Pen Sword Books: 303 books

The true story of a risky Swedish mission to liberate thousands of prisoners from the Nazis.   The Swedish Red Cross expedition to the German concentration camps in March–April 1945 was the largest rescue effort inside Germany during WWII. Sponsored by the Swedish government and led by Count Bernadotte...

True crime tales from this ancient British city and tourist spot—photos included.   Take a journey through centuries of local crime and conspiracy, meeting villains of all sorts along the way—cut-throats and poisoners, murderous lovers, assassins, prostitutes and suicides. Among the many tales...

“A cracking good read” and a chilling true story of Russia’s assassination program begun more than a century ago and which continues today (Tennent H. Bagley, former CIA chief of Soviet Bloc counterintelligence). In late November 2006, Alexander Litvinenko—a former lieutenant colonel...

From Oscar Wilde to the Kray brothers—a unique history of the lives and crimes of the United Kingdom’s most famous, and infamous, inmates.   Their names can chill the blood of true-crime aficionados: Peter Sutcliffe, aka The Yorkshire Ripper; child-torturer Ian Brady; cannibal Dennis Nilsen;...

The disturbing, criminal history of Britain’s “World Capital City of Pop”—home of murderers, thieves, bodysnatchers . . . and The Beatles.   The city of Liverpool, England, was like every other city energized by the Victorian boon in industry and trade. It is best known today as the home...

Historical true crime stories from a town in South Yorkshire, England, with photos included.   Ranging from Victorian times to the World War II era, this is a collection of true crime stories from a coal town in England. Whether motivated by passion, greed, or something else, these cases come from...

“An insider view of Hitler’s closest circles, providing an invaluable account of the final months of the war” (History of War). Erich Kempka served as Adolf Hitler’s personal driver from 1934 through to the Führer’s dramatic suicide in 1945. His candid memoirs offer a unique eyewitness...

In the middle of Great Britain sits a historic city—with a long history of horror. These are the true crime stories from Coventry’s past.   Now a thriving, modern metropolis, Coventry has been an established center of trade and culture for nearly a thousand years. But as with any site where mankind...

The memoir of a man who was a member of the Nazi Party—and ultimately became a martyr to the resistance. Ulrich von Hassell began working for the German Foreign Office in 1909, then aged twenty-eight. Two years later, he married Ilse von Tirpitz, the daughter of Grand Adm. Alfred von Tirpitz....

“A very impressive piece of work, and it is unlikely to be surpassed for many years . . . A very valuable guide to Napoleon’s last great victory” (HistoryOfWar.org). With this third volume, John Gill brings to a close his magisterial study of the war between Napoleonic France and Habsburg...

Tory gangs, madmen, war criminals, frauds, anarchists, duelists, kidnappers, and more scandal-makers throughout four centuries of Irish history.   Dublin is a wonderful, energetic cultural center—the pride of Irish achievements in architecture, arts, and literature. But it is also a city of paradoxes...

Read about crimes over the centuries in this historic area of London—includes photos and illustrations.   In this collection of true crime stories, each chapter investigates the darker side of humanity in cases of murder, deceit, and pure malice in this corner of London. From crimes of passion...

The charming English town of Guildford is built upon centuries of mayhem and madness—from a Game of Thrones–style massacre to mysterious murders.   The twin fascinations of death and villainy will always hold us in their grim but thrilling grip. In Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths in Guildford,...

An in-depth look at the military strategy of the first Russian ruler to invade Europe.   Ivan’s campaigns against the Livonian Confederation were initially very successful. In 1558, Russian soldiers occupied Dorpat and Narva, and laid siege to Reval, creating vital trade routes over the Baltic...