Great Britain Genealogy, Travel, and History Books

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  English Parish Records: England (General) - CD-ROM - $39.95 - Original parish records of many English parishes from as early as 1383 to 1880 from many counties in England. Click the link for full contents. This series are indispensable research tools if you ancestors in these areas!
A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your English Ancestors : How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage... $15.19 - Designed to enable decendants in the US to trace their ancestors without travelling to the UK, it is ideal for an English reader who finds it difficult to travel around the country for their genealogical research.
Ancestral Trails : The Complete Guide to British Genealogy and Family History $34.95 - Lavishly illustrated and breathtaking in coverage, Ancestral Trails guides the researcher through the maze of British archives, giving a detailed view of the records and the published sources available, analyzing each record and guiding the searcher to finding-aids and indexes.
The Dictionary of Genealogy $30.36 - Extensive reference on the unique terms & concepts found in UK genealogy.
They Came in Ships : A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Ship $8.95 - There is an unbelievable amount of information packed into this book and it is organized in a way that works for both the experienced and new genealogist. This is an excellent book for find passenger lists that are not at the National Archives. A must have for finding them.
In Search of Your British & Irish Roots $18.95 - This is a solid starting point for hunting your ancestors from the UK and Ireland. It helpfully provides information about county-level records for all English & Welsh counties.
The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain $49.95 - Hardcover Edition - "It belongs on every student's desk, in every library's catalogue"--Peter Clarke, History Today. In this beautifully illustrated volume, ten leading historians encompass political, social, economic, and cultural developments throughout the British isles over the last 2,000 years. Excellent choice for perusing the always interesting history of Britian.
The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain $26.50 - Softcover - In this beautifully illustrated volume, ten leading historians encompass political, social, economic, and cultural developments throughout the British isles over the last 2,000 years.
Castles of England, Scotland and Wales $19.95 - From Edinburgh to Tintagel, this is a pictorially stunning tour of Britain's many castles. Featuring 130 color photos. Together, England, Scotland, and Wales possess one of the largest and most impressive collections of castles anywhere in the world. Castles have had a key role in Britain's history, and the names of many of them--Kenilworth, Edinburgh, Bodiam, Stirling, Harlech, Tintagel, Berkeley, and Warwick--are synonymous with romance, battle, and intrigue. This handsome pictorial survey traces each stage in their development: Norman times through Plantagenet and Edwardian expansion, Tudor strengthening of the coastal defenses, the appalling devastation of the Civil War, the castle's gradual decline, on to fantastic mock castles, like Castle Drogo.
cover Welsh Castles : A Guide by Counties $45.00 - by Adrian Pettifer. Hardcover - 208 pages (June 2000)
Castles of Britain and Ireland $31.96 - For readers who have ever wished they lived in a castle, Castles of Britain and Ireland is a dream come true. Author Plantagenet Somerset Fry brings to life every aspect of castles and castle life--how they were built and why; the types of defenses they employed, and what kind of weapons were used to attack them; and the social interactions of daily life. The book is divided into two parts, the first of which gives an overview of castles in England and Ireland; the second section is a region-by-region guide of more than 1,350 of the most important castles. Photographs, floor plans, and illustrations bring these ancient structures to life, while Fry's in-depth history of castles and the people who built them will fire the reader's imagination.
Castles and Fortresses $16.98 - Covering Europe during the Middle Ages, Castles and Fortresses opens with a compact but informative chapter on the evolution of the castle. The book then chronicles the political histories of Europe's various regions and how castles formed according to their military needs. Though the text is a bit general, the book's large color photographs speak volumes. The pictures are bright and crisp, shot from wide and aerial angles, capturing the majesty of these fabled, architectural masterpieces and the lovely scenery surrounding them. Among the more renowned castles featured are the Warwick Castle in England, Chateau Chinon in France, Neuschwanstein in Germany, and Miramar Castle in Italy.
Castles and Ancient Monuments of England : A County by County Guide to More Than 350 Historic Sites $15.96 - by Damien Noonan, Paperback - 256 pages (April 1999)
The Isles : A History $36.00 - Over 1,000 pages of British history, covering 10,000 years. If you are a fan of British history, this book does the trick. Its light style and contemporary facts make it a mangeable undertaking. It presents a fresh perspective on the British Isles within the greater context of European history.
