News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

We have a great list of new books in our History Recent Picks this month. Enjoy!

If Rome hadn’t fallen : what might have happened if the Western Empire had survived / Timothy Venning.
“This is a fascinating exploration of how the history of Europe, and indeed the world, might have been different if the Western Roman Empire had survived the crises that pulled it apart in the 4th and 5th centuries. Dr Timothy Venning starts by showing how that survival and recovery might plausibly have happened if several relatively minor things had been different. He then moves on to discuss a series of scenarios which might have altered the course of subsequent history dramatically. Would the survival of a strong Western Empire have assisted the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire in halting the expansion of Islam in the Middle East and North Africa? How would the Western Roman Empire have handled the Viking threat? Could they even have exploited the Viking discovery of America and established successful colonies there? While necessarily speculative, all the scenarios are discussed within the framework of a deep understanding of the major driving forces, tensions and trends that shaped European history and help to shed light upon them. In so doing they help the reader to understand why things panned out as they did, as well as what might have been.” (Global Books In Print)

Turn right at Machu Picchu : rediscovering the lost city one step at a time / Mark Adams.
“Journalist Adams, whose previous Mr. America was an entertaining rediscovery of the life of early 20th-century fitness guru Bernard Macfadden, explores the weird crevasses of American exploration. In this fascinating history/travelogue, Adams looks at the work of Hiram Bingham III, who became a national sensation after he “discovered” the ancient city of Machu Picchu in July 1911. To celebrate the centennial of Bingham’s discovery, Adams attempts to follow Bingham’s exact footsteps through the Andes Mountains of Peru, with two clear goals: to figure out “how Bingham had gotten to Machu Picchu in the first place” and, in the face of recent claims that he had illegally smuggled artifacts out of the country, to understand the broader story of Bingham’s “all-consuming attempt to solve the mystery of why such a spectacular granite city had been built in such a spellbinding location.” (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved (Publisher Weekly)

Great central state : the foundation of the Northern Territory / Jack Cross.
“This book tells the sometimes bizarre story of the founding and precarious existence of the Northern Territory up to its constitution as a separate entity in 1911. Acquired by South Australia in 1863, the early years are a case study in planned colonisation, a world-wide movement in the mid-nineteenth century which, at its most ambitious, aimed at spreading civilisation around the world. This grand vision was marred by human folly, pride and hubris, overarching ambition, petty jealousy and murderous payback. Strange tales abound in this very lively history being published ready for the Territory’s centenary celebrations in 2011, as Jack Cross casts a wry, affectionate eye over a meticulously researched text that also anticipates the day when the Territory’s unique proximity to Asia determines that it becomes the seventh Australian state.” (Global Books In Print)

Street fight in Naples : a city’s unseen history / Peter Robb.
“Naples is always a shock, flaunting beauty and squalor like nowhere else. Naples is the only city in Europe whose ancient past still lives in its irrepressible people. Their ancestors came from all over the early Mediterranean to the wide bay and its islands, shadowed by a dormant volcano. Not all of them found what they were looking for, but they made a great and terribly human city. Peter Robb’s Street Fight in Naples ranges across nearly three thousand years of Neapolitan life and art, from the first Greek landings in Italy to his own less auspicious arrival thirty-something years ago.” (Global Books In Print)

The statues that walked : unraveling the mystery of Easter Island / Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo.
“Hunt and Lipo present a radical new theory concerning one of the most outstanding mysteries of human history- Easter Island.” (Syndetics summary)

We have a great list of new books in our History Recent Picks this month. Enjoy!

Death in Florence : the Medici, Savonarola and the battle for the soul of the renaissance city / Paul Strathern.
“By the end of the fifteen century, Florence was well established as the home of the Renaissance. As generous patrons to the likes of Botticelli and Michelangelo, the ruling Medici embodied the progressive humanist spirit of the age, and in Lorenzo the Magnificent they possessed a diplomat capable of guarding the militarily weak city in a climate of constantly shifting allegiances between the major Italian powers. However, in the form of Savonarola, an unprepossessing provincial monk, Lorenzo found his nemesis. Filled with Old Testament fury and prophecies of doom, Savonarola’s sermons reverberated among a disenfranchised population, who preferred mediaeval Biblical certainties to the philosophical interrogations and intoxicating surface glitter of the Renaissance.” (Global Books In Print)

The Mindset lists of American history : from typewriters to text messages, what ten generations of Americans think is normal / Tom McBride and Ron Nief.
“The Mindset List began in 1998 as a project out of Beloit College to give its faculty and staff an idea of what has “always” or “never” been true for new classes of students. The List has since gained a massive following online, resulting in this book that covers ten generations beginning in 1898 and ending with projections about the class of 2026. Each chapter begins with a Mindset List, usually following the always/never format, and provides a narrative dramatizing what it was like to grow up at that time. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.” (Publisher Weekly)

