William Jordan

On 12 June 1944, Winston Churchill crossed the English Channel to visit the Normandy beachhead. Relishing danger, he had insisted on coming on D-Day itself: ‘Nothing,’ he said, ‘is more exhilarating than being shot at without result.’ At first, the King George VI also wished to join the fleet on D-Day, but when persuaded of the danger of this plan, he attempted to dissuade Churchill too. The Prime Minister eventually deferred, and delayed his trip. This comprehensive and informative guide covers the Prime Minister’s visit in great detail. William Jordan explores Churchill’s crossing on the destroyer HMS Kelvin, the party on Juno Beach and Churchill’s time in Courseulles-sur-Mer, the events of Churchill’s ‘jolly day’ as he put it visiting the beaches and inland. Many millions have followed his footsteps since, but none had so privileged a view as Churchill did that summer’s day. Here, in the words of those who witnessed the great man’s progress, and through photographs – many previously unpublished – we relive the events of that day.

A poignant description of one of Europe's most well known war cemeteries. Based on interviews and personal experiences, this work includes images, including photographs by Corporal Eric Gunton of Number 32 Graves Registration Unit, who photographed the cemetery as it took shape. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British and French history, heritage and travel.

Corporal Eric Gunton of the Royal Engineers, landed on Gold Beach on 8 June 1944, carrying his camera into the aftermath of battle. His photographs, though lost until 2005, are an evocation of life in Normandy in the months after D-Day, seen through the eyes of an Englishman who married a Frenchwoman and lived the rest of his years in France.

In this endearing memoir, William Jordan's reluctant adoption of a stray cat leads to an unexpectedly deep bond, one that will be immediately recognizable to anyone who has ever fallen under the spell of a pet. When Jordan brings Darwin into his home, he is forced into a commitment more devoted and sincere than any he has known before. He observes Darwin not only with the lovestruck gaze of a doting pet owner but also with the keen eye of a trained scientist, and he ruminates insightfully on the complex relationship between humans and their pets. Through issues of territory and separation, sickness and health, Jordan's heartrending memoir of his relationship with Darwin is made irresistible by his "self-effacing honesty, his ever-present wit, and, above all, the unashamed nakedness of his emotions" (San Diego Union-Tribune).

Attracting over one and a half million people every year, Omaha beach is the most visited Second World War battlefield site in Europe. The site of over a thousand deaths, it was also one of the bloodiest - hence its grim title, 'Bloody Omaha'. This narrow strip of Normandy coastline was crucial to the successful outcome of Overlord, eight divisions of American and British soldiers landing with the aim to secure key towns for the Allies. What was to be the largest amphibious operation in history, however, crucial to the war itself, also came with a high cost. 1,225 men were killed in action on Omaha, more than half within the first day. This fascinating guide provides a thorough account of the operation on Omaha, supported by maps, contemporary and modern photographs. William Jordan's well-written text tells the story from the initial assessments of Omaha through to the thousands of tons of material troops were afterwards safe to land. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

Attracting over one and a half million people every year, Omaha beach is the most visited Second World War battlefield site in Europe. The site of over a thousand deaths, it was also one of the bloodiest - hence its grim title, 'Bloody Omaha'. This narrow strip of Normandy coastline was crucial to the successful outcome of Overlord, eight divisions of American and British soldiers landing with the aim to secure key towns for the Allies. What was to be the largest amphibious operation in history, however, crucial to the war itself, also came with a high cost. 1,225 men were killed in action on Omaha, more than half within the first day. This fascinating guide provides a thorough account of the operation on Omaha, supported by maps, contemporary and modern photographs. William Jordan's well-written text tells the story from the initial assessments of Omaha through to the thousands of tons of material troops were afterwards safe to land.

For Socrates, philosophy, was the study of how to lead one's life, and for Wittgenstein, `philosophy leaves everything as it is.' Throughout this book, the work of the ancients is set in the context of the most recent thinking about the nature and value of philosophy, and the author questions how much there is to be learnt from the ancient philosophers' differing conceptions of the ideal life.