Browse and shop our collection of recommended writing and research books.

MAKE THIS MEDIEVAL PORT (Usborne Cut-Out Models) by Emil Markov Ivanov -- A tube of glue and some scissors are all you need to turn this book into an historically accurate model of a Medieval port.


MAKE THIS CASTLE (Usborne Cut-Out Models) by Iain Ashman -- A tube of glue and some scissors are all you need to turn this book into a historically accurate model of a 12th-century castle.


YOURS TRULY KING ARTHUR: HOW MEDIEVAL PEOPLE WROTE by Marc Drogin -- This delightful introduction to Medieval calligraphy instructs young people in the four major hands of the Middle Ages: early Medieval Roman Rustic, early Uncial, Carolkingian, and late Medieval Gothic Textura.


MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS by John Gray, Ph.D. -- An interesting sociobiological study and excellent self-help book for any couple who is interested in improving their communication skills. Dr. Gray is dead-on accurate about men, women and relationships. Don't let the "cutesy" title steer you away from this very earnest book.


TRACING YOUR CIVIL WAR ANCESTOR by Bertram Hawthorne Groene -- A complete guide to tracking down your ancestors' Civil War adventures, North and South. Specifically helpful in the number of resources it lists for research.


STATELY SECRETS: BEHIND-THE-SCENES STORIES FROM THE STATELY HOMES OF BRITAIN by Richard, Earl of Bradford -- First-hand stories as told to Lord Bradford by his peers and historic house owners as well as by butlers, guides and curators.


EYEWITNESS BOOKS: COSTUMES by L. Rowland-Warne -- Photos, not illustrations, are what make this wonderful oversized children's history text so wonderful. A fun visual glossary that includes everything from fans to shoes to gloves to snuff boxes!


A HISTORY OF COSTUME by Carl Kohler -- A text showing by practical example historical dress in ancient peoples of the Mediterranean lands, the Middles Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, 18th and 19th centuries.


LET THERE BE CLOTHES: 40,000 YEARS OF FASHION by Lynn Schnurberger -- Over 1600 illustrations. At last. a book filled with outrageous and outlandish fashion information that isn't scholarly! A must for all who enjoy knowing what was worn when!


MEN'S FASHION ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY by Jno J. Mitchell Co. -- Over 100 pages with sharply detailed black and white illustrations reproduced from the Sartorial Art Journal, a sophisticated trade publication used by tailors when consulting with their clients.


A SURVEY OF HISTORIC COSTUME by Phyllis Tortora -- This book is like a trip to a fine museum, with pictures of textiles, charts and other helpful information on who was wearing what. Includes trends not only in wealthy people's clothing, but peasants, military, and clergy.


VICTORIAN FASHIONS & COSTUMES FROM HARPER'S BAZAAR 1867-1898 Edited by Stella Blum -- A beautiful pictorial history of the fashions of the time.


THE ARMOURER AND HIS CRAFT: FROM THE XITH TO THE XVI CENTURY by Charles Foulkes -- This is a classic reference book that illuminates in detail every aspect of the armourer's craft during the approximately five centuries it flourished in Europe.


THE HISTORY OF UNDERCLOTHES by C. Willett Cunnington & Phillis Cunnington -- This research book is a veritable treasure trove. The well-documented survey covers six centuries of English undergarments, enhanced with over 100 illustrations, including 12th century lace-up bodices & Victorian bustiers.


ACKERMANN'S COSTUME PLATES: WOMEN'S FASHIONS IN ENGLAND, 1818-1828 Edited by Stella Blum -- This sequential survey of women's dress not only illustrates the rapidly evolving, fluid modes, but offers some of the most charming and appealing designs of the early Romantic era—a glimpse of ballroom, promenade and riding couture suggestive of Byron's poems and the portraits of Ingres.


BLACK, WHITE, OTHER: BIRACIAL AMERICANS TALK ABOUT RACE AND IDENTITY by Lise Funderburg -- This wonderful book speaks volumes on cultural integration and desegregation. Based on interviews with 65 people of all ages, it speaks from the heart about how this nation views the Biracial African American.


THE CELTIC SHAMAN by John Matthews -- Good, practical details about a tradition continued over many different time periods. Another bonus is that this book is based on first-hand practice, not simply on research sources.