Sugar barons : family, corruption, empire and war / Matthew parker.
“The contemporary image of the West Indies as paradise islands conceals a turbulent, dramatic and shocking history. For 200 years after 1650, the West Indies witnessed one of the greatest power struggles of the age, as Europeans made and lost immense fortunes growing and trading in sugar – a commodity so lucrative that it was known as white gold. This compelling book tells how the islands became by far most valuable and important colonies in the British Empire.” (Global Books In Print)

Desert surgeons : New Zealand’s Mobile Surgical Unit in World War II / Michael Shackleton.
“New Zealand’s Mobile Surgical Unit in the Western Desert developed concepts and practice of early surgical treatment by small teams close to the battle front, based partly on the experience of New Zealand surgeon Douglas Jolly during the Spanish Civil War. Lessons learned by the Mobile Surgical Unit were taken up by field medical units in other Allied armies during the war. The researcher and author, Michael Shackleton, is a retired surgeon himself who combed through official records and many personal letters and diaries to create this fascinating account of one of the less-known Kiwi activities in World War II.” (Global Books In Print)

I’m the one that know this country! / by Jessie Lennon.
“Matutjara woman, Jessie Lennon, was born on a sheep station near Kingoonya in the 1920s. Aged six, she accompanied her father on a ceremonial journey with the Old People, as far west as Ooldea, in the time of Daisy Bates, and north to Coober Pedy, then a fledgling opal-mining settlement. Her early life was spent travelling with family: on foot, on camels and sometimes ‘jumping the train’. Later they sought whitefella work in towns on sheep and cattle stations. Many times Jessie’s travel brought her back to Coober Pedy where she lived in camps, underground dugouts and on the mine dumps. In the 1950s, Jessie and her family were ‘caught by the bomb’: fallout from the British nuclear tests at Emu, north of Maralinga. They were not evacuated, nor advised to take any precautions, and although they fled east, they could not escape the long-term effects on their health. Decades later, Jessie and Senior Elders in the community took up an unsuccessful fight for compensation.” (Global Books In Print)

We have a great list of new books in our History Recent Picks this month. Enjoy!

Tracing your rural ancestors : a guide for family historians / Jonathan Brown.
“Many family historians will come across direct links to ancestors who lived and worked in the countryside as farmers, labourers, landowners, village tradesmen and professionals – for most of us have rural ancestors. Yet despite the burgeoning interest in genealogy, these people have rarely been written about with the family historian in mind. No previous book has provided a guide to the documents and records, from medieval times to the twentieth century, that researchers can use to find out about their rural ancestors and the world in which they lived. That is why this accessible and informative introduction by rural historian Jonathan Brown is so important.”(Global Books In Print)

Karori and its people / edited by Judith Burch & Jan Heynes.
“This book traces Karori’s transition from its beginnings as a rural outpost in the 1840s, through to the thriving community it is today – one of New Zealand’s largest and most significant suburbs. Chapters cover: Landscape and natural environment – Access – Settlement, growth and population – The town centre — heart of the suburb – Residential – Governance – Education – Business – Religion – Heritage in the cemetery – Military – Sport and recreation – Health and sanitation – Community and social services – Karori people. KARORI AND ITS PEOPLE covers all these topics and more, with the common thread the people who have made the suburb their home.” (Global Books In Print)

The Lisbon route : entry and escape in Nazi Europe / Ronald Weber.
“The Lisbon Route tells of the extraordinary World War II transformation of Portugal’s tranquil port city into the great escape hatch of Nazi Europe. Royalty, celebrities, diplomats, fleeing troops, and ordinary citizens desperately slogged their way across France and Spain to reach the neutral nation. As well as offering freedom from war, Lisbon provided spies, smugglers, relief workers, military figures, and adventurers with an avenue into the conflict and its opportunities. Yet an ever-present shadow behind the gaiety was the fragile nature of Portuguese neutrality.” (Syndetics summary)

The beautiful and the damned : life in the new India / Siddhartha Deb.
“A personal, narrative work of journalism and cultural analysis, The beautiful and the damned examines India’s many contradictions through five individual perspectives.”–Publisher’s description.

