Assassination has been a political and military tool for thousands of years. In the view of many generals and emperors, it was cheaper and more effective than assembling an army and pitching soldiers into combat with the enemy - when the result was never clear cut or easy to achieve. The twentieth century was, perhaps more than any other period, an era of military, political and social assassinations. Their effect was invariably huge, world-changing in some instances. From the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 to the murder of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, from the death of John Lennon to the assassination of men like President Kennedy and Martin Luther King, the assassin's bombs, bullets, and knives cut a swathe across modern society. 'Assassinations that Shaped the Twentieth Century' logs and describes many of the more notable killings. It places the assassinations in context, charting their effect and significance. The book also looks at 'failed' assassination attempts and at killings that were planned but never carried out. Written in Phil Carradice's easy and elegant style, the book is thoroughly researched and presented in a logical manner. It is an essential addition to the bookshelves of anyone with an interest in twentieth-century history. AUTHOR: Phil Carradice is a novelist, historian, poet and broadcaster from Wales. Born and brought up in Pembrokeshire, he now lives outside Cardiff, where he regularly broadcasts for the BBC. Formerly a teacher and headteacher, he was educated at Cardiff University and Cardiff College of Education but now concentrates on life as a full-time writer. He lectures and runs creative writing courses for children and adults. He has a passion for history as an interest and a learning device. 'History books,' he says, 'are meant to be enjoyed. They are not the preserve of the privileged few.' He has published well over 80 books, ranging from poetry and novels to biography and works of history. He firmly believes in making history accessible to everyone, not just academics. His most recent books are Assassinations that Shaped the Ancient World, The Greatest Spy Writers of the 20th Century and Women of the Jacobite Rebellions , all for Pen and Sword. 40 b/w illustrations
