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Ben Target: LORENZO

Ben Target: LORENZO

A pleasure to dip into Target’s world and experience love and loss through his lens.
Amie Bawa

A cup of coffee and the question ‘What is your fantasy death?’ A unique welcoming as you enter the set of Ben Target’s Lorenzo, though one that aptly sets the successive warmth and whimsical tone of the evening. Directed by the late Adam Brace, the Edinburgh fringe...

Putin and the Old-Age Dilemmas of Russian Military Reform

Putin and the Old-Age Dilemmas of Russian Military Reform

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed his own army’s limitations. He only had to look at the history books.
Mark Galeotti

Putin and the Old-Age Dilemmas of Russian Military Reform Ever since he first ascended to power, as acting president in 1999 and then elected in 2000, Vladimir Putin has made it clear that building a powerful military was not only one of his personal priorities but...

How the Russians See Themselves

How the Russians See Themselves

With Putin’s pronouncements on his nuclear threat, this is consistent with previous rulers’ sabre rattling, and speaks to Russia’s pride in how it sees itself. Sir Rodric Braithwaite, British Ambassador in Moscow from 1989 to 1992, describes the Russian mindset.
Rodric Braithwaite

How the Russians See Themselves If you want to work out what your opponent is likely to do next, you need to understand how he sees himself. During the Cold War our judgement of Soviet behaviour was often distorted by prejudice, ignorance, and wishful thinking....

Thomas Waugh on Eastern Approaches

Thomas Waugh on Eastern Approaches

We interview spy thriller writer Thomas Waugh about his latest novel, Eastern Approaches.
Thomas Waugh

Thomas Waugh, Eastern Approaches is the second book in the Daniel Ambler spy series, tell us about the premise of the novel? Eastern Approaches follows on from Duty Calls, although it is written to work as a stand alone. The spy novel is set during a Graham Greene...

Partnership and Politics

Partnership and Politics

In Vince Cable's new memoir, written with his partner Rachel Smith, he gives a reappraisal of his time in government.
Vince Cable

As we are being reminded by the public enquiry into the pandemic, that period in recent history was a nightmare for many. But for some of us lockdown provided the time and peace to write. In this case the subject is the decade beginning 2010: a period which included...

The Real Press

The Real Press

The Real Press publishes fiction and non-fiction with a historical edge. We publish short books, ebooks and print-on-demand books that fit with our values and philosophy, and which seem likely to encourage debate about what really matters. These are available on Amazon and elsewhere, but also here in our shop.
Sharpe Books

Books Click on any of the books covers below to either buy or get more information on Amazon From the Publisher The Real Press publishes fiction and non-fiction with a historical edge. We publish short books, ebooks and print-on-demand books that fit with our values...

Afghanistan and the IED Threat

Afghanistan and the IED Threat

How British Soldiers Survived.

Afghanistan and the IED Threat In October 2001 the United States led a coalition of nations into Afghanistan with the aim of overthrowing the repressive Taliban regime. The coalition forces advanced rapidly, Taliban forces were simply unable to withstand the onslaught...

Snakehead – Review

Snakehead – Review

The Medusa myth is re-imagined by playwright Samuel Rees.
Amie Bawa

Directed by acclaimed playwright Samuel Rees, Snakehead is a palatable piece of gig-theatre, offering a refreshing re-examination of the Greek mythology tale, Medusa. Over the generations, the story of Medusa depicts the snake-haired woman as a monster, with a...

Ten Cities that Led the World, by Paul Strathern

Ten Cities that Led the World, by Paul Strathern

Coherence and insight from Strathern.
Trevor James

This book has such a level of coherence and insight that it will be read in a single session. Any book that manages to encompass the notion of L. P. Hartley that ‘the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there’; Voltaire’s observation on the execution...

Thomas Waugh on Duty Calls

Thomas Waugh on Duty Calls

We interview spy thriller writer Thomas Waugh about his latest novel, Duty Calls.
Thomas Waugh

Thomas Waugh, could you introduce yourself? Thomas Waugh is a pseudonym I use for writing modern thrillers. I usually write under my own name for historical fiction. As Thomas Waugh, I have now released four novels, including Gun For Hire, Enough Is Enough and Blood...