This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. White Gold

   The Extraordinary Story of Thomas Pellow and North Africa's One Million European Slaves

   

   The book delves into the harrowing true story of Thomas Pellow, an Englishman who was captured by Barbary pirates in the early 18th century and sold into slavery in Morocco. It chronicles his twelve-year ordeal under the rule of the tyrannical Sultan Moulay Ismail, highlighting the brutal conditions and the cultural clash between European captives and their North African captors. Through Pellow's experiences, the narrative sheds light on the broader historical context of the Barbary slave trade, exploring themes of survival, resilience, and the human spirit's capacity to endure in the face of unimaginable adversity.

2. 2. Samurai William

   The Englishman Who Opened Japan

   

   The book chronicles the fascinating journey of an Englishman who becomes one of the first Westerners to live in Japan during the early 17th century. It explores his adventures and challenges as he navigates the complex cultural and political landscape of Japan, forging relationships with influential figures and playing a pivotal role in establishing trade links between Japan and England. The narrative vividly captures the clash of cultures and the intrigue of international diplomacy during a time of significant global exploration and expansion.

3. 3. Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill Or Die

   D-Day: The Human Story

   

   Set against the backdrop of D-Day, this gripping narrative delves into the intricate tapestry of espionage, bravery, and survival during one of history's most pivotal moments. The story unfolds through the eyes of an eclectic cast of characters, including soldiers, spies, and civilians, each playing a crucial role in the Allied invasion of Normandy. With a blend of personal anecdotes and historical insights, the book paints a vivid picture of the chaos and heroism that defined the day, offering readers a fresh perspective on the human experiences behind the military strategies and operations.

   Purchase from Bookshop.org

4. 4. When Hitler Took Cocaine And Lenin Lost His Brain

   History's Strangest Moments

   

   A lively collection of true, little-known episodes and oddities from twentieth-century history, tracing how eccentric personal habits, medical mishaps, bizarre experiments and unlikely coincidences shaped the lives of prominent figures and the course of events. Drawing on archival sources and eyewitness accounts, it stitches together colorful vignettes—from leaders’ strange behaviors and scandals to vanished artifacts and curious scientific practices—mixing scholarship with wit to reveal the human quirks behind major historical moments.

   Purchase from Bookshop.org
5. 5. Nathaniel's Nutmeg

   Or, The True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader Who Changed the Course of History

   

   A gripping account of 17th-century spice wars in which a tiny Indonesian archipelago becomes the object of deadly obsession, following an English trader's desperate defense of a nutmeg island against the militarized Dutch East India Company; the story interweaves sea-borne adventure, piracy, siege warfare and diplomacy with the ruthless strategies—massacres, forced removals and commercial monopolies—that European powers used to control global trade, and shows how the pursuit of a single spice reshaped empires and devastated the indigenous Bandanese people.

   Purchase from Bookshop.org

6. 6. The Stalin Affair

   

7. 7. Churchill's Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare

   The Mavericks Who Plotted to Turn the Tide of War

   

   The book traces how, in the early years of World War II, Churchill championed a shadowy constellation of maverick officers, spies and inventors who built ad hoc units to wage sabotage, raids and deception against the Axis; it profiles the personalities, improvised techniques and daring operations—covert landings, ship-captures, underwater work and acts of demolition—that bypassed conventional military orthodoxy, arguing these unorthodox measures were crucial in disrupting enemy supply lines, gathering intelligence and bolstering Allied morale, while also exploring the ethical ambiguities and bureaucratic rivalries that accompanied Britain’s turn to irregular warfare.

   Purchase from Bookshop.org