Gallipoli : the final battles and evacuation of Anzac / David W. Cameron.
“This book is the first book since Charles Bean’s Official history to provide a detailed narrative of the bloody and tragic battle for Hill 60, along with the other engagements that went on until the very last days at Anzac – viewed from both sides of the trenches. It also examines in detail the planning and execution of the evacuation of the troops from Anzac – the most successful part of the whole Gallipoli fiasco. David Cameron’s detailed research and use of firsthand accounts including letters, diaries, and interviews, enables him to convey the confusion of battle while also telling a good story with a powerful emotional impact”–Back cover.

Many of the New Zealand collection newest titles this month have a history focus. A collection of writings from one of the most widely read New Zealand historians Michael King heads the list.

The silence beyond / selected writings by Michael King ; with an introduction by Rachael King.
“The Silence Beyond is a wide-ranging and often personal collection of King’s writings – many in print for the first time or no longer available – including essays, talks and eulogies for friends.” –Back cover.

Wellington’s railways : colonial steam to Matangi / David Parsons.
“An illustrated record of the Wellington railway system. David Parsons documents progress of the greater Wellington railway system and motive power development through to introduction of the new Matangi multiple units. Also covered are associated transport modes including tramways, the cable car, rail ferries and rail air, with a chapter covering rail transport museums situated within the suburban network. This book is profusely illustrated with colour and black-and-white photographs of motive power variants, stations and associated infrastructure”.(Summary from Syndectics)

Karori and its people / edited by Judith Burch & Jan Heynes.
This book traces Karori’s transition from its beginings as a rural outpost in the 1840’s, through to the thriving community it is today – one of New Zealands largest and most significant suburbs. (Summary adapted from the back cover)

John Larkins Cheese Richardson : ‘the gentlest, bravest and most just of men’ / Olive Trotter.
“This biography recalls Richardson’s life of service in mid-nineteenth-century New Zealand. An Englishman born in Bengal, Richardson’s public life began in Dunedin, a small New Zealand town. Of note is his push for equal education for women, and his lengthy report on the rabbit population problem, foreseeing modern invasive species regulations. Illustrated with period photographs. Trotter is a Dunedin-based writer. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Summary from Syndectics)

Shaping Godzone : public issues and church voices in New Zealand 1840-2000 / Laurie Guy.
Churches as institutions, and Christians as individuals and groups, have made significant and often contentious contributions to shaping private and public morality and issues of social justice in New Zealand. Laurie Guy provides a lively account of Church and Christian involvement in a selection of these issues. This ground-breaking book highlights the influence of the church in the shaping of ‘Godzone’ – Aotearoa New Zealand. (Summary adapted from Syndectics)

New Zealanders in focus : the documentary photography of Peter James Quinn.
“Peter James Quinn is one of New Zealand’s preeminent social documentary photographers. His images are revealing, offering insights into the nature of society we thought we knew well. His are images of humanity, pride, sadness, unbridled joy all approached with compassion and humour”.(Summary from Syndectics)

We have a great list of new books in our History Recent Picks this month. Enjoy!

Titirangi : fringe of heaven / Marc Bonny ; edited by Bruce and Trixie Harvey.
“TITIRANGI, probably Auckland’s most beautiful suburb and on the edge of the dramatic Waitakere Ranges, is truly the ‘fringe of heaven’. The name incorporates the Maori word for sky and alludes to the go Rangi. It was here about 1750, on Titirangi’s southern and western flanks, that the heroic struggle occured that saw Ngati Whatua wrest control Tamaki Makau-rau (Auckland) from the incumbent Waiohua.
Titirangi: Fringe of Heaven tells of the Maori settlements, the European arrivals and forest clearing, first at Litlle Muddy Creek, and the formation of small farmlets accessed by boat from Onehunga.”  (Book Jacket)

Treasures from the attic : the extraordinary story of Anne Frank’s family / Mirjam Pressler with Gerti Elias ; translated from the German by Damion Searls.
“Anne Frank wrote a diary from the age of 13 as she hid for over two years in the back of an Amsterdam warehouse escaping the horrors of Nazi occupation. An intimate record of tension and struggle, adolescence and confinement, anger and heartbreak, it is among the most enduring documents of the twentieth century, famed throughout the world. Since first publication in 1947, the diary has been read by tens of millions of people in many different translations. A bestseller in its 1952 and 1997 (definitive) editions it remains a beloved and deeply admired testament to the indestructible nature of the human spirit. Recently discovered letters, documents and photographs of Anne and her family including letters from her, her father’s letters from Auschwitz and his poignant descriptions of searching for his family after the war and his discovery of the dairies, have been made into a family saga by Mirjam Pressler, the editor of the definitive edition of the Diary.” (Global Books In Print)

