Old Europe

Johannes Krause is the director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and a brilliant pioneer in the field of archaeogenetics - archaeology augmented by DNA sequencing technology - which has allowed scientists to reconstruct human history reaching back hundreds of thousands of years before recorded time. In this surprising account, Krause and journalist Thomas Trappe rewrite a fascinating chapter of this history, the peopling of Europe, that takes us from the Neanderthals and Denisovans to the present.

In this exquisitely written book, Robert Macfarlane sets off from his Cambridge, England, home to follow the ancient tracks, holloways, drove roads, and sea paths that crisscross both the British landscape and its waters and territories beyond. The result is an immersive, enthralling exploration of the ghosts and voices that haunt old paths, of the stories our tracks keep and tell, and of pilgrimage and ritual. Told in Macfarlane’s distinctive voice, The Old Ways folds together natural history, cartography, geology, archaeology, and literature.

A splendid collection of both well loved and little known fairy stories which have entertained and delighted children for many generations.

Warm and delightfully festive, this charming and long forgotten holiday classic was inspired, in part, by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and other celebrations of old-time Yule. Splendid suppers, rural churches, cheerful dances, and hearty spirits imbue this short novel with the magic of the season.

Italian Witchcraft (previously titled Ways of the Strega) by respected author Raven Grimassi is more than just a book about witchcraft. It is a complete Book of Shadows. In it, you will find the history of this ancient tradition, its legends and myths, as well as the rituals and rites that you can do today. The book includes a full set of rituals that you can do. You'll find rituals for all of the Italian witchcraft holidays, including Shadow Fest, Lupercus, Tana's Day, and more.

This engaging narrative history deftly illustrates the War of 1812 as it played out in the Old Northwest - Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and bordering parts of Canada. From the stirrings of conflict in the area beginning as early as the 1760s, through the Battle of Tippecanoe, and to Michigan Territory's role as a focal point in prewar preparation, the book examines the lead-up to the war before delving into key battles in the region.

Runes—the cryptic letters of an Old Norse alphabet—are more than just a collection of dusty symbols from a bygone era. They're powerful forces that have long been associated with magic and divination. Since ancient times, people have used them for guidance, and they're still being used today. In fact, more and more people are discovering the mysterious power of runes and are incorporating them into their daily spiritual practices.

In this Yiddish folk tale, the town half-wit isn’t sure how to tell himself apart from other bathers in the shvitz, or public bathhouse. He must come up with a solution! Will a piece of string be able to help? Or will he just cause trouble for the other bathers?

Hilaire Belloc is one of the most important writers of the 20th century. At turns reviled or revered, depending on the audience, he was a razor sharp social commenter and a master of both poetry and prose who continues to captivate readers. In Old Thunder, Joseph Pearce examines Belloc's enduring impact on British intellectual life.

Unlike Shakespearean English or even Chaucer’s Middle English, Old English—the language of Beowulf—defies comprehension by untrained modern audiences. Used throughout much of Britain more than a thousand years ago, it is rich with words that haven’t changed (like word), others that are unrecognizable (such as neorxnawang, or paradise), and some that are mystifying even in translation (gafol-fisc, or tax-fish). In this delightful book, Hana Videen gathers a trove of these gems and uses them to illuminate the lives of the earliest English speakers.

How much do you know about the enthralling and unique Viking culture? Perhaps you have watched one of the many remarkable fiction or non-fiction films that depict Vikings (Last Kingdom, anyone?), and it has piqued your interest, making you want to learn more. Or maybe you're just a big history buff, who is keen to learn more about how the Vikings lived, innovated, and helped shape society as we know it today.

Let us take you back in time, when the Norse people lived in an enchanted and sacred world—a time famously shrouded in mystery, magic, and witchcraft. Norse Paganism has survived the centuries, the rise and fall of empires, and the introduction of new religions. More than just a religion, it is also a way of life to help one lead a fulfilling existence…and every person, no matter their race, religion, or culture is welcome. History Brought Alive provides you with a single credible source detailing Norse Paganism.

Ghosts of Old Europe offers a very different kind of tour to the armchair traveler. Wander through the haunted castles and cottages of Europe with Hans Holzer, the world’s most famous psychic investigator, and explore a full range of psychic phenomena from the spirits of the British Isles to the haunts of Imperial Vienna.

Historic quarters in cities and towns across the middle of Europe were devastated during the Second World War—some, like those of Warsaw and Frankfurt, had to be rebuilt almost completely. They are now centers of peace and civility that attract millions of tourists, but the stories they tell about places, peoples, and nations are selective. They are never the whole story. Exploring seven old towns, from Frankfurt and Prague to Vilnius in Lithuania, Marek Kohn examines how they have been used since the Second World War to conceal political tensions and reinforce certain versions of history.

Arthur Ransome (1884-1967) wrote Old Peter's Russian Tales while he was in Russia during the First World War, prior to becoming a war correspondent for The Manchester Guardian. There are 22 stories in all and are told by Old Peter at the behest of his grandchildren, Ivan and Maroosia, in a cozy log cabin in the middle of the forest. These are delightful re-tellings in Ransome's own words of Russian folk tales, and include stories such as "The Little Snow Girl", "Baba Yaga", "Frost", and "Salt".

Bringing to life golf's founding father and son, Tommy's Honor is a stirring tribute to two legendary players and a vivid evocation of their colorful, rip-roaring times. Tommy's Honor is both fascinating history and a moving personal saga. But this audiobook isn't only for golfers. It's for every son who has fought to escape a father's shadow and for every father who has guided a son toward manhood, then found it hard to let him go.

Modern communications have driven motorways and pylons through the countryside, dwarfed us with TV and telephone masts, and drastically altered the way in which we move around, see, and understand Scotland. Recent politics and logistics have established borders and jurisdictions which now seem permanent and impervious. The Faded Map looks beyond these to remember a land that was once quiet and green.

Audiolibro de viajes por las cicatrices de la vieja Europa: Chernóbil, Gernika, Auschwitz, Lourdes y Transilvania. Una reflexión sobre el presente de unas ciudades marcadas por hechos históricos de trascendencia internacional. Los cinco relatos, todos ellos rodeados de un halo de misterio, rinden homenaje a estas "ciudades o regiones estigmatizadas." Mediante entrevistas, anécdotas y memorias, el autor nos cuenta cómo fueron antes de entrar en la leyenda por derecho propio y nos adentra en el día a día de sus habitantes en un apasionante viaje.

Audiolibro de viajes por las cicatrices de la vieja Europa: Chernóbil, Gernika, Auschwitz, Lourdes y Transilvania. Una reflexión sobre el presente de unas ciudades marcadas por hechos históricos de trascendencia internacional. Los cinco relatos, todos ellos rodeados de un halo de misterio, rinden homenaje a estas "ciudades o regiones estigmatizadas." Mediante entrevistas, anécdotas y memorias, el autor nos cuenta cómo fueron antes de entrar en la leyenda por derecho propio y nos adentra en el día a día de sus habitantes en un apasionante viaje.

Internationally acclaimed Irish folksinger Maura O'Connell narrates seven of the brightest jewels from the Irish storytelling tradition in this magnificent, unabridged recording of Malachy Doyle's Tales from Old Ireland. With its captivating language, larger-than-life characters, dramatic landscapes, and magical happenings, this enchanting collection of favorite Irish folk tales will transport listeners to another world for many happy hours.