1927. Britain’s heritage is vanishing. Beautiful landscapes are being bulldozed. Historic buildings are being blown up. Stonehenge is collapsing. Enter Ferguson’s Gang, a mysterious and eccentric group of women who help the National Trust to fight back. The Gang raise huge sums, which they deliver in delightfully strange ways: Victorian coins inside a fake pineapple, a one hundred pound note stuffed inside a cigar, five hundred pounds with a bottle of homemade sloe gin. Their stunts are avidly reported in the press, and when they make a national appeal for the Trust, the response is overwhelming. Ferguson’s Gang is instrumental in saving places from Cornwall to the Lake District, a legacy of incalculable value. Yet somehow these women stay anonymous, hiding behind masks and bizarre pseudonyms such as Bill Stickers, Red Biddy, the Bludy Beershop and Sister Agatha. They carefully record their exploits, their rituals, even their elaborate picnics, but they take their real names to the grave. Now Sally Beck and Polly Bagnall can reveal the identities of these unlikely national heroes and tell the stories of their fascinating and often unconventional lives. With the help of relatives, colleagues and friends, we can finally get to know the women who combined a serious mission with such a sense of mischief.

When a group of friends formed 'Ferguson's Gang' they had no idea of the notoriety their antics would produce. Society was astounded by the daring tricks the Gang used to raise money but these were no common robbers. They presented the booty in the carcass of a goose or wrapped round a cigar; pledging undying support to the National Trust. The Gang passionately fought against the spread of urbanisation and destruction of our English heritage. Their greatest feat was preserving their anonymity; now almost a century later the fascinating story of Ferguson's Gang is finally revealed in this book. It is a world now forgotten; of stately homes with armies of servants. Yet amongst this wealth and splendour lurked a group of rebels. The personal stories of the masked maidens are startling; mixing with Royalty, they belonged to the leading political dynasties and rubbed shoulders with the literary elite. It is no wonder these women kept their identities so heavily concealed.

Originally from Newport, Gwent, for the last eighteen years Richard King has lived in the hill farming country of Radnosrshire, Powys. He is the author of Original Rockers, which was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize, and How Soon Is Now?, both published by Faber.

This amazing story of bloody guerilla warfare along the Kentucky-Tennessee border presents a tale and a protagonist unique in the annals of the Civil War. When the Civil War began in 1861, the men of the Cumberland Mountain districts chose sides and pursued a private war with each other. The most infamous of their number was Champ Ferguson. In this classic study, Thurman Sensing provides the only available book-length account of Ferguson's brutal deeds, his capture, his trial, his execution at the end of the war, and the legendary ruse by which he allegedly escaped hanging. Long regarded as a collector's item by Civil War buffs, the reappearance of this book in a paperback edition will be welcomed by many.

Pocket Rough Guide Isle of Wight Make the most of your time in Great Britain with the ultimate travel guides. Entertaining, informative and stylish pocket guide. Discover the best of the Isle of Wight with this compact and entertaining pocket travel guide. This slim, trim treasure trove of trustworthy travel information is ideal for short-trip travellers and covers all the key sights (Osborne House, The Needles, Shanklin Old Village), restaurants, shops, cafés and bars, plus inspired ideas for day-trips, with honest and independent recommendations from our experts. Features of this travel guide to the Isle of Wight: - Compact format: packed with practical information, this is the perfect travel companion when you're out and about exploring the Isle of Wight - Honest and independent reviews: written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our writers will help you make the most of your trip - Incisive area-by-area overviews: covering Ryde, Cowes, Shanklin, Yarmouth, Ventnor and more, the practical 'Places' section provides all you need to know about must-see sights and the best places to eat, drink and shop - Time-saving itineraries: carefully planned routes will help inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences - Day-trips: venture further afield to Bonchurch or Freshwater Bay. This tells you why to go, how to get there, and what to see when you arrive - Travel tips and info: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting around, health, tourist information, festivals and events, plus an A-Z directory - Attractive user-friendly design: features fresh magazine-style layout, inspirational colour photography and colour-coded maps throughout - Covers: Cowes and around, Newport and around, Ryde and around, the east coast, the south coast, Ventnor and around, Brighstone to Alum Bay, Yarmouth and around Looking for a comprehensive travel guide to England? Try The Rough Guide to England for an informative and entertaining look at all the country has to offer. About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.