THE COLOR COMPLEX: THE POLITICS OF SKIN COLOR AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS by Kathy Russell -- An often avoided subject, skin color prejudices persist among African- Americans. As we move into the next millennium with a growing population of people of color, this book is an insightful examination of the psyche and behavior fostered by racism.


THE ENGLISH TOWN: A HISTORY OF URBAN LIFE by Mark Girouard -- Worth every penny, this invaluable resource covers all aspects of town history—the market place, houses and the like. Of particular interest is the section on Assembly Rooms. There is a lot of information, including pictures, that you won't find elsewhere.


IN THE FAMILY WAY: CHILDBEARING IN THE BRITISH ARISTOCRACY 1760-1860 by Judith Schnied Lewis -- Talk about a fascinating book! This excellent source covers all those very intimate secrets women just did not discuss! With excellent background information on love, marriage, childbirth and recovery.


GET THE FACTS ON ANYONE by Dennis King -- Truly unique, this guide reveals how to use public records and online data to investigate any person or group. Created by an investigative reporter.


I HEAR A SYMPHONY by Paula L. Woods and Felix H. Liddell -- Although subtitled 'African Americans Celebrate Love', Sandra Kitt feels that this volume, in concept and words, is a universal and inclusive portrait of the many facets of love, using essays, letters, and excerpts from novels and plays.


THE MAUL AND THE PEAR TREE: THE RATCLIFFE HIGHWAY MURDERS, 1811 by P. D. James & T. A. Critchley -- A look at a brutal historical murder, recorded by the famous mystery writer P.D. James with all the detail and flare of a true-life detective story. Not, however, for the faint of heart. Chock full of period details. This is the side of Regency England you seldom read about.


MANKILLER: A CHIEF AND HER PEOPLE by Wilma Mankiller & Michael Wallis -- This autobiography by the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation also provides an exact chronology of the indigenous people who lived in North America before European discovery. There is an extensive bibliography to other sources on Native American culture, written by Native Americans.


MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS by Brian L. Weiss, M.D. -- Fascinating details of the case records of a psychiatrist who used past life regression to treat his patients. Don't even think about writing a reincarnation novel without this!


THE ROAD TO DIVORCE: ENGLAND 1530-1987 by Lawrence Stone -- An historically rich textbook, which offers not only material on divorce but also good information regarding marriages, annulments and other legal matters regarding marriage.


SHAMANISM: ARCHAIC TECHNIQUES OF ECSTASY by Mircea Eliade -- This is the best scholarly resource on shamanism. Shamanism originally practiced in Siberia and Central Asia is now widespread in its practice, occurring in Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Indo European countries. The book offers a comprehensive analysis of just what a shaman is: magician, medicine man, healer, miracle-doer, priest, mystic and poet.


CASTLES: THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND HISTORY by Sidney Toy -- Traces the history of the castle and its defense systems, battlements, towers etc. with illustrations and photographs so that you get to see what you're trying to describe.


THE OXFORD COMPANION TO SHIPS AND THE SEA Edited by Peter Kemp -- Anyone writing anything about the sea or ships should have this. It is, quite literally, everything you could possibly want to know, including slang terms, navigational guides, and brief biographies of famous seamen.


CASTLES, PYRAMIDS AND PALACES (Usborne Beginners Knowledge) by Caroline Young and Colin King -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


CRUSADERS, AZTECS AND SAMURAI FROM AD 600 TO AD 1450 (Usborne Picture World History) by Anne Millard -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN AMERICA by Carol Hymowitz & Michaele Weismann -- This book depicts the role of women in America from early America to the present. Topics such as birth control, suffrage, temperance and feminism are covered.


FINDING OUT ABOUT HOMES AND HOUSES LONG AGO (Usborne Explainers) by H. Edom, Helen Edom -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


HOUSES AND HOMES (Usborne World Geography Series) by Carol Bowyer -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


KNIGHTS AND CASTLES (Usborne Time Traveler) by Judy Hindley & Toni Goffe -- Travel back in time and explore the Medieval world.


LIVING IN CASTLE TIMES (Usborne First History) by Robyn Gee -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


THE OTTOMAN CENTURIES: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE TURKISH EMPIRES by Lord Kinross -- Absolutely the most definitive and readable history of the Ottoman Turks. It's one of my bibles. This rich book offers a wonderfully articulate description of the multifaceted political players of the time and the diverse rituals that enriched the culture.


