Books with author John Parker

“I'm not a coward, but when 11 inch shells come screaming at you, well I know why the Navy supply two pairs of pants.”If you like Max Hastings and World War Two naval history then you will love this autobiography which gives an easy to read insider view of life in the Royal Navy during the war. Ronnie Turner had set his sights on a career with the Royal Navy and like Ant Middleton, he wouldn’t stop until he’d achieved his goal of having ‘a smack at the boche’.His quest plucked him from his home in Liverpool and led him to the exotic temptations of Rio, freezing Falkland storms and searching for a heavily armed German raider in a rowing boat with six scousers and a padre.Drawn from Ronnie’s illegal war diary and illustrated with never seen before photographs of life on board a Royal Navy heavy cruiser, this enjoyable tale of pocket battleships, torpedoed crews and Admiral Harwood’s tattoo’s, all sprinkled with Spike Milligan like humour, make this a story you won’t want to put down.Buy this fascinating military history biography today.

Since their foundation during the Second World War, the Parachute Regiment has acquired a formidable reputation as tough, fearless soldiers. 'The Red Devils' have played a key role in many of the battles of the past sixty years - the capture of Sicily, the D-Day landing, the heroic but doomed attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem. In the savage wars of 'peace' since the Second World War, the Paras have seen action all over the world - from Cyprus, Palestine, Egypt, Borneo and the Falklands to Bosnia. For his authoritative book, John Parker has gathered together the testimony of numerous veterans of the Parachute Regiment. Their first-hand accounts of the major events in their history make enthralling reading, bringing home the reality and cruelty of combat.

R. L. Moore: Mathematician and Teacher presents a full and frank biography of a mathematician recognized as one of the principal figures in the 20th Century progression of the American school of point set topology. He was equally well known as creator of the Moore Method (no textbooks, no lectures, no conferring) in which there is a current and growing revival of interest and modified application under inquiry-based learning projects in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Parker draws on oral history, with first-person recollections from many leading figures in the American mathematics community of the last half-century. The story embraces some of the most famous and influential mathematical names in America and Europe from the late 1900s in what is undoubtedly a lively account of this controversial figure once described as Mr. Chips with Attitude.

With his breathtaking 1973 breakthrough performance in Martin Scorsese's Mean Streets De Niro forged an enormously fruitful collaboration—resulting in Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas, films which, alongside his roles in the likes of The Godfather Part Two, The Deer Hunter, and Once Upon a Time in America, read like a list of the top Hollywood films of the last 30 years. As a method actor De Niro lives and breathes his roles, notoriously gaining 60lbs for Raging Bull and learning to play the saxophone for New York, New York, while in recent years, films such as Analyze This and Meet the Parents have found him honing a previously unheralded talent for comedy acting. Offscreen, De Niro is notoriously reluctant to discuss his life, though his relationships with supermodels such as Toukie Smith and current wife Grace Hightower have often made the news. His forays into the director's chair as well as setting up his own production company, TriBeCa Productions, have seen him more willing to discuss his work, and he's been vocal about his politics. He is an active supporter of the Democrat Party, lending his support to Barack Obama, and has pledged to revitalize the TriBeCa region of New York following September 11.

The adventure begins! The novel that takes, educates and fascinates both children and adults on a journey through the vast expanses of the galaxy.Join Alfred Smith at the very start of his ride to the stars in the first book of the GWW series. Written by international space consultant John R Parker.For everyone from age ten upwards.The galaxy is a very large place. Number 53 Lime Lane is a small house. Alfred Smith is an even smaller ten-year-old boy. He lives there with his wonderful single mother Sarah, having lost his father to illness some years ago.Life is a struggle for the hard working single parent, but she does her best, and her son helps out where he can. Alfred loves the internet and surfing the World Wide Web using the cheap computer that Sarah got him for Christmas a year ago. This night is no exception. He is up a bit too late, something his guardian is not so happy about. She asks him to switch off the desktop machine, before banishing him to the covers of his bed. Alfred complies, but finds that his mind is just too busy for sleep. He returns to the computer for just a few minutes more, feeling sure that after this he would then be able to nod off without a problem. A storm is well underway outside, and the air electric with imminent lightening. Alfred's world is about to change. Indeed, far more than just his world is about to change!This 55,000 word novel is a science/fantasy story suitable for all ages but is primarily a children's book for age 10 years upwards. It is slightly challenging reading for the youngest, but the journey will be both entertaining, rewarding and educational. This is the first in the series of books that features Alfred and a host of other interesting characters, both terrestrial and alien. The author is physicist, engineer and environmentalist John R Parker, who has worked in the space industry for more than thirty years, the majority as an international consultant.

Since their foundation during the Second World War, the Parachute Regiment has acquired a formidable reputation as tough, fearless soldiers. "The Red Devils" have played a key role in many of the battles of the past sixty years—the capture of Sicily, the D-Day landing, the heroic but doomed attempt to capture the bridge at Arnhem. In the so-called years of peace since the Second World War, the Paras have seen action all over the world - from Cyprus, Palestine, Egypt, Borneo and the Falklands to Bosnia. Their service in Northern Ireland has been surrounded by controversy—the events of "Bloody Sunday" in Londonderry in 1972 are still the subject of fierce debate, and a continuing government inquiry. For his authoritative book, John Parker has gathered together the testimony of numerous veterans of the Parachute Regiment. Their first-hand accounts of the major events in their history bring home the reality (and cruelty) of combat. The events of "Bloody Sunday" are seen through their eyes, and will re-ignite the controversy over what actually happened.