Reason Why/the Story of the Fatal Charge of the Light Brigade $11.16 - Almost 40 years of peace, and the reactionary influence of the Duke of Wellington, had left the British army in a perilous state of unreadiness and bureaucratic confusion when the call came to defend Turkey against the Russians. The Charge of the Light Brigade on the 25th October 1854 was one of the three famous engagements that formed the Battle of Balaklava of the Crimean War. The Charge, the most famous of all military blunders, was barely over before the process of transforming it into myth began.
Clans and Families of Ireland : The Heritage and Heraldry of Irish Clans and Families $19.99 - A genealogical history of Ireland and its people, from prehistoric times to the present day, traces the origins of placenames and surnames and provides full-color illustrations of clan coats of arms and tartans, along with photographs of the Irish landscape.
The Book of Irish Names : First, Family and Place Names $8.76 - Good source of frequently used first names in both Irish and English and their meanings. Lists of the most prominent Irish family names with crest (no color) and short history. Final section lists some Irish placenames and meaning of words.
The Complete Book of Irish Family Names $24.00 - It is not family histories - the following boks by the same publisher are family histories- it is an index to the four following books. Not a coffee table book, but a great book for researchers trying to find rarer names in Ireland.
The Book of Irish Families : Great & small $34.95 - The best work of it's genre available. The book contains several hundred coats of arms not found elsewhere. Many of these were officially sanctioned in the seventeenth century. The book also contains a similar number of surnames not found elsewhere.
Families of County Cork, Ireland : From the Earliest Times to the 20th Century: Irish Family Surnames With Locations & Origins $34.00 - One of the historic volumes from the 32 book set on Irish Families from the I. G. F. and the Journal of Irish Families. This is the story and history of families in Co. Cork. Ancient Cork families are included. Rare families found in Cork are given in this historic work too, some are found only once in the Co. Cork archives here.
Families of County Kerry, Ireland : Over Three Thousand Entries from the Archives of the Irish Genealogical Foundation $34.00 - The master book to this 32 volume series is 'The Book of Irish Families, great & small' which contains information on families from all of Ireland, including Co. Kerry. 'Family of Co. Kerry, Ireland' greatly expands the coverage on families found in Kerry.
The Families of County Limerick Ireland: Over One Thousand Entries from the
Archives of the Irish Genealogical Foundation $34.00 - The master book to this 32 volume series is 'The Book of Irish Families, great & small' which contains information on families from all of Ireland, including Co. Limerick. 'Family of Co. Limerick, Ireland' greatly expands the coverage on families found in Limerick.
How the Irish Saved Civilization : The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe $10.36 - In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells. Here, far from the barbarian despoliation of the continent, monks and scribes laboriously, lovingly, even playfully preserved the West's written treasury.
The End of Hidden Ireland : Rebellion, Famine, and Emigration $19.95 - Many thousands of Irish peasants fled from the country in the terrible famine winter of 1847-48, following the road to the ports and the Liverpool ferries to make the dangerous passage across the Atlantic. The human toll of "Black '47," the worst year of the famine, is notorious, but the lives of the emigrants themselves have remained largely hidden, untold because of their previous obscurity and deep poverty. In The End of Hidden Ireland, Robert Scally brings their lives to light.
The Great Hunger : Ireland, 1845-1849 $11.96 - This book covers the political and cultural environments of the time as well as the greater effect the famine had on Ireland and the rest of the world. While local officials in Ireland realise with horror the consequences of the crop failure, government bureaucrats in London stubbornly insist it would be wrong to send massive food relief because it would undermine free enterprise. The author quotes extensively from numerous first hand accounts which graphically describe the suffering and despair of the Irish peasantry.
The Great Famine and the Irish Diaspora in America $14.36 - A fascinating collection of essays that reveals, often in unexpected ways, the effects of the Irish famine on both sides of the Atlantic. It contains important details that are missing from many of the previous works on the subject of the famine.