THE OXFORD ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF ROMAN BRITAIN by Peter Salway -- A rich account of Britain's centuries under Roman Rule. This oversized coffee table book is filled with hundreds of vivid color illustrations and charts. The Romans were fascinated with the British Isles, an exotic space they felt was at the ends of the world. This wonderful book chronicles the dramatic expeditions in 55 and 54 BC, and the years that followed.


PIRATES AND PATRIOTS OF THE REVOLUTION by C. Keith Wilbur -- Everything you need to know about ships, life at sea, seamanship, etc. Richly illustrated, with explanations even a landlubber can understand.


RAILWAYS AND TRAINS (Usborne Beginners Knowledge) by Caroline Young & Colin King -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


THE ROYAL PALACES OF TUDOR ENGLAND: ARCHITECTURE AND COURT LIFE IN 1460-1547 by Simon Thurley -- A lavishly illustrated, oversized coffee table book, filled with as many fascinating facts as it is filled with photographs, illustrations and paintings.


TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT LONG AGO by Helen Edom -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


THEY NEVER SAID IT: A BOOK OF FAKE QUOTES, MISQUOTES, AND MISLEADING ATTRIBUTIONS by Paul F. Boller Jr. and John George Christopher Brooke -- This book examines hundreds of misquotations, incorrect attributions, and blatant fabrications, outlining the origins of the quotes, and detailing why they are inaccurate.


WHAT WERE CASTLES FOR? (Usborne Starting Point History) by Phil Roxbee Cox -- Designed for children, this outstanding picture book offers simplified historical information very useful to historical writers.


WOMEN IN LATE ANTIQUITY: PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLES by Gillian Clark -- A concise guide to women's roles and well-being in the 3-6 centuries A.D. when Christianity became the dominant religion. Examines in detail marriage, divorce, celibacy, prostitution, childbearing and healthcare.


CASTLES: THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND HISTORY by Gillian Clark -- A concise guide to women's roles and well-being in the 3-6 centuries A.D. when Christianity became the dominant religion. Examines in detail marriage, divorce, celibacy, prostitution, childbearing and healthcare.


CROSS-SECTIONS: CASTLES by Stephen Biesty -- See inside an amazing 14th-century castle. Created for children, this outrageous book shows the real interior and exterior workings of a castle during wartime and peacetime.


EYEWITNESS BOOKS: KNIGHTS by Christopher Gravett -- This richly illustrated children's photo book explores the world of the Medieval knight from battles and banquets to tournaments and chivalry.


FRENCH MEDIEVAL ARMIES 1000-1300 by David Nicolle & Angus McBride -- An unrivaled source of information on the uniforms, insignia and appearance of fighting men Featuring diagrams, color illustrations and photographs.


NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN LIFE: CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF 23 TRIBES Edited by Elsie Clews Parsons -- This thought-provoking collection of 27 fictionalized essays provides a comprehensive picture of North American Indian Life.


KNIGHTS by Julek Heller & Deirdre Headon -- Pledged to fight evil and injustice, brave, chivalrous and loyal, the knight has become one of our most popular and enduring images from the Medieval era. Daily life of the knight is explored in detail.


PLANTATION HOUSES AND MANSIONS OF THE OLD SOUTH by J. Frazer Smith -- In this profusely illustrated book, you will find amazing homes of the South, with 116 illustrations.


SAILING VESSELS IN AUTHENTIC EARLY 19TH CENTURY ILLUSTRATIONS by Edward William Cooke -- This superb series of 65 etchings is one of the masterworks of maritime art, an authentic, richly atmospheric record of English shipping in the early decades of the 19th century, the era of the Regency.


THE NAME OF THE ROOM: A HISTORY OF THE BRITISH HOUSE AND HOME by Tony Rivers, Dan Cruickshank, Gillian Darley and Martin Pawley -- This fascinating book provides four accounts of the formation of the home by well-known architects. It explores front rooms designed for entertaining, private rooms, kitchens and pantry areas, and the idea of the mass-produced home. It details English homes of every era.


EMPIRES & BARBARIANS by P. Vanagas -- Some of the best history books for writers are children's books. This brilliantly visualized world history book for children gives vital information, but mostly describes through pictures the details of past life history.


A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE WEST, VOL. 1: FROM ANCIENT GODDESSES TO CHRISTIAN SAINTS by Phillipe Aries & George Duby -- This volume seeks to understand women's place in society, their condition, the roles they played, and the powers they possessed.


