Pen Sword Books: 303 books

A history of true crime in a quaint resort town in Essex, England that hosts a variety of amusements—along with a legacy of madness, mayhem, and murder. This ghoulish look into the past takes readers on a sinister journey through Southend-on-Sea, from medieval times to the twentieth century,...

A look at the tumult and transformations in warfare during the eighteenth century—and the world-changing events that resulted. The eighteenth century in Europe was a period of significant economic, political, and technological upheaval—which led to the American and French revolutions, and...

Two centuries of true crime—the murders, the scandals, and the vice—all of which stain the history of this world-famous seaside British resort city.   While renowned as a place of culture, fun, and tourism, the town of Brighton, England has a dark side—and a shockingly well-deserved reputation...

“A rare example of a memoir of a private soldier from the Napoleonic Wars . . . valuable insight into the daily life and preoccupations of Wellington’s men” (HistoryOfWar.org).   By all accounts, Friedrich Lindau was a remarkable soldier of the King’s German Legion. He served with distinction...

This account of Napoleon’s disastrous invasion of Russia, in the words of those who experienced it, offers “a brilliant insight into men at war” (David G. Chandler, author of The Campaigns of Napoleon). Hundreds of thousands of men set out on that midsummer day of 1812. None could have...

Historical tales of crime and punishment from this ancient British town—includes photos and illustrations.   Colchester historian Patrick Denney takes the reader on a sinister journey from the religious persecutions of Queen Mary’s time to the twentieth century, meeting villains, cutthroats,...

This famous resort town attracts millions of visitors each year—but it’s history of true crime proves that murder and mayhem never take a holiday.   On the shores of Sussex, England, the famed town of Brighton has long been a favorite for those who want to enjoy its beaches, music, art, and culture....

A fascinating look at what might have happened had historical assassination attempts succeeded.   If Hitler had died at any stage in the Second World War, would Germany have immediately sued for peace, or would the generals have taken over and fought a far more practical war than the obdurate Führer?...

The little known story of these female reservists and the role they played in WWII, packed with photos.   When US Marine Commandant Maj. Gen. Thomas Holcomb announced the formation of what became the US Marine Corps’ Women’s Reserve, legend has it, the portrait of one of his predecessors fell...

A revealing criminal history of the old industrial town in North Lincolnshire, England, that has been home to centuries of dark secrets and twisted crimes.   As the iron and steel industries grew in the Victorian period, several villages merged into the town of Scunthorpe, an area with more than...

The stormy past of England’s south coast city is vividly depicted in these true crime tales from the author of Jack the Ripper: An Encyclopedia.   The criminal cases vividly described by John J. Eddleston in this gripping book take the reader on a journey into the dark secret side of Southampton’s...

One man’s part in the Nazi plan to assassinate Hitler during WWII—and “an interesting account of one of the key figures in the resistance movement” (Britain at War).   As the descendant of an aristocratic family from Westphalia, Germany, Kurt Baron von Plettenberg served as an officer in...

True stories of real-life British mysteries and murders going back centuries—photos included.   This book tells stories of murder, deceit, and pure malice committed over the centuries in this traditionally rural part of East Anglia in England. From crimes of passion to opportunistic killings and...

The postwar era as seen by a master of counterespionage—with an insight into his professional downfall.   Guy Liddell was the director of MI5’s counterespionage B Division throughout the Second World War, during which he wrote a confidential personal diary, detailing virtually every important...