The ancient Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul with Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy saw its beginnings in the community that formed around the seat of its founding bishops in the middle part of the 6th century. Today, Llandaff Cathedral lies peacefully in a steep hollow, once no doubt sheltered from the view of marauders by land and sea, close to vital river crossings which made it strategically secure during the early period of its development as a Christian community.

This guide reveals how successive generations, changes of fortune, accidents, disasters, human courage and determination have all made their mark on this fascinating building, from the 12th to the 21st centuries.

Lions of the North tells, from a unique and personal perspective, the stories of the Percy family and Alnwick Castle over a thousand years of British history. Generations of Percy barons, lords, earls and dukes played vital parts in great historical events, from the Norman Conquest to the two World Wars, and the castle, once battered by marauding armies, is now a major tourist attraction. The Duke has drawn on his unparalleled access to the Percy archives to paint this fascinating portrait of a British dynasty and its survival against the odds.

One thousand three hundred years ago Lichfield Cathedral stood at the centre of the Kingdom of Mercia; it stands still, spires reaching into the sky, at the heart of England; an abiding symbol of the impact Christianity has had on our heritage. Its history is as rich and intricate as its decoration: from St Chad’s anointment as Bishop of Mercia in 669 to the damage wrought during the bloody English Civil War to its restoration to medieval glory in the nineteenth century by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Written by Dr Jonathan Foyle, the broadcaster, architectural historian and passionate advocate for heritage sites, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in Britain’s great medieval architecture.

Also available from Scala:
Cathedrals of the Church of England ISBN 9781857599404

The Library of Trinity College Dublin dates back to the establishment of the College in 1592 and is the largest library in Ireland. Its extensive collection of journals, manuscripts, maps and music reflects over 400 years of academic development and amounts to over 6 million volumes. A Legal Deposit Library since 1801, it receives copies of all material published in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The most famous of its treasures is the Book of Kells, whose rich illuminations are one of the finest examples of medieval art. Together with the Book of Durrow, also in the collection, they represent Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure. The Library also bears testament to more recent history, counting letters from Irish WWI soldiers and various artefacts from the Easter Rising – including a bullet fired through the Library roof – among its collection. This selection of objects highlights the diversity of the holdings and illuminates their fascinating history.

"This adaptation for younger readers (Key Stage 2) will introduce them to this classic of world literature and to Babur’s exciting adventures of discovery and conquest." — The School Run
"In a time where we are even more aware of the need for diversity and understanding of other traditions, this will make an excellent addition to any school library." — Margaret Pemberton

"This dynamic retelling of the memoirs of Babur, founder of the Mughal empire and Uzbek national hero, features the triumphs and reverses of his military and political career, with richly coloured illustrations."  — The Guardian

"A perfect introduction to the Baburnama for young readers giving them a flavour of this classic of world literature and Babur’s exciting adventures of discovery and conquest." — Outside in World

The memoirs of Babur (1483–1530), descendant of Genghis Khan and Timur (Tamburlaine) and founder of the mighty Mughal Empire, enjoy worldwide renown as the first true autobiography in Islamic literature and an absorbing account of conquest and wise rule, composed by a man whose erudition and statecraft have elevated him to the status of a national hero in the countries of Central Asia. Babur’s narrative describes not only the battles that propelled him to power, but the people, flora and fauna of the lands he ruled – taking us from Samarkand to Kabul to northern India. Anuradha’s lucid and lively retelling of the Baburnama will introduce this classic of world literature to a new generation of young readers, for whom the story of Babur will serve as both a thrilling adventure and an exemplary tale.

The Story of Babur: Prince, Emperor, Sage is published as the Republic of Uzbekistan undertakes an extensive programme of promoting and communicating its rich cultural heritage both within its own borders and to the rest of the world. The book’s publication will coincide with an exhibition on the Boburid dynasty of the Mughal Empire at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC.

For ages 7-11 years.

Text in French.

A comprehensive guide for those seeking to understand the rich cultural heritage of Central Asia, this book is the most authoritative single-volume treatment of the region’s long history. This newly translated volume investigates the civilisations and states which emerged in Central Asia from the Bronze Age up to the 5th century AD. It examines their differing religions and cultures and explores their changing relationships over time. With all new colour plates in a beautiful hardback edition, this book seeks to bring Central Asia’s illustrious history to life for a new international audience.