A HISTORY OF WOMEN IN THE WEST, VOL. 2: SILENCES OF THE MIDDLE AGES by Phillipe Aries & George Duby -- This second volume in the celebrated series offers new perspectives on women of the past.


MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE VIKINGS by John Lindow -- A coloring book that has wonderful black and white graphics detailing Viking costumes, helmets and shields but also includes myths and stories about Norse gods and warriors.


VIKING RAIDERS (Usborne Time Traveler Book) by A. Civardi & J. Graham-Campbell -- A book designed for younger readers. The pictures are bold and bright, and the history, fascinating and detailed.


THE VIKING WORLD (Usborne Illustrated World History) by J. Chisolm & A. Millard -- A brilliantly visualized world history book for children based on details of the Viking experience. The book describes through pictures the details of past life history with a special emphasis on daily life activities.


WARRIORS AND SEAFARERS (Usborne Picture World History) by A. Millard -- Another wonderful children's book featuring warriors and seafarers. The book describes through pictures the details of past life history with a special emphasis on daily life activities.


THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE 1800'S by Marc McCutcheon -- As your historical romance unfolds in 19th-century Boston or a dusty farm in the American West, you will need details to support your characters. You'll find anything and everything in this dictionary-style reference guide.


AS LONG AS LIFE: THE MEMOIRS OF A FRONTIER WOMAN DOCTOR, MARY CANEGA ROWLAND 1873-1966 by Mary Canaga Rowland -- The fascinating memoir of a pioneering country doctor. This real life Dr. Quinn was one of the very first women to get a medical degree in the United States. A wonderful description of the hardships early frontier settlers experienced, including diseases and childbirth.


LETTERS FROM A SHARPSHOOTER: THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF WILLIAM B. GREENE (1861-1865) Transcribed by William Hastings -- A complete collection of letters written by a young man who enlisted in the elite Green Coats, Berdan's Sharpshooters. This fascinating book includes historical photographs as well as copies of the original letters, side by side with transcriptions.


1001 THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY by John A. Garraty -- Professor Garraty of Columbia University has broken down this easy to read book into 7 categories: Politics, Ideas, People, Presidents, Literature & Music, Military Matters, and Economic Matters. The book is designed to remind people about important historical events they may have forgotten, and is a wonderful asset for an author who wants a handy encyclopedia of who's who in American History.


AN UNCOMMON SOLDIER: THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS OF SARAH ROSETTA WAKEMAN ALIAS PVT. LYONS WAKEMAN, 153RD REGIMENT, NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEERS, 1862-1864 Edited by Lauren Cook Burgess -- This fascinating book recounts a young woman's experiences in the military. Sarah was one of the several hundred women who posed as a man to enlist as a soldier in the Civil War.


UPON THE TENTED FIELD: AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE CIVIL WAR AS TOLD BY THE MEN WHO FOUGHT AND GAVE THEIR LIVES Edited by Bernard A. Olsen -- Following the lives of six men in the 14th New Jersey Volunteer Regiment (during the years 1862-1865), this book chronicles the lives and losses of these men on the Civil War battlefield. This oversized volume is filled with over 300 letters and many gripping photos.


CAPTURED BY THE INDIANS: 15 FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS, 1750-1870 Edited by Frederick Drimmer -- Whew! An amazing and absolutely grueling account told by fifteen people captured by Indians.


HARVEY GIRLS: WOMEN WHO OPENED THE WEST by Leslie Poling-Kempes -- From the 1880s to the 1950s, the Harvey Girls went west to work in Fred Harvey's restaurants along the Santa Fe Railway. They came as waitresses, but many stayed and settled, founding the struggling cattle and mining towns that dotted the region.


THE HARVEY HOUSE COOKBOOK by George H. Foster & Peter C. Weiglin -- History, nostalgia, and elegant recipes are blended in this lovely tribute to the legendary Harvey Houses of the American West.


THE LIGHT OF THE HOME by Harvey Green -- An intimate view of the lives of women in Victorian America. Includes detailed information regarding women's daily lives, including chapters on courtship and marriage, motherhood, housework, interior decoration, health, religion, and death.


RITUALS OF DINNER by Margaret Visser -- The origins, evolution, eccentricities and meaning of table manners. This delicious book explores every aspect of our eating rituals: how we invite and seat people, how (and how much) we serve them, what we eat with, and how the guests depart.