The Famine Ships : The Irish Exodus to America $27.50 - Hardcover - Anyone interested in their family history, the treatment of the Irish by the English Crown and the resultant holacaust called the Great Famine, should study this book. Well-documented and well-illustrated, it provides the history of the circumstances leading to the famine, the exodus and the horrors suffered by the emigres -- not only in their homeland, but aboard the ships. For someone researching Irish family names, this is the book to read, if for no other reason than to provide excellent background information and conditions of daily life.
The Celtic Book of Names : Traditional Names from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales $10.36 - The Celtic Book of Names offers the most comprehensive collection of names available. Included is an alphabetical list of women's and men's names, divided by Irish, Scottish, or Welsh background. Each entry includes the meaning, legends or historical references, and variants of the name. Also provided is a comprehensive list of family surnames and a retelling of common Celtic myths and legends to give the names context.
Scottish Roots : a Step-By-Step Guide for Ancestor-Hunters in Scotland and Elsewhere $11.96 - This book describes the wealth of information available, where it is housed, and how to use it to trace your Scottish forebears. Using examples, the book shows you how to build a family tree step-by-step.
Your Scottish Ancestry : A Guide for North Americans $15.96 - Specific help for research Scots from the "other" side of the pond.
Clans and Families of Scotland : The History of the Scottish Tartan $19.99 - A section is devoted to each name, its tartan is illustrated and, in this case, a major advantage is the inclusion of the heraldic drawings of the chief's arms and in some cases, standards, by the late Don Pottinger, Islay Herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Highlanders : A History of the Scottish Clans $32.00 - Highlanders: A History of Scottish Clans is a book anyone interested in the Clans of Scotland would find quite informative. Seasoned historians alike could learn much from Fitzroy McLeans' book about the Highlanders. His approach is fresh, his timing is superb, his views keenly discriminating. To the origins of the Scottish Highlanders his facts are unequalled. A must for any historian or genealogist studing the names of Scotland.
Scottish Clans and Tartans $28.00 - This authoritative, elegantly composed guide covers over 140 clans. Organized alphabetically, the entries include information on each clan's location and history, nomenclature, and renowned clansmen--as well as the clan's current status and development.
A History of Scotland $11.96 - Gives an incredible overview of Scotland, and explains why those Scots who have become expats love their country despite all of the problems they have had (Highland clearances). For anyone who has been to Scotland this is a great way to learn so much about the country, and their courageous and proud people.
cover The Scottish Nation : A History 1700-2000 $32.00 - Scotland had long been a de facto colony of England by the time the Act of Union between the two countries was signed in 1707. Even so, it was a colony that proudly refused to consider itself anything other than a separate nation, one that bound itself to historical fact and invented traditions alike in an effort to retain national identity. Keenly aware of its status as a subject nation, Scotland still contributed greatly, and disproportionately, to the development of the British Empire.
Scotland : A Concise History $13.56 - a very informative and interesting read. The illustrations are well done add a great deal to the historical detail. If you are looking for a "nuts & bolts" version of Scottish history this is a good choice.
cover Ancestral Castles of Scotland $19.95 - An exploration of some of Scotland's most treasured landmarks, featuring 150 color photographs. Scotland's history has been a violent one, and its castles still stand as a visible symbol of its bloody and romantic past. This handsome volume explores 27 private castles--vast and celebrated, such as Blair and Glamis, as well as smaller family homes. Hugh Cantlie highlights the most colorful events associated with each castle, linking its owners with such legendary figures as Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots, and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
In Search of Ancient Scotland, A Guide for The Independent Traveler $17.95 - History-hunters will revel in this unique self-published book on the sites and people of ancient Scotland. History comes alive through this fascinating book, which rates and describes hundreds of Scottish historical sites from the Stone Age through to the Renaissance. If castles, cairns, and cathedrals are on your things to see list in Scotland, search out this book.
The Lighthouse Stevensons $19.20 - The 14 lighthouses dotting the Scottish coast were all built by the same family that produced Robert Louis Stevenson, Scotland's most famous novelist. A must-have for any Stevenson researcher or descendant.
