{"title":"John Man","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Man\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts vivid historical narratives that transport readers to pivotal moments in military history. His works delve into the lives of iconic leaders and empires, offering detailed portraitures from Attila the Hun to the vast Mongol Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a talent for weaving biography and military history, Man’s books explore the strategies, cultures, and personalities that shaped the past. Whether uncovering ancient warriors or mapping crucial battles, his storytelling brings history’s grand dramas to life.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-mongol-empire-by-john-man-9780552168809","title":"The Mongol Empire","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe untold story of the world's greatest empire and the creation of modern China.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGenghis Khan is one of history's immortals—a leader of genius, driven by an inspiring vision for peaceful world rule. Believing he was divinely protected, Genghis united warring clans to create a nation and then an empire that ran across much of Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eUnder his grandson, Kublai Khan, the vision evolved into a more complex religious ideology, justifying further expansion. Kublai doubled the empire's size until, in the late 13th century, he and the rest of Genghis's 'Golden Family' controlled one fifth of the inhabited world. Along the way, he conquered all of China, gave the nation the borders it has today, and then, finally, discovered the limits to growth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGenghis's dream of world rule turned out to be a fantasy. And yet, in terms of the sheer scale of the conquests, never has a vision and the character of one man had such an effect on the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCharting the evolution of this vision, John Man provides a unique account of the Mongol Empire, from young Genghis to old Kublai, from a rejected teenager to the world's most powerful emperor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46338567962860,"sku":"9780552168809","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15964733482384.jpg?v=1743735507"},{"product_id":"attila-the-hun-by-john-man-9780553816587","title":"Attila The Hun","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first popular biography of the great warlord, Attila the Hun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe name Attila the Hun has become a byword for barbarism, savagery, and violence. His is a truly household name, but what do we really know about the man himself, his position in history, and the world in which he lived? This riveting biography reveals the man behind the myth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the years 434-454 AD, the fate of Europe hung upon the actions of one man: Attila, king of the Huns. The decaying Roman Empire still stood astride the Western World from its twin capitals of Rome and Constantinople, but it was threatened by a new force, the much-feared Barbarian hordes. It was Attila who united the Barbarian tribes into a single, amazingly effective army. He launched two violent attacks against the eastern and western halves of the Roman Empire, attacks which earned him his reputation for mindless devastation and brought an end to Rome's pre-eminence in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAttila was coarse, capricious, arrogant, ruthless, and brilliant. An illiterate and predatory tribal chief, he had no interest in administration, but was a wily politician who, from his base in the grasslands of Hungary, used secretaries and ambassadors to bring him intelligence on his enemies. He was a leader whose unique qualities made him supreme among tribal leaders, but whose weaknesses ensured the collapse of his empire after his death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAttila The Hun\u003c\/em\u003e by John Man offers the first popular biography of this fascinating and formidable figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46369972682988,"sku":"9780553816587","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4356723482385.jpg?v=1744801081"},{"product_id":"saladin-by-john-man-9780552170840","title":"Saladin","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe definitive biography of \u003cem\u003eSaladin\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSaladin remains one of the most iconic figures of his age. As the man who united the Arabs and saved Islam from Christian crusaders in the 12th century, he is the Islamic world's preeminent hero. Ruthless in defence of his faith and brilliant in leadership, he also possessed qualities that won admiration from his Christian foes. He knew the limits of violence, showing such tolerance and generosity that many Europeans, appalled at the brutality of their own people, saw him as the exemplar of their own knightly ideals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut Saladin is far more than a historical hero. Builder, literary patron, and theologian, he is a man for all times, and a symbol of hope for an Arab world once again divided. Centuries after his death, in cities from Damascus to Cairo and beyond, to the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf, Saladin continues to be an immensely potent symbol of religious and military resistance to the West. He is central to Arab memories, sensibilities, and the ideal of a unified Islamic state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this authoritative biography, historian John Man brings Saladin and his world to life in vivid detail. Charting his rise to power, his struggle to unify the warring factions of his faith, and his battles to retake Jerusalem and expel Christian influence from Arab lands, \u003cem\u003eSaladin\u003c\/em\u003e explores the life and the enduring legacy of this champion of Islam, and examines his significance for the world today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46378217275628,"sku":"9780552170840","price":26.