Listen free for 30 days
-
A Rising Man
- Narrated by: Simon Bubb
- Series: Sam Wyndham, Book 1
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £21.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
A Necessary Evil
- By: Abir Mukherjee
- Narrated by: Simon Bubb
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore: home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun. When the heir to the throne of Sambalpore is assassinated in Calcutta in the presence of Captain Sam Wyndham and his colleague 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, Wyndham works to uncover the reasons behind Prince Punit's death, despite the opposition of his commanding officers. Travelling to Sambalpore, he discovers a kingdom riven with suppressed conflict.
-
-
Another Great Book
- By G. Williams on 04-06-17
-
Midnight at Malabar House
- The Malabar House Series, Book 1
- By: Vaseem Khan
- Narrated by: Maya Saroya
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As India celebrates the arrival of a momentous new decade, Inspector Persis Wadia stands vigil in the basement of Malabar House, home to the city's most unwanted unit of police officers. Six months after joining the force she remains India's first female police detective, mistrusted, sidelined and now consigned to the midnight shift. And so, when the phone rings to report the murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, the country's most sensational case falls into her lap.
-
-
A great Historical Mystery
- By VK on 06-02-21
-
The Waiter
- Detective Kamil Rahman, Book 1
- By: Ajay Chowdhury
- Narrated by: Mikhail Sen
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Disgraced detective Kamil Rahman moves from Kolkata to London to start afresh as a waiter in an Indian restaurant. But the day he caters a birthday party for his boss's friend on Millionaire's Row, his simple new life becomes rather complicated. The event is a success, the food is delicious, but later that evening the host, Rakesh, is found dead in his swimming pool.
-
-
Bland
- By michela benuzzi on 30-05-22
-
Blackstone and the Endgame
- By: Sally Spencer
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
December 1916. Inspector Sam Blackstone is suspicious when he is called to the office of Superintendent Brigham - the new head of Special Branch. A German traitor wants £25,000 in exchange for intelligence on U-boat locations, and 'Max' has specifically asked for Blackstone to be the one to deliver the money - alone. Blackstone and his sergeant, Archie Patterson, are certain there's more to it, but Blackstone can't turn down the job.
-
The Widows of Malabar Hill
- By: Sujata Massey
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bombay, 1921: Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her father's law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a law degree from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes her especially devoted to championing and protecting women's legal rights. Mistry Law has been appointed to execute the will of Mr. Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. But as Perveen is going through the paperwork, she notices something strange.
-
-
Perveen Mistry
- By alastairl39 on 07-01-20
-
A Killing in November
- Oxford Crime, Book 1
- By: Simon Mason
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park, a member of what many people would call the criminal classes. As a young Detective Inspector, he's lost none of his disgust with privileged elites - or his objectionable manners. But he notices things; they stick to his eyes. His professional partner, DI Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian London heritage, is an impeccably groomed, smooth-talking graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. You wouldn't think they would get on. They don't. But when a young woman is found strangled at Barnabas Hall, they're forced to.
-
-
Talented narrator, enjoyable yarn
- By Summer read on 29-01-22
-
A Necessary Evil
- By: Abir Mukherjee
- Narrated by: Simon Bubb
- Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The fabulously wealthy kingdom of Sambalpore: home to tigers, elephants, diamond mines and the beautiful Palace of the Sun. When the heir to the throne of Sambalpore is assassinated in Calcutta in the presence of Captain Sam Wyndham and his colleague 'Surrender-Not' Banerjee, Wyndham works to uncover the reasons behind Prince Punit's death, despite the opposition of his commanding officers. Travelling to Sambalpore, he discovers a kingdom riven with suppressed conflict.
-
-
Another Great Book
- By G. Williams on 04-06-17
-
Midnight at Malabar House
- The Malabar House Series, Book 1
- By: Vaseem Khan
- Narrated by: Maya Saroya
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As India celebrates the arrival of a momentous new decade, Inspector Persis Wadia stands vigil in the basement of Malabar House, home to the city's most unwanted unit of police officers. Six months after joining the force she remains India's first female police detective, mistrusted, sidelined and now consigned to the midnight shift. And so, when the phone rings to report the murder of prominent English diplomat Sir James Herriot, the country's most sensational case falls into her lap.
