Pen Sword Books: 303 books

A captivating history of doing time throughout the centuries: from England’s medieval dungeons to America’s supermax detention facilities.   The first prisons were castle hellholes, places of neglect, oblivion, and slow death. Every civilization has had its dissenters, deviants, and political...

A nostalgic celebration of collectible treasures through the decades.   Daniel Blythe takes a trip down memory lane with his first book for Remember When, focusing on toys, games, and gadgets from our youth; from Simon to the ZX Spectrum, from the Walkman to the boom box, from the Batmobile to James...

Shocking portraits of women who have committed capital crimes in England’s capital city—from the author of Jack the Ripper: An Encyclopedia.   Women have sometimes been seen as less criminally inclined than men. But, as John J. Eddleston shows in this revealing anthology of female crimes in London,...

A collection of historical British true crime stories, with illustrations included.   From the murder of Hannah Hewitt in 1732 to John Cotton’s killing in 1898, Deadly Derbyshire gathers dramatic, atmospheric true tales of murder and manslaughter in this county in England’s East Midlands.   Read...

From Clifford Irving and his Howard Hughes hoax to the great imposter Frank “Catch Me if You Can” Abagnale—a fascinating history of the art of the con.   They’re shrewd, cunning, devious—and charmingly trustworthy. While the criminal exploits of these tricksters, frauds, and swindlers can’t...

A deep dive into the history of the much-loved plush bear brand from one of the world’s foremost teddy bear experts.   Merrythought was one of Britain’s longest running British-made teddy bear firms with a dedicated international following for their quality, highly collectable bears whose life-size...

“A grim catalogue of killings and suspicious deaths that have darkened 130 years of Southport history is laid bare” (Southport Visitor).   Foul Deeds & Suspicious Deaths Around Southport takes the reader on a sinister journey through centuries of local crime and conspiracy, meeting villains...

Make Arbor Day every day with little known and intriguing facts about the plants that populate our forests, give us shade, and clean our air.   Have you ever wondered how trees got their names? What did our ancestors think about trees, and how were they used in the past? This fascinating book will...

A treasury of photos illustrating the work of the famed British shipbuilders of World War I.   Although best known for large liners and capital ships, between 1914 and 1920 the Clydebank shipyard of John Brown & Co. built a vast range of vessels—major warships down to destroyers and submarines,...

“Pull[s] together 366 daily steps to help you live a happier, healthier, freer, and more fulfilled life. Let [Eve] be your inspiring guide for your year” (Nick Williams, bestselling author of The Work We Were Born to Do). 365 Ways to Feel Better offers simple but effective tools for each...

“Oates charts train crimes from the Victorian period to the present day, from casual murder to calculated robbery. . . . A must for true-crime addicts” (Practical Family History). Murder and robbery committed on the railways have long held a special place in British criminal history. Railways...

“[A] combination of history and meaning behind favorite playground games and the verses . . . virtually guaranteed to make you laugh and sing” (Fiona Shoop, author of How to Deal in Antiques).   This delightful book records favorite childhood games and recalls forgotten rhymes. With more children...

A unique way to experience the history of London during the Blitz of World War II through seven leisurely and informative walks.   In Walking the London Blitz, Clive Harris guides you on a highly informative tour through one of World War II’s most pivotal and devastating military campaigns. By...

Discover the Welsh city’s history of crime with these true stories and photos.   This book will introduce to you villains of all sorts—casual or calculating killers, murderous husbands and lovers, gangsters, robbers, poisoners, and suicides. There is no shortage of harrowing episodes in Cardiff’s...