Mountbatten, one of Churchill's favorites, overpromoted to the position of Supreme Commander, S.E. Asia; and Joseph Stilwell ("Vinegar Joe"), a hard-line U.S. general, also a martinet and Anglophobe. McLynn draws careful portraits of each of these men, neglecting neither strengths nor flaws, and shows with new clarity how the plans, designs, and strategies of generals and politicians were translated into a hideous reality for soldiers on the ground.

Frank McLynn makes the case that 1759 is the most significant year in British history since 1066, as a result of the two great battles that year whereby Britain effectively beat France for global supremacy and founded the first British Empire.

In what "The Washington Post" has called "fascinating," McLynn has penned a year-by-year account of the pioneering efforts to conquer and settle the American West.

Legend and lore surround the history of kings Richard and John, from the ballads of Robin Hood and the novels of Sir Walter Scott to Hollywood movies. Frank McLynn has returned to the original sources to discover what Richard and John, the warring sons of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, were really like, and how their history measures up to the old legends. With narrative panache and anecdotal detail (The Independent), McLynn explores the truth behind the early folklore tradition, confirming that Richard was everything youd hoped for, and his brother John was the toad youd always suspected.This is history at its besta story well-told, thoroughly researched, unexpectedly revealing, and a rattling good read (Spectator).

The age of discovery was at its peak in the eighteenth century, with heroic adventurers charting the furthest reaches of the globe. Foremost among these explorers was navigator and cartographer Captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy.Recent writers have viewed Cook largely through the lens of colonial exploitation, regarding him as a villain and overlooking an important aspect of his identity: his nautical skills. In this authentic, engrossing biography, Frank McLynn reveals Cook's place in history as a brave and brilliant seaman. He shows how the Captain's life was one of struggle--with himself, with institutions, with the environment, with the desire to be remembered--and also one of great success.In Captain Cook, McLynn re-creates the voyages that took the famous navigator from his native England to the outer reaches of the Pacific Ocean. Ultimately, Cook, who began his career as a deckhand, transcended his humble beginnings and triumphed through good fortune, courage, and talent. Although Cook died in a senseless, avoidable conflict with the people of Hawaii, McLynn illustrates that to the men with whom he served, Cook was master of the seas and nothing less than a titan.

The contrast with Britain's European neighbours, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Russia, is dramatic - all have been convulsed by external warfare, revolution and civil war and experienced fundamental change to their ruling elites or social and economic structures.

McLynn provides the first comprehensive view of crime and its consequences in the eighteenth century: why was England notorious for violence? Why did the death penalty prove no deterrent? Was it a crude means of redistributing wealth?

In 1759 - the fourth year of the Seven Years War - the British defeated the French in arduous campaigns in India and the West Indies, in Germany and Canada, and also achieved absolute mastery of the seas.

Anyone who has seen The Lion in Winter will remember the vicious, compelling world of the Plantagenets and readers of the romance of Robin Hood will be familiar with the typecasting of Good King Richard, defending Christendom in the Holy Land, and Bad King John who usurps the kingdom in his absence.

Everyone knows what William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, but in recent years is has become customary to assume that the victory was virtually inevitable, given the alleged superiority of Norman military technology.