-
-
A great Historical Mystery
- By VK on 06-02-21
-
The Waiter
- Detective Kamil Rahman, Book 1
- By: Ajay Chowdhury
- Narrated by: Mikhail Sen
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Disgraced detective Kamil Rahman moves from Kolkata to London to start afresh as a waiter in an Indian restaurant. But the day he caters a birthday party for his boss's friend on Millionaire's Row, his simple new life becomes rather complicated. The event is a success, the food is delicious, but later that evening the host, Rakesh, is found dead in his swimming pool.
-
-
Bland
- By michela benuzzi on 30-05-22
-
Blackstone and the Endgame
- By: Sally Spencer
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
December 1916. Inspector Sam Blackstone is suspicious when he is called to the office of Superintendent Brigham - the new head of Special Branch. A German traitor wants £25,000 in exchange for intelligence on U-boat locations, and 'Max' has specifically asked for Blackstone to be the one to deliver the money - alone. Blackstone and his sergeant, Archie Patterson, are certain there's more to it, but Blackstone can't turn down the job.
-
The Widows of Malabar Hill
- By: Sujata Massey
- Narrated by: Soneela Nankani
- Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bombay, 1921: Perveen Mistry, the daughter of a respected Zoroastrian family, has just joined her father's law firm, becoming one of the first female lawyers in India. Armed with a law degree from Oxford, Perveen also has a tragic personal history that makes her especially devoted to championing and protecting women's legal rights. Mistry Law has been appointed to execute the will of Mr. Omar Farid, a wealthy Muslim mill owner who has left three widows behind. But as Perveen is going through the paperwork, she notices something strange.
-
-
Perveen Mistry
- By alastairl39 on 07-01-20
-
A Killing in November
- Oxford Crime, Book 1
- By: Simon Mason
- Narrated by: Matt Addis
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park, a member of what many people would call the criminal classes. As a young Detective Inspector, he's lost none of his disgust with privileged elites - or his objectionable manners. But he notices things; they stick to his eyes. His professional partner, DI Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian London heritage, is an impeccably groomed, smooth-talking graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. You wouldn't think they would get on. They don't. But when a young woman is found strangled at Barnabas Hall, they're forced to.
-
-
Talented narrator, enjoyable yarn
- By Summer read on 29-01-22
-
The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra
- Baby Ganesh Detective Agency, Book 1
- By: Vaseem Khan
- Narrated by: Sartaj Garewal
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mumbai, murder and a baby elephant combine in a charming, joyful mystery for fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Harold Fry. On the day he retires, Inspector Ashwin Chopra inherits two unexpected mysteries. The first is the case of a drowned boy, whose suspicious death no one seems to want solved. And the second is a baby elephant.
-
-
Unexpected storyline😀
- By Scott forsyth on 02-10-15
-
The Strangler Vine
- By: M. J. Carter
- Narrated by: Sam Dastor
- Length: 11 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of M. J. Carter's The Strangler Vine, read by the actor Sam Dastor. India, 1837: William Avery, a fresh young officer in the East India Company, arrives in Calcutta expecting to be seduced by its ancient traditions. Nine months later he hasn't learnt a word of Hindoostani, is in terrible debt, and longs to return home before the cholera epidemic finishes him off.
-
-
"Ripping Yarn" revises our view of Brits in India
- By T on 15-05-15
-
Death Notice
- By: Zhou Haohui
- Narrated by: Joel De La Fuente
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For nearly two decades, an unsolved murder case has haunted Sergeant Zheng Haoming of the Chengdu Police Department. Eighteen years ago, two victims were murdered after being served with 'death notices'. In refined calligraphy their perceived crimes were itemised, and they were sentenced to death. The date of execution was declared, as was the name of their executioner: Eumenides. Now, a user on an internet forum has asked the public to submit names for judgment - judgment for those the law cannot touch. Those found guilty will be punished, and there is only one sentence: death. The user's handle? Eumenides.
