PUBLISHING

By Martin Foskett / Publishing / Knelstrom Media

​The book arrives without apology and without soft furnishings. Bread, Gruel, and Grim Determination does not trade in sepia nostalgia or Dickensian comfort. It concerns itself instead with a deliberately hostile system, the Victorian workhouse, engineered not to alleviate poverty but to weaponise it. What unfolds is not a sentimental history of hardship overcome, but a sustained reckoning with a bureaucracy that mistook suffering for virtue and discipline for mercy.

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History with teeth. Truth with swagger. No permission slips required.

Forget what your school textbook told you.

The Cold War wasn't just a standoff between suits in smoky boardrooms. It was a global madhouse of paranoia, backroom coups, nuclear near-misses, disco-fuelled diplomacy, moustachioed electricians toppling regimes, and presidents who thought they could stop missiles with space lasers.
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In After the Freeze: The Cold War in Full Technicolour, historian and narrative insurgent Martin Foskett rips the plastic wrap off the 20th century's most dangerously misunderstood conflict, delivering a storytelling gut punch that blends truth, wit, grit, and gonzo brilliance.

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​In the shadow of the Cold War, NATO orchestrated Operation Gladio, a covert network of paramilitary groups prepared to counter a potential Soviet invasion. Yet, as history unfolded, these stay-behind armies became entangled in political subterfuge, alleged terrorism, and the covert operations of Cold War espionage. Their legacy remains one of controversy and intrigue.

​In the rich and storied annals of British horse racing, few names command the reverence of Golden Miller. A titan of the National Hunt circuit, this legendary steeplechaser remains unrivalled in the history books, standing as the only horse to have ever claimed victory in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same year—a feat achieved in 1934 and never equalled since.

But beyond the glittering accolades and dramatic finishes, Golden Miller's story is also deeply intertwined with a small but significant corner of England: Elsenham, Essex. At Elsenham Stud, this racing colossus spent his twilight years here, bringing his tale full circle to a place of peaceful retirement.

Written by Martin Foskett

​In an age of heated debates and ideological divides, "The facts of life are conservative" resonates with an enduring truth. This concept, famously attributed to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, captures a reality many of us come to understand as we navigate life’s complexities. It suggests that life’s practical realities often align with conservative principles like personal responsibility, fiscal prudence, and the importance of tradition. Let’s explore how this timeless idea manifests in the real world.

Isaac Lodge VC (6 May 1866 – 18 June 1923) was a distinguished English soldier who earned the coveted Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded for acts of valor and gallantry in the face of hostile forces, specifically bestowed upon individuals serving in the British and Commonwealth armed services.