Robert the Bruce : King of Scots $10.36 - Drawing from various historical and literary sources, including a number of contemporary chronicles on both the English and Scottish sides, Scott takes us from the death of Alexander III to the intervention and interposition of Edward I; from Stirling to Falkirk; from the death of Wallace to that of Longshanks himself. And then in riveting detail, the campaigns of the Bruce.
Rob Roy MacGregor : His Life & Times - $9.56 - A fascinating biography. This book inspired the film with Liam Neeson, but is so much more than a glimpse of the incidents chronicled in the film. W.H. Murray has given a well-researched, well-documented look at highland life that enables the reader to step into the shoes (or lack thereof) of the Scottish highlander.
Rob Roy (Everyman's Library, 210) $16.00 - This novel, first published in 1817, achieved a huge success and helped establish the historical novel as a literary form. In rich prose and vivid description, Rob Roy follows the adventures of a businessman's son, Frank Osbaldistone, who is sent to Scotland and finds himself drawn to the powerful, enigmatic figure of Rob Roy MacGregor, the romantic outlaw who fights for justice and dignity for the Scots. This is an incomparable portrait of the haunted Highlands and Scotland's glorious past.
Wallace : A Biography $9.56 - Excellent biography of William Wallace, "Braveheart".
Blind Harry's Wallace $15.25 - Are you a fan of Braveheart? Well this is the book for you. This is not only the one true written history of William Wallace, but it describes him to a T. If you are interested in Scotland, William Wallace, or even history in general, then you will want to read this book time and time again.
Highlanders : A History of the Gaels $12.76 - In this sweeping chronicle, award-winning journalist John Macleod offers an insider's view of the Scottish Highlands, from the Stone Age to the present day. In this illuminating, wonderfully readable study, John Macleod unfolds the history of the land and people of the Scottish Highlands.
Carolina Scots: An Historical and Genealogical Study of Over 100 Years of Emigration $29.95 - A meticulous genealogy of three to five generations of 64 families who emigrated from Scotland to the Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina and the Pee Dee Valley of South Carolina from 1739 to the 1840s.
The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776 $11.96 - This book has excellent information on the Scots that came to North Carolina from the Highlands. The description of the economy, the living conditions, the government and clan disharmony, as well as the religion question, all provide a good picture of where our Scots came from and the conditions of their lives.
cover Scots Irish in the Hills of Tennessee $15.99 - Absorbing stories of a race of people who created the civilization in the American wilderness and helped lay the solid foundations for the greatest nation on earth. The Scots-Irish Presbyterians settled in the American frontier during with the 18th century.
Book of Scots-Irish Family Names $15.16 - History and backgrounds on Scots-Irish names and families.
Scotch-Irish : A Social History $12.13 - A comprehensive overview of a people, their geography and their faith - spanning centuries. Sheds light on the Scotch Irish role in the Revolutionary War, settling the American frontier, the spread of the Presbyterian Church in America and much much more.
What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew : From Fox Hunting to Whist-The Facts of Daily Life in Nineteenth-Century England $11.20 - This fascinating, lively guide clarifies the sometimes bizarre maze of rules, regulations, and customs that governed everyday life in Victorian England. Author Daniel Pool provides countless intriguing details on the Church of England, sex, Parliament, dinner parties, country house visiting, and a host of other aspects of nineteenth-century English life -- both "upstairs" and "downstairs." An illuminating glossary gives at a glance the meaning and significance of terms ranging from "ague" to "wainscoting," the specifics of the currency system, and a lively host of other details and curiosities of the day.
cover Daily Life in Victorian England $45.00 - Whether you use this book purely for research purposes or simply because you are curious about English life during Victoria's Reign, you will not be disappointed. The content is exceptionally impressive, with none of the padding out and boring text often found in history books. The book is divided into different sections which deal with a wide range of subjects, so you don't have to read through lots of text just to find one particular subject. The book is well illustrated and all kinds of topics are included, from clothing to Victorian morality.
The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England $49.95 - The middle ages have always held a special fascination for readers of history and this superb volume offers a gold mine of information on the period. With numerous illustrations, family trees, a chronology, guides to further reading, and a full index, this is an indispensable guide to England in the middle ages.