-
-
Complex and interesting.
- By anne on 29-12-18
-
Death's Door
- A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery, Book 7
- By: James R. Benn
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lieutenant Billy Boyle could have used a rest after his last case, but when his girlfriend, Diana Seaton, a British spy, goes missing in the Vatican, where she was working undercover, he insists on being assigned to a murder investigation there so he can try to help her.
-
The Insider
- By: Matthew Richardson
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
- Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A Russian defector is found brutally murdered in a London hotel. Only four people knew he had turned - the four most important and powerful figures in Whitehall. There's only one conclusion - a mole has infiltrated the highest levels of the nation's security. Operating in secret from within Westminster's darkest corners, former spy Solomon Vine must uncover the traitor. Because Britain's future hangs in the balance. And with it the fate of the whole world.
-
-
Topical and gripping .
- By Simon C on 04-03-22
-
Angelmaker
- By: Nick Harkaway
- Narrated by: Daniel Weyman
- Length: 17 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
All Joe Spork wants is a quiet life. He repairs clockwork and lives above his shop in a wet, unknown bit of London. The bills don't always get paid and he's single and has no prospects of improving his lot, but at least he's not trying to compete with the reputation of Mathew "Tommy Gun" Spork, his infamous criminal dad. Edie Banister lives quietly and wishes she didn't. She's nearly ninety and remembers when she wasn't. She's a former superspy and now she's... well... old. When Joe fixes one particularly unusual device, his life is suddenly upended. It's a 1950s doomsday machine....
-
-
Now that is a great book. just so clever. you will
- By Gavingks on 29-03-13
-
Dead Ground
- By: M. W. Craven
- Narrated by: John Banks
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Detective Sergeant Washington Poe is in court, fighting eviction from his beloved and isolated croft, when he is summoned to a backstreet brothel in Carlisle where a man has been beaten to death with a baseball bat. Poe is confused—he hunts serial killers and this appears to be a straightforward murder-by-pimp—but his attendance was requested personally, by the kind of people who prefer to remain in the shadows. As Poe and the socially awkward programmer Tilly Bradshaw delve deeper into the case, they are faced with seemingly unanswerable questions.
-
-
Gripping right to the end
- By Jonathan Colam-French on 05-06-21
-
Dissolution
- Shardlake, Book 1
- By: C. J. Sansom
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is 1537, a time of revolution that sees the greatest changes in England since 1066. Henry VIII has proclaimed himself Supreme Head of the Church. The country is waking up to savage new laws, rigged trials and the greatest network of informers ever seen. And under the orders of Thomas Cromwell, a team of commissioners is sent throughout the country to investigate the monasteries.
-
-
Excellent historical & mystery drama
- By Peter Weatherby on 21-02-15
-
Possession
- A Romance
- By: A. S. Byatt
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 21 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Possession is an exhilarating novel of wit and romance, at once a literary detective novel and a triumphant love story. It is the tale of a pair of young scholars investigating the lives of two Victorian poets. Following a trail of letters, journals and poems they uncover a web of passion, deceit and tragedy, and their quest becomes a battle against time.
-
-
Great book made greater by superb performance
- By Falluntilyoufly on 19-04-19
-
An Expert In Murder: Josephine Tey Series, Book 1
- By: Nicola Upson
- Narrated by: Sandra Duncan
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's March 1934, and Josephine Tey is travelling from Scotland to London to celebrate what should be the triumphant final week of her celebrated play, Richard of Bordeaux. However, a seemingly senseless murder puts her reputation, and even her life, under threat.
-
-
Superb!