VICTORIAN WEST: CLASS & CULTURE IN KANSAS CATTLE TOWNS by C. Robert Haywood -- In this fascinating social history of the cattle town, Haywood describes the cultural lifestyles of the early settlers and their need to try to recreate homes and lifestyles patterned after what they left behind in the East.


THE VICTORIAN KITCHEN by Jennifer Davies -- A real find! This detailed and thoroughly illustrated book offers information on the vast collection of equipment used in Victorian kitchens, details on Victorian culinary techniques, kitchen management and staff. An excellent and fascinating resource.


A SEA OF WORDS: A LEXICON AND COMPANION FOR PATRICK O'BRIAN'S SEAFARING TALES by Dean King -- For those who are fascinated by the high seas, here is a dictionary 18th-century naval seafaring terms.


STAGECOACH INNS OF TEXAS by Frances & Joseph Gies -- Everything you wanted to know about life in a Medieval castle, from the duties of a lord and lady to the everyday events that shaped their lives.


LIFE IN A MEDIEVAL CASTLE by Kathryn Turner Carter -- Whether a crude log hut or a luxurious inn, these forty-two historic inns flourished during the Republic and early statehood of Texas. This book is wonderfully rich in detail!


THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY, 1307-1399 by May McKisack -- Indispensable for writing about the 14th century. Contains political, social, and economic developments that shaped the lives of these people.


MEDICAL PRACTICES IN THE CIVIL WAR by Susan Provost Beller -- A short but fascinating description of the often very frightening medical practices during the War between the States.


THE AMERICAN FRUGAL HOUSEWIFE by Lydia Child -- This is a quaint and delightful book detailing the duties and moral responsibilities of a proper housewife.


ARMED AND DANGEROUS: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO WEAPONS by Michael Newton -- A great resource, but particularly helpful for contemporary writers as little history is given.


ARMED AND DANGEROUS: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO WEAPONS by Wayne W. Bennett & Karen M. Hess -- This textbook for law enforcement classes is the perfect source for police procedure. This could be your bible when writing about criminal investigation, especially with police officers as main characters. Recommended to RT by a policeman!


WHAT COPS KNOW by Connie Fletcher -- What it's like to be a cop, straight from the source. You'll find great jargon, slang and a sense of the politics of a police deptartment…good, bad, and otherwise.


DEADLY DOSES: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO POISONS by Serita Stevens & Anne Larner -- Need to do away with a character? Name your poison…it's sure to be in this guide. Everything from poisonous reptiles to narcotics.


POLICE PROCEDURAL: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO THE POLICE AND HOW THEY WORK by Russell Bintliff -- This is another excellent and concise source for procedure. It includes charts on the organizational structure of police departments, with blueprints of an average building. Invaluable!


AFTER THE BLACK DEATH by George Huppert -- This is a short, readable introduction to the social history of Western Europe from the fourteenth to the eighteenth centuries. Beginning with an examination of material civilization, the author's inquiry moves on to family and community structure, social conflicts and religious beliefs.


THE BOOK OF THE SWORD by Richard F. Burton -- "The history of the sword is the history of humanity." With these words, British author, Victorian scholar, and world traveler Richard Burton, begins his eloquent and exceptionally erudite history of the "Queen of Weapons."


CULTURAL ATLAS OF FRANCE by John Ardagh with Colin Jones -- France is a nation that, for many centuries, has played a central role in European history and civilization, and whose cultural and intellectual achievements have had the widest influence. This book explores this heritage, both in terms of the past as well as the present. Includes 50 maps and 385 illustrations.


DOMESTIC TECHNOLOGY by Nell du Val -- A great reference for fact-checkers and historical romance writers. Everything about the home and hearth from Egyptian times to the 20th century, including the year of each invention. From tea bags to bidets, buttons to zippers.


THE INDIANS OF THE GREAT PLAINS by Norman Bancroft-Hunt -- A richly detailed examination of the fascinating history of the American Indian. Abundantly illustrated, this volume offers an introduction to the many unique Native American cultures, including an analysis of each tribe's evolution and migration, and how the tribes adapted to varied environments.


THE AMERICAN WEST IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY by John Grafton -- This impressive collection of expertly rendered illustrations—255 of them from Harper's Weekly and other contemporary sources—captures the sweeping drama of the American West in its heyday.