Page 94 - All About History - Issue 70-18

Out
now!
RECOMMENDS…

THE CRYOTRON FILES

Author Iain Dey & Douglas Buck Price TIMELINES OF
£20 Publisher Icon Books

Dudley Buck invented an early version of the microchip. He
also moonlighted for the NSA, developing code-cracking
supercomputers and guidance for nuclear missiles. EVERYTHING
However, Buck died aged 35 – days after Soviet scientists
visited his MIT lab. Was he killed? Journalist Iain Dey
makes some bold claims in his new biography, some
of which can’t be substantiated. But by drawing A family-friendly journey through the history of time
on Buck’s personal papers, the author vividly
uncovers the life of a forgotten pioneer
of the Information Age, as well as Publisher DK Children Price £20 Released Out now
the Cold War struggle for
computer dominance. he title Timelines of Everything: An Illustrated through this book and land on a topic that you had
History of Time is a bold statement and while never considered reading about before. Although some
it is impossible to incorporate every aspect of of the annotations on the timelines are rather brief,
history into one book, this one comes pretty it is enough to pique a reader’s interest and perhaps
Tclose. It is filled with more than 100 inspire some historical research of your own.
colourful, illustrated timelines on a “Filled with more While this 320-pages collection
wide range of topics including the age offers a taggering breadth of topics, its
of dinosaurs, early imperial China, the than 100 colourful, disappointing that it also contains a
Reformation, dance and the story of illustrated couple of errors. For instance, the picture
robotics – just to name a few. used alongside the description of writer
While this book is aimed at children timelines on a and philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft
aged nine to 12 years old, it has a lot is in fact a portrait of her
to offer for anyone who is interested wide range of daughter, Frankenstein
in learning something knew about topics” author Mary Shelley.
history, from watershed moments to This is a minor
Accessible,
key breakthroughs. The timelines are packed full of point in comparison to the lovely
Engaging,
information but are easy to follow and understand, presentation and material included Fun
keeping it accessible to all ages. It is fun to flick in the book. JL

THE GREAT EXPLORERS

Celebrating the trailblazers who changed the

way we see our world

Editor Robin Hanbury-Tenison Publisher Thames & Hudson
Price £10 Released Out now

or all humankind’s curiosity, there have Columbus, James Cook, Lewis and Clark, and
always been some among us possessing Roald Amundsen, as well as more obscure
a particular strength of character willing names like Nain Singh (first man to survey
them on to go that extra mile. Through Tibet), James Bruce (discovered the source of
Fcenturies explorers have traversed frozen the Blue Nile), and Alexander Mackenzie (first
landscapes, deserts, mountains and jungles to east to west crossing of North America).
place another piece of the jigsaw linking up The scope of achievements is impressive,
the known world. as is the diversity of the figures who feature.
From conquistadors and scholars to artists Middle Eastern explorer, archaeologist and
and captains, humans have long been testing poet Gertrude Bell is deservedly included,
the limits of their endurance, so tells The as is Victorian naturalist and botanical artist
Great Explorers a collection of essays edited Marianne North.
–
by explorer, author and conservationist Robin The Great Explorers is a concise yet
Hanbury-Tenison which delves into the lives illuminating book bringing together some
of “40 of the greatest men and women who of history’s most fascinating adventurers in
changed our perception of the world”. all their complexities. Casual readers should
Effectively organised into seven thematic enjoy discovering new insights into these
sections – including the oceans, polar ice ages of discovery, while enthusiasts eager to
and new frontiers – the mini biographies build their knowledge will find the collection Inspiring,
Entertaining,
celebrate famed explorers such as Christopher to be an engaging foundation. Enlightening
BW

94