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15985043482384.jpg?v=1744834744"},{"product_id":"conquering-the-north-by-john-man-9780861549603","title":"Conquering the North","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Great Wall of China – stretching from the arid rises of Gansu province to the cold waters of the Bohai Sea – remains an enduring symbol of Chinese might. And yet, for all its grandeur, the Wall also marks a vulnerability: an ever-present reminder of old battle lines and never-ending tension with China’s northern neighbours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTravelling by sacred mountains and along forgotten trade routes, John Man journeys through China and Mongolia, tracing the contours of their uneasy shared histories. From the tumult of the Warring States Period to the present day, Man weaves a thrilling tale of battling warlords, imperial power plays, Soviet interference, and contemporary political manoeuvring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLooking to the future of the region, \u003cem\u003eConquering the North\u003c\/em\u003e canvasses the still fractious interplay of two rival cultures and the continuing struggle for Mongolian sovereignty as China continues to edge north.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gardners Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46549926052076,"sku":"9780861549603","price":54.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20335773482494.jpg?v=1749937694"},{"product_id":"the-d-day-atlas-by-john-man-9781510756465","title":"The D-Day Atlas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn Illustrated Guide to One of the Greatest Events of World War II\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Allied landing in German-occupied Normandy on June 6, 1944, was the greatest amphibious operation in military history. In the months that followed, German forces, outnumbered and outgunned, fought one of the most tenacious and skilful defensive campaigns of the entire war. This magnificent graphical reconstruction details the momentous events of the Normandy campaign from its conception through to the destruction of the German 7th and 5th Panzer Armies at Falaise and the Allied liberation of Paris.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIncluded in \u003ci\u003eThe D-Day Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDisposition and movements of military units\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003ePlans and objectives of the commanders on both sides\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eNature of the Normandy terrain\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eRole of Allied air interdiction and long-range naval fire support\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eMovement of reserve units and supplies\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eActivities of the French Resistance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollow troop movements and positions throughout the Normandy campaign to discover how the British, American, and Commonwealth troops reached victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850019786988,"sku":"9781510756465","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/24586903482725.jpg?v=1759075863"},{"product_id":"the-terracotta-army-by-john-man-9780553819144","title":"The Terracotta Army","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe incredible story of China's greatest archaeological treasure - the Terracotta Army - revised and updated for 2018.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Terracotta Army\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the greatest, and most famous, archaeological discoveries of all time. 6,000 life-size figures of warriors and horses were interred in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of China. Each is individually carved, and they are thought to represent real members of the emperor's army. This is the remarkable story of their creation, the man who ordered them made, their rediscovery, and their continuing legacy as a pre-eminent symbol of Chinese greatness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, was king of the Chinese state of Qin and the first man to unite China into a single empire. He built the first Great Wall and brought a single written script to the whole country. He was an inspired and ruthless ruler, but one also beset by paranoia and a desire for immortality. He is still considered the founding father of the modern state of China. On his death in 210 BC, he was buried in a giant mausoleum near modern-day Xi'an. Legends of the treasures contained therein still tantalise the imagination today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1974, local farmers digging a well for water broke through into the burial mound and found the first of the Terracotta warriors. Further excavations have revealed the full splendour of the buried army. But the majority of the mausoleum is yet to be opened, including the burial chamber itself. Myth tells us that amongst the treasures yet to be uncovered is a vast map of the First Emperor's kingdom with rivers marked with channels of flowing mercury. The story of the First Emperor and the Terracotta Army is a fascinating one, not least for the discoveries yet to be made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47428329799916,"sku":"9780553819144","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780553819144.jpg?v=1774477606"},{"product_id":"conquering-the-north-by-john-man-9781836431947","title":"Conquering the North","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA panoramic history of the roots of China and Mongolia’s historic rivalry… and why it matters now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘A beguiling blend of history and intimate narrative – and a delight to read.’\u003c\/em\u003e Colin Thubron, author of \u003cem\u003eShadow of the Silk Road\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Great Wall of China – stretching from the arid rises of Gansu province to the cold waters of the Bohai Sea – remains an enduring symbol of Chinese might. And yet for all its grandeur, the Wall also marks a vulnerability: an ever-present reminder of old battlelines and never-ending tension with China’s northern neighbours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTravelling by sacred mountains and along forgotten trade routes, John Man journeys through China and Mongolia, tracing the contours of their uneasy shared histories. From the tumult of the Warring States Period to the present day, Man weaves a thrilling tale of battling warlords, imperial power plays, Soviet interference and contemporary political manoeuvring. 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