By the end of the Civil War, Champ Ferguson had become a notorious criminal whose likeness covered the front pages of Harper’s Weekly, Leslie’s Illustrated, and other newspapers across the country. His crime? Using the war as an excuse to steal, plunder, and murder Union civilians and soldiers. Cumberland Blood: Champ Ferguson’s Civil War offers insights into Ferguson's lawless brutality and a lesser-known aspect of the Civil War, the bitter guerrilla conflict in the Appalachian highlands, extending from the Carolinas through Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. This compelling volume delves into the violent story of Champ Ferguson, who acted independently of the Confederate army in a personal war that eventually garnered the censure of Confederate officials. Author Thomas D. Mays traces Ferguson's life in the Cumberland highlands of southern Kentucky, where—even before the Civil War began—he had a reputation as a vicious killer. Ferguson, a rising slave owner, sided with the Confederacy while many of his neighbors and family members took up arms for the Union. For Ferguson and others in the highlands, the war would not be decided on the distant fields of Shiloh or Gettysburg: it would be local—and personal. Cumberland Blood describes how Unionists drove Ferguson from his home in Kentucky into Tennessee, where he banded together with other like-minded Southerners to drive the Unionists from the region. Northern sympathizers responded, and a full-scale guerrilla war erupted along the border in 1862. Mays notes that Ferguson's status in the army was never clear, and he skillfully details how raiders picked up Ferguson's gang to work as guides and scouts. In 1864, Ferguson and his gang were incorporated into the Confederate army, but the rogue soldier continued operating as an outlaw, murdering captured Union prisoners after the Battle of Saltville, Virginia. Cumberland Blood, enhanced by twenty-one illustrations, is an illuminating assessment of one of the Civil War's most ruthless men. Ferguson's arrest, trial, and execution after the war captured the attention of the nation in 1865, but his story has been largely forgotten. Cumberland Blood: Champ Ferguson's Civil War returns the story of Ferguson's private civil war to its place in history.

In 'The Mystery of the Secret Band' by Edith Lavell, readers are taken on a thrilling adventure with a group of young detectives as they unravel the mystery behind a secretive band causing havoc in their town. Written in a suspenseful and engaging manner, Lavell's book combines elements of mystery and friendship, making it a compelling read for both young adult and adult audiences. The book is set in a quaint small town, adding to the charm and allure of the storyline. Lavell's descriptive prose and attention to detail create a vivid and immersive reading experience that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Edith Lavell's 'The Mystery of the Secret Band' is a perfect blend of nostalgia and intrigue, appealing to fans of mystery novels and coming-of-age stories. Through her captivating writing style, Lavell showcases her talent for storytelling and her ability to craft a compelling narrative that keeps readers captivated from start to finish.

Throughout the Civil War, irregular warfare—including the use of hit-and-run assaults, ambushes, and raiding tactics—thrived in localized guerrilla fights within the Border States and the Confederate South. The Guerrilla Hunters offers a comprehensive overview of the tactics, motives, and actors in these conflicts, from the Confederate-authorized Partisan Rangers, a military force directed to spy on, harass, and steal from Union forces, to men like John Gatewood, who deserted the Confederate army in favor of targeting Tennessee civilians believed to be in sympathy with the Union. With a foreword by Kenneth W. Noe and an afterword by Daniel E. Sutherland, this collection represents an impressive array of the foremost experts on guerrilla fighting in the Civil War. Providing new interpretations of this long-misconstrued aspect of warfare, these scholars go beyond the conventional battlefield to examine the stories of irregular combatants across all theaters of the Civil War, bringing geographic breadth to what is often treated as local and regional history. The Guerrilla Hunters shows that instances of unorthodox combat, once thought isolated and infrequent, were numerous, and many clashes defy easy categorization. Novel methodological approaches and a staggering diversity of research and topics allow this volume to support multiple areas for debate and discovery within this growing field of Civil War scholarship.

This expert-curated guide book to Isle of Wight shines a spotlight on a more unusual British break, with a wealth of practical information on what to see and do. Each area or neighbourhood featured in this Isle of Wight travel guide is explored in-depth with detailed coverage of the points of interest, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars on offer. Excursions to surrounding areas give plenty of options for those looking to enjoy a longer stay. This Isle of Wight guide book has been fully updated post-COVID-19. The Pocket Rough Guide to Isle of Wight covers: Cowes and around, Newport and around, Ryde and around, The east coast, The south coast, Ventnor to Blackgang, Brighstone to Alum Bay, Yarmouth and around. Inside this travel guide to Isle of Wight you will find: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF TRAVELLER Experiences selected for every kind of trip to Isle of Wight, from off-the-beaten-track adventures in Cowes to family activities in child-friendly places, like Ventnor or chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas, like Yarmouth. INCISIVE AREA-BY-AREA OVERVIEWS Covering Ryde, Cowes, Shanklin, Yarmouth, Ventnor and more, the practical 'Places' section of this Isle of Wight travel guide provides all you need to know about must-see sights and the best places to eat, drink, sleep and shop. TIME-SAVING ITINERARIES The routes suggested by Rough Guides' expert writers cover top attractions like The Needles and Tennyson Down and hidden gems like Robin Hill Country Park and Brading Roman Villa. DAY-TRIPS Venture further afield to Freshwater Bay or Bonchurch. This travel guide to Isle of Wight tells you why to go, how to get there, and what to see when you arrive. HONEST INDEPENDENT REVIEWS Written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our expert writers will help you make the most of your trip to Isle of Wight. COMPACT FORMAT Packed with pertinent practical information, this Isle of Wight guide book is a convenient companion when you're out and about exploring Shanklin Old Village. ATTRACTIVE USER-FRIENDLY DESIGN Fresh magazine-style layout, inspirational colour photography and colour-coded maps throughout this Isle of Wight travel guide. PRACTICAL TRAVEL INFORMATION Includes invaluable background information on how to get to Isle of Wight, getting around, tourist information, festivals and events, plus an A-Z directory.