Cradle of gold : the story of Hiram Bingham, a real-life Indiana Jones, and the search for Machu Picchu / Christopher Heaney.
“In this grand, sweeping narrative, Heaney takes the reader into the heart of Peru’s past to relive the dramatic story of the final years of the Incan empire, the exhilarating recovery of its final cities, and the thought-provoking fight over its future.” (Syndetics summary)

Dividing the spoils : the war for Alexander the Great’s empire / Robin Waterfield.
“On his deathbed, surrounded by his generals, Alexander supposedly willed his empire to the strongest of them. His demise launched a period of internecine warfare among his diadokhoi (successors) that lasted four decades and reshaped the political landscape and subsequent history of Europe and the Near East. Classical scholar and translator Waterfield brings that violent, chaotic, and confusing epoch to life in a clear, concise, and well-researched survey dominated by the figures of Antigonus, Seleucus, and Ptolemy, former generals of Alexander who are compelling, even admirable characters. Their efforts to seize as large a chunk of territory as possible for themselves and their families eventually resulted in the three smaller but still powerful successor states that ruled the area until their absorption by the Roman Empire.–Freeman, Jay Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)

Irresistible North : from Venice to Greenland on the trail of the Zen brothers / Andrea di Robilant.
“In this engaging book about a historian in pursuit of a riddle, di Robilant (Lucia: A Venetian Life in the Age of Napoleon) relates not just what he found but how he found it and both what he knew and didn’t know by the end of the quest. It’s the best kind of history: scrupulously honest, with attention to detail, and never exaggerated. The puzzle is a centuries-old map, supposedly drawn by the Zen brothers-merchants, sailors and explorers in late 14th-century Venice -David Keymer, Modesto, CA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.” (Library Journal)

This month we have interesting new history books for you to borrow:

Romantic revolutionary / Robert Harvey.
“Simon Bolivar was the archetypal romantic revolutionary. Born into privilege and nurtured in the Rousseau’s philosophy of the Homme Sauvage, it was not until the young colonial visited Europe that the taper of revolution was lit that sent the young man on a death-defying quest to fight for the people of his homeland, and eventually liberate the whole of continental South America.” (Syndetics summary)

Behind the palace doors : five centuries of sex, adventure, vice, treachery, and folly from royal Britain / Michael Farquhar.
“From the truth behind the supposed madness of King George to Queen Victoria’s surprisingly daring taste in sculpture, Behind the Palace Doors ventures beyond the rumors to tell the unvarnished history of Britain’s monarchs, highlighting the unique mix of tragedy, comedy, romance, heroism, and incompetence that has made the British throne a seat of such unparalleled fascination.” (Syndetics summary)

Red heat : conspiracy, murder, and the Cold War in the Caribbean / Alex von Tunzelmann.
“America’s secret war in the Caribbean during the Cold War is revealed as never before in this riveting story of the machinations and blunders of superpowers.” (Syndetics summary)

Exorcising Hitler : the occupation and denazification of Germany / Frederick Taylor.
“In Exorcising Hitler, Frederick Taylor tells the story of Germany’s year zero and what came after. As he describes the final Allied campaign, the hunting down of the Nazi resistance, the vast displacement of peoples in central and eastern Europe, the attitudes of the conquerors, the competition between Soviet Russia and the West, the hunger and near starvation of a once proud people, the initially naive attempt at expunging Nazism from all aspects of German life and the later more pragmatic approach, we begin to understand that despite almost total destruction, a combination of conservatism, enterprise and pragmatism in relation to former Nazis enabled the economic miracle of the 1950s.” (Syndetics summary)

Young Henry : the rise to power of Henry VIII / Robert Hutchinson.
“Henry VIII always had problems with women. Born on 28 June 1491, he lived in the shadow of his elder brother Arthur and his dour and autocratic father, Henry VII. Elizabeth of York, Henry’s mother, died when he was twelve and thereafter he lived under the thumb of his formidable grandmother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, who beneath a pious exterior was the arch-conspirator of the last days of the Wars of the Roses. Everything changed when Arthur died of tuberculosis at Ludlow Castle in 1502, less than six months after his marriage to the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon.” (Syndetics summary)

Goodbye Sarajevo : a true story of courage, love and survival / Atka Reid & Hana Schofield.
“May, 1992. Hana is twelve years old when she is put on one of the last UN evacuation buses fleeing the besieged city of Sarajevo. Her twenty-one-year-old sister, Atka, staying behind to look after their five younger siblings, is there to say goodbye. Thinking that they will be apart for only a few weeks, they make a promise to each other to be brave. But as the Bosnian war escalates and months go by without contact, their promise to each other becomes deeply significant.” (Syndetics summary)