Life in a Medieval Castle $10.80 - Castles really come to life in this book - as well as the people housed within. There's enough detail in here to satisfy the researcher - but the prose moves along at a trim pace so you won't get bogged down. Painstaking research is concisely and vividly presented, focusing on specific people within the strata of life within a medieval castle.
The Lady in Medieval England, 1000-1500 $23.96 - New information on relations between the sexes in medieval England & excellent selection of contemporary illustrations, many rarely seen Although there have been many books on the nobility in medieval England, and on the lady within that, most have concentrated on the romantic ideal rather than reality. This new work focuses on the lady's role in medieval society, how she was perceived both by herself and by her male counterparts, and how she related to and participated within the prevailing male culture of gentility. The author also discusses the darker side of court life--rape, abduction, and murder--through his review of contemporary evidence of several dramatic cases.
Pleasures and Pastimes in in Medieval England $13.56 - Author Compton Reeves presents a fascinating and highly readable survey of the entertainments and pursuits with which people of the time filled their leisure hours. From the rough and tumble activities of wrestling and jousting to the more sedate pastimes of chess and cards, from gardening to prostitution, and from cock-fighting to religious festivals Reeves describes with entertaining detail activities which remain popular today, though often in different guises.
Life in A Medieval Village $11.20 - The latest in the authors' many descriptions of the various states of medieval life. Draws on archaeology and contemporary documents to portray the rural peasant, focusing on the village of Elton, in the English East Midlands, about 1300.
A Medieval Family $11.20 - In the early 1400s, a lawyer and judge named William Paston expanded his family's holdings by imprisoning a neighbor and seizing her property. This afforded his children a handsome inheritance, which they used to advantage, some becoming courtiers in the service of the king. During the bloody Wars of the Roses, the Pastons were fortunate to pick the winning side.
Life in a Medieval City $10.80 - The book's description of Troyes is quite detailed, complete and at times truly engrossing. The authors are researchers par excellence, and have presented their findings in an imminently readable form.
King Harald's Saga $8.76 - When his half-brother, King Olaf the Saint, was killed in battle, Harald Sigurdssen fled Norway at the age of 15. Harald traveled throughout Russia and Europe, became a mercenary soldier of the Varangian Guard in Byzantium, and eventually returned to Norway to claim the throne. Over the next twenty years he became known as Harald Hadradi (Harald the Ruthless). He ruled Norway with an iron hand, made constant war on Denmark, and won renown as the most feared warrior in Europe. At age 51 Harald undertook his most daring endeavor--the invasion of England. In 1066 he landed an army in Northern England, and did battle with the Saxons at Stamford Bridge. What might have been had the Battle of Stamford Bridge gone differently? Nineteen days later at Hastings William the Conqueror would have faced Vikings under Harald Hadradi, not Saxons under Harold Godwinson.
Orkneyinga Saga : The History of the Earls of Orkney $11.16 - The saga tells of a 200-year stretch of time when the Orkneys -- islands off the northern tip of Scotland -- owed their allegiance to the Kings of Norway. For the Viking marauders who ravaged Europe, the Orkneys were a friendly refueling stop on the inbound and outbound voyages. The earls ruled not only the islands, but large chunks of the Scottish mainland and most of the Hebrides as well. So widespread were their lands that they were frequently forced into power-sharing arrangements with their kinsmen, which then turned into power struggles to the death. The best instance of this is between the co-earls and cousins (Saint) Magnus Erlendsson and Hakon Paulsson.
The Journey Through Wales and the Description of Wales $13.95 - Gerald of Wales was one of the most dynamic and colorful churchmen of the 12th century. His JOURNEY describes a mission to Wales undertaken in 1188 by Baldwin, Archbishop of Canterbury, with Gerald as his companion. THE DESCRIPTION provides a picture of the day-to-day existence of ordinary Welshmen of the time. Both offer a wealth of fascinating first-hand historical detail.
International Vital Records Handbook $34.95 - A complete collection of vital records application forms from the US and many other nations. Contains forms and information from all fifty states and furnishes details about records created before statewide vital records registration, and gives forms and instructions for obtaining records from some 250 countries.