- By Karen on 17-01-09
-
Bitter Wash Road
- By: Garry Disher
- Narrated by: Steve Shanahan
- Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hirsch is a whistle-blower. Formerly a promising metropolitan officer, now hated and despised. Exiled to a one-cop station in South Australia’s wheatbelt. Threats. Pistol cartridge in the mailbox. So when he heads up Bitter Wash Road to investigate gunfire and finds himself cut off without backup, there are two possibilities. Either he’s found the fugitive killers thought to be in the area - or his ‘backup’ is about to put a bullet in him. He’s wrong on both counts. But the events that unfold turn out to be a lot more sinister.
-
-
On to the next..
- By RubyShoes on 06-03-22
-
The Berlin Exchange
- By: Joseph Kanon
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 10 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Berlin. 1963. The height of the Cold War and an early morning spy swap. On one side of the trade: Martin Keller, an American physicist who once made headlines, but who then disappeared into the English prison system. Keller's most critical possession: his American passport. Keller's most ardent desire: to see his ex-wife, Sabine, and their young son. But Martin has questions: who asked for him? Who negotiated the deal? Just the KGB bringing home one of its agents? Or, as he hopes, a more personal intervention?
-
-
excellent insight into 60s East Germany
- By Diana Brighouse on 17-03-22
Summary
The winner of the Harvill Secker/Daily Telegraph crime writing competition.
Captain Sam Wyndham, former Scotland Yard detective, is a new arrival to Calcutta. Desperately seeking a fresh start after his experiences during the Great War, Wyndham has been recruited to head up a new post in the police force. But with barely a moment to acclimatise to his new life or to deal with the ghosts which still haunt him, Wyndham is caught up in a murder investigation that will take him into the dark underbelly of the British Raj.A senior official has been murdered, and a note left in his mouth warns the British to quit India - or else. With rising political dissent and the stability of the Raj under threat, Wyndham and his two new colleagues - arrogant Inspector Digby and British-educated but Indian-born Sergeant Banerjee, one of the few Indians to be recruited into the new CID - embark on an investigation that will take them from the luxurious parlours of wealthy British traders to the seedy opium dens of the city. The start of an atmospheric and enticing new historical crime series.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about A Rising Man
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Arthur
- 21-05-16
Excellent! Worthy of Rankin
This is one of my favourite audiobooks and indeed books ever. Excellent writing & perfect performance reading.
26 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jane Craig
- 28-07-16
An interesting first novel
The novelist describes Calcutta life in the build up to the breakdown of life prior to independence. All nationalities, including Anglo-Indian are well integrated in the narrative.
The narrator was excellent with true Scottish and Irish accents which brought the characters to life. I would recommend this novel to any of my friends
21 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Frances G
- 25-07-16
Loved it ...
A really good story, unfolding gently, without too much gore, to an excellent end. The narration was superb, and the characters were diverse and tangible. Loved it.
20 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- kevin
- 01-12-16
The best crime novel I've listened to in years
Being an avid crime novel reader, I've always loved the classic Christie's, Sayer's, Allingham's etc - and this novel set in post first world war India is up there with the best of them.
This audio version is brilliant. A treat for crime fans everywhere.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Dr Jonathan P Compson
- 03-10-16
Excellent first novel
Looking forward to the rest of this trilogy. Excellent historical crime novel set in India after WW1. What was so good was the view of the Raj from an Indian point of view. Well balanced but enough to keep one thinking of the politics and history on top of a well constructed crime story. As good as David Downing , Peter May or William Ryan at their best.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M. Dawes
- 16-09-16
A Rising Man
I think the title refers as much to the author as the central character.
I came across this via an Ian Rankin recommendation, and I guess, like most of us, that we are searching for the next thing to get excited about. Where do you go when you have run out of Rankin or Peter May?
As a debut, this is quite remarkable. The narration is too. A worthy investment of your time.
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Russell
- 11-07-16
An excellent story
An excellent story and very well read. I particularly enjoyed the Scots accents. The narrator does a wonderful job of capturing the listeners attention. Heartedly recommended.
15 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Christopher
- 15-06-16
Outstanding
Throughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, story never dimmed and the narration equalled it.