‘A Smack at the Boche’ the war diaries of Leading Seaman Ronnie Turner contains:- Admiral Harwood’s retelling of the Battle of the River Plate to the HMS Hawkins crew and a first hand account of being shot at by the Graf Spee from an HMS Ajax seaman. A survivor's story of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak - the first battleship to be sunk in ww2. Six scousers, a padre and two penguins against a German raider. HMS Hawkins involvement in the recapture of Somalia from Italy. Escorting the Churchill convoys from South Africa to the Gulf. Authentic descriptions of shore leave in Buenos Aires, Montevideo, The Falklands, Rio de Janeiro, South Africa and Mombasa in 1940. Never seen before photo of the 9 crew rescued from the torpedoed SS British Premier. Royal Navy History Like all wartime service personnel, Leading Seaman Ronnie Turner RNVR wasn't supposed to keep a diary in case it fell into enemy hands, but Ronnie never did like to take orders. He also documented the first two years of his war with unique photos of ships, ports, people and prisoners, including the rescued crew of SS British Premier. These lower deck war diaries give never published before eyewitness true stories of the Battle of the River Plate and the sinking of HMS Royal Oak. Ronnie’s warship, the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins, arrived at Montevideo shortly after the demise of the Graf Spee and became the new flagship for Admiral Sir Henry Harwood. True War Stories Admiral Harwood gave the crew his story of the historic battle of the River Plate, the first British victory of WW2… “Fri Feb 1st 1940. The Admiral summoned us all on the quarter deck and spun us a yarn… In his own words. ‘Having been straddled twelve times and hit seven times we were in rather a bad way. So I gave the order to retire. We laid smoke screens and retired and to our relief, so did the Spee.’” - Admiral Sir Henry Harwood. Hawkins also took on board some of the sailors who had seen action against the Graf Spee and a crewman of HMS Ajax gave Ronnie a full and bloody first hand true account… “After the battle a lot of chaps were even scared to put to sea. Their nerves were shot all to pieces. I've had my bellyful of fighting and I'm not a coward, but when 11 inch shells come screaming at you, well I know why the Navy supply two pairs of pants.” - HMS Ajax seaman. Ronnie also had an epic description of the sinking of HMS Royal Oak at Scapa Flo from a lucky but embittered survivor… “Sun 28th Jan 1940 Had a long talk with a survivor of Royal Oak, the first battleship to be sunk in the war. According to him the Royal Oak was never sunk by a torpedo. He says the explosion was internal and caused by explosives placed in stores. To clinch his argument he asks how a torpedo can get through a torpedo blister, 15 inches of armament and explode right in the centre of the ship.” - HMS Royal Oak survivor. Battle of the Atlantic For the first year of the war HMS Hawkins patrolled the South American lanes looking for German merchant raiders. She then went to Africa to escort the Winston Convoys to the Gulf and played a major part in the battle against Italy in Somalia, capturing several Italian ships. However, the war wasn’t all action, most of the time was a tedium of endless watches punctuated with painting the ship grey and painting the ports red. My uncle’s diary and photographs are another piece in the jigsaw of world war 2 history and a good insight into life in the Royal Navy at war. This short biography isn't a hero's tale, it's a true war story of an ordinary bloke, plucked from an ordinary job to have ‘a smack at the Boche'.

2017 Winner of the JOHN E WEAVER EXCELLENT READS AWARD!!! 2016 Finalist BOOK EXCELLENCE AWARD!! With the magical powers bestowed on her by her Titan ancestors, Lady Alexin is finally able to break the spell and halt the storms which have kept the inhabitants of Seaward Isle prisoner for centuries and embark on her greatest adventure yet. At long last, the Elves can return to Eledon. Yet success may come at a terrible price.The mortals on Seaward Isle are given the option to return to Eledon with the Elves or to remain on the island. The evacuation is complicated and many, including the journalist Olivia and her husband John, are left behind, awaiting the return of the Elf ships.Zenon, the Crow-beast charged by Zeus with maintaining the storms and keeping the Titan prisoner is enraged to discover Alex has escaped. In his wrath, he all but destroys Seaward Isle and its remaining inhabitants with a devastating flood.Though Eledon is beautiful and Alex enjoys the protection and encouragement of Lord Odin and Prince Darin, it's clear the problems of this civilization run deep. Lord Odin resumes his seat on the High Council, his position is threatened by plots and political intrigue. And despite being named by the Mentors as the Keeper of the Keys, Alex is disillusioned to find she is rejected and reviled by those who consider her a mere "half-blood" Elf. She wants to return to Seaward isle, the only home she has ever known. When Zenon discovers her whereabouts and threatens Eledon, the Elves have little choice but to agree.But there is almost nothing left of the home she once knew and the survivors on Seaward Isle implore the Elves to use their magic to send them back to Earth. But while the Elves are able to open a portal between the two worlds, they cannot guarantee a time or place to which the mortals will return and. caught between her own past and an uncertain future, Lady Alexin is faced with the only choice that really matters--to follow her heart.