Wolfram : the boy who went to war / Giles Milton.
“Wolfram Aïchele was nine years old when Hitler came to power: his formative years were spent in the shadow of the Third Reich. He and his parents – free-thinking artists – were to have first hand experience of living under one of the most brutal regimes in history. Wolfram: The Boy Who Went to War overturns all the clichés about life under Hitler. It is a powerful story of warfare and human survival and a reminder that civilians on all sides suffered the consequences of Hitler’s war. It is also an eloquent testimony to the fact that even in times of exceptional darkness there remains a brilliant spark of humanity that can never be totally extinguished.” (amazon.co.uk summary)

In Rugby World Cup year the New Zealand collection picks take you from grassroots rugby sidelines to World Cup fever and then mixes in a little politics in an edited collection of essays that re-evaluate the legacy of former Prime Minister William Ferguson Massey.

For the love of the game : grassroots rugby in heartland New Zealand / Gregor Paul, text & Gregory Crow, photographs. “For the Love of the Game is a celebration of New Zealand grassroots rugby and the people who make it happen. In words and stunning photographs, it tells the story of a great love affair that is pursued in every corner of New Zealand.” (Summary adapted from Syndetics)

How to watch the Rugby World Cup 2011 / Spiro Zavos. “Since the Rugby World Cup tournament began in 1987, its powerful players, speed-charged runs, soaring kicks, brutal scrums and controversial refereeing decisions have gripped billions of people around the world. In 2011, the tournament returns to its birthplace, New Zealand, where teams from 20 qualifying nations will battle to win rugby’s most coveted prize. For players and coaches, this is the ultimate test. Will Robbie Deans bring the Wallabies to glory? Can Graham Henry’s All Blacks break their 20-year jinx?” (Summary adapted from Syndetics)

A great New Zealand prime minister? : reappraising William Ferguson Massey / edited by James Watson and Lachy Paterson.
“‘Massey’s Cossacks’ — citizens called in to help break the 1913 General Strike — have long been cited as just one of the sins of William Ferguson Massey. One of New Zealand’s longest-serving Prime Ministers, his political legacy has not always been treated kindly. However, recent work by historians suggests that a reappraisal of Bill Massey — which this book provides — is overdue. It is clear, a century later, that Massey was Prime Minister at a particularly turbulent time in its history.” (Summary adapted from publisher’s information)

On Wednesday 18 May, Wellington City Libraries is delighted to have New Zealand singer/songwriter Rachel Dawick give two free live performances as part of her “Follow My Tears” tour. Rachel will perform at:
Central Library (65 Victoria Street) – 12-1pm
Ruth Gotlieb Library, Kilbirnie – 3.30-4.30pm

For 60 days Rachel will be touring New Zealand performing and collecting stories of New Zealand women in the 1800s on her journey.

“Researching into the songs written in the 1800s in NZ revealed a large gap in terms of those by women. It was a musical history dominated by men and therefore providing only half a story. If there weren’t the songs then the next best thing would be to discover the stories and write the songs myself.”
Rachel Dawick.

Want to have a listen before the event? Check out Rachel’s previous albums in our catalogue.

For more information on Rachel Dawick: http://www.racheldawick.com

For more information about the “Follow My Tears” tour: http://web.me.com/rdawick/www.followmytears.com/The_Plan.html

Supported by Creative NZ, Wellington City Libraries, The Interislander Ferry and Radio New Zealand.

Do you have stories of women in your family who lived in New Zealand in the 1800’s?  If so, we want to hear from you!
New Zealand singer-songwriter Rachel Dawick is collecting stories from all over New Zealand, which will then be used to create a new album of songs and a national resource for libraries.

“Researching into the songs written in the 1800s in NZ revealed a large gap in terms of those by women. It was a musical history dominated by men and therefore providing only half a story. If there weren’t the songs then the next best thing would be to discover the stories and write the songs myself.”
Rachel Dawick.

Write down the stories and drop them into your local Wellington City Libraries branch by 18 May or email them to us at enquiries@wcl.govt.nz
with  ‘Rachel Dawick Stories’ in the subject line. Please note that stories provided to us are unable to be returned.

From 14 April – 14 June, Rachel will also be travelling throughout New Zealand, performing in local libraries, while she collects the stories.

You will get your chance to see Rachel perform in Wellington when she will be giving two free live performances on Wednesday 18 May at Central Library (12-1pm) and Ruth Gotlieb Library, Kilbirnie (3.30-4.30pm).

Want to have a listen before the event?  Check out Rachel’s previous albums on our catalogue, or listen to an interview with her via RadioNZ.