LS Lowry has long been one of Britain’s most popular artists. He is best
known for his industrial landscapes and crowd scenes but they were only
one facet of his broader vision, which included evocative seascapes,
rural landscapes and imagined portraits. For a much-imitated artist so
apparently familiar to us, Lowry’s life and career remain full of
surprises. As the world’s largest collection of paintings and drawings
by the artist, as well as photographs, press cuttings and exhibition
catalogues related to his work, The Lowry Collection provides the
broadest context in which to look at his life, work and career afresh.
Here, curator Claire Stewart tells the artist’s story through a
selection of highlights from the Collection, which is housed in the
landmark multi-disciplinary arts centre that bears his name.

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist in Kutná Hora – Sedlec, the convent church of the former oldest Cistercian abbey in Bohemia (est. 1142), has been recorded in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995.

This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of almost 900 years of history of this remarkable place, which experienced days of glory as well as dark periods of war and plague. Today, people from all over the world come to admire the cathedral, whose current appearance was fundamentally influenced by the Baroque reconstruction performed by the brilliant architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel (1677–1723). The nearby Church of All Saints then receives even more attention thanks to its Ossuary which is decorated with unique skeletal ornaments. It is the only ossuary in the world where human remains have been used as design elements, and yet (or perhaps because of that), it carries a powerful message of memento mori.
Whether you are interested in history, art, architecture or religion, the former Cistercian abbey of Kutná Hora – Sedlec has it all and much more. 

The Kunstmuseum Basel is the largest and most significant public art collection in Switzerland – and is also listed as a heritage site of national significance. It is also one of the oldest publicly accessible art collections in the world. Housed in three venues across Basel, the museum has artworks from the 15th century to the present day, including the largest collection of works by the Holbein family. Other artists and movements are also well represented, including Rembrandt, Impressionist artists such as Monet and Renoir, as well as modernist painters such as Klee and Picasso. Kunstmuseum Basel also has an active contemporary art programme, with acquisitions by William Kentridge and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye discussed in this book.

Richly illustrated with engaging commentaries and insights by the museum’s director, Josef Helfenstein, Director’s Choice: Kunstmuseum Basel is an excellent highlights tour of this renowned collection and an introduction to the history of western art.

Who once escaped over the frozen River Thames? Which princess loves football? Who banned all sport, entertainment and even Christmas? In this souvenir family guide, aimed at ages 7–11, you’ll discover the real lives of our kings and queens from William the Conqueror to King Charles III. As well as original colour illustrations and stunning images of treasures from the Royal Collection, there are loads of fascinating facts, things to do and places to visit!

"Starting from the history of concepts, Victor Neumann shows how the variety of connotations associated with the ideas of ‘nation’ and ‘people’ have been circumscribed in south-eastern Europe, holding back the region over many decades. More important, with erudition and seriousness of purpose, he mounts a defence of a notion of identity that is neither fixed nor monocultural, and proposes a legal definition of ‘nation’ that can resist exclusivist or racist versions. In an age when counter-rational fantasies about identity seem to be prevailing, when many seem unaware of or have forgotten where such thinking leads, Neumann’s is a much-needed voice of reason." — Dan Stone, Professor of Modern History, Royal Holloway, University of London

With a focus on the origins and evolution of political identity, this book explores the way different linguistic communities have defined kin, ethnicity, citizenship and the nation. As Neumann traces the transition over the last two centuries of European history, from the medieval to the modern age, he pays particular attention to the idealistic philosophies that have influenced the intellectual landscape and political discourse of European regions today, and which have intensified the division between East and West in terms of cultural norms, legislation and administration.

What is a crime against humanity and when should it be investigated? What does ‘human rights’ mean? Is law the new religion and are its high priests, the lawyers, really all bad? What is the role of the law in the regulation of sexual behaviour? Are there limits to what we can reasonably expect from international war crimes tribunals? These and many other crucial questions are explored with wit, panache and consummate even-handedness by Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC, in the series of lectures he delivered as Gresham Professor of Law from 2012 to 2016. Drawing on events from every continent and every period in history, from ancient Babylon to Britain on the brink of Brexit; and referencing icons from Cicero to Socrates, Bertrand Russell to Jean-Paul Sartre, and Joan Baez to Muhammad Ali, Sir Geoffrey applies his own wealth of experience to moral problems which are as pressing in today’s anxious world as they ever have been.

The book is due to be launched at Gresham College, 18 October 2017.

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