Let's just hope this isn't the last time we hear from Sam and co!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rogayah
- 23-06-16
Indian Plot Boiler
This is an excellent story of Calcutta and Empire at the end of WW1. Sam Wyndham has been brought in by the police chief to clean up the department. He is thrown into finding the killer of a high profile local civil servant almost as soon as he has landed and rapidly finds himself in deep trouble and complex political problems.
There are all sorts of strands to this story - empire, trade, business, race, nationalism and many more issues that make this a rich and interesting story. There is also some humour to amuse the listener and an excellent narrator.
I hope this is just the first as the characters could all be developed.
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mcsmall
- 25-05-16
A Rising Star in Mukherjee
It is no surprise that this book has won an award; it is so much more than a crime novel, as it is set at the time of the movement for Indian independence from the British Raj and paints a clear picture of life in Calcutta in 1919.
Told from the perspective of Wyndham who is is something of an outsider, it provides observations on colonial attitudes and of the inevitable changes which would bear fruition in 1948..But, above all, it's a brilliant and intriguing story, narrated perfectly by Simon Bubb who seems to capture the essence of the character..Highly recommended
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- American viewer
- 18-05-16
Raj Revisited in fast-paced police procedural
Fantastic characters, meticulous research, and a wealth of characters make this a terrific listen. I cannot wait for the next one! Abir Mukherjee also weaves in a great sense of humor to keep one smiling while the suspense builds. One of my best audiobook purchases ever.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Gary
- 09-06-16
Don't Miss this Book and Performance
I've been listening to one or two books a month for over a year and this book is the best of any of them. The story was fast paced and believable with enough twists to make it a great read. Simon Bubb is the best narrator I've heard so far. Can't wait for the next in the series.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Marie
- 16-08-16
Superb narration enhances first rate story
I enjoyed A Rising Man, with its perspective on British India in 1919. I was amazed to discover that only slightly more than 100,000 Britians were able to control a country of 300 million Indians. So much history to tell. And the author does it well. Though, for me, the story was slow at times when characters lectured our detective (and the reader) in order to convey that history. I would have preferred that Wyndam had spent a bit more time in the street experiencing India. Hence my 4 stars for the story. I find that first person narratives are often a bit detached from the setting. I would recommend the book, however. The first person narrative issue is a personal one and shouldn't detract from an excellent book.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Madeleine
- 14-08-16
Compelling mystery in a rich setting
Set in colonial Calcutta just after WWI, this is a very fertile setting for a creditably woven mystery. I found the detective character a little conveniently stupid for plotting purposes, but engaging nonetheless. I wouldn't say the actual mystery itself is all that surprising, but the setting and characters - especially the secondary characters - make up for it. If you like detective fiction in interesting and fresh historical settings, you'll really enjoy this.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- susan
- 10-05-16
Great narrator!
Good detective story, taking place in India during the period of the Raj. The narration was a pleasure.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- MooseCatel
- 31-08-16
Your Basic Murder Mystery, Fascinating Setting
I really enjoyed this book. It would make a really good PBS mini-series. It's your basic murder mystery, but the time and place, and supporting characters is what makes this story shine. I do hope that Mr. Mukherjee writes another Wyndam/Banerjee book. It's nice to read a story about colonial India where the Indians are the true heroes.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- lacy
- 28-06-16
A wonderful new author and series
What did you love best about A Rising Man?
The depth of characters and history.
Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?
Many twists and turns. So very well written.
Any additional comments?
I can't wait for the next book to be written.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- GB
- 12-11-16
Good solid who dunnit and empire
A well written tale that keeps one guessing till the end. Its not magnificently original but its solid and a lot of fun.
The main characters are nicely drawn and engaging. The pomposity of empire is adds a lightness with an undertone of skulduggery and class warfare.
I will certainly be reading the next adventure of Sam and Surrender Not
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Julie Campbell
- 24-09-16
Murder and the British Raj
Sam Wyndham, veteran of WWI and former inspector with Scotland Yard, has been persuaded to move to Calcutta and work with the police there. He is still trying to find is footing in this strange new country when a white high-placed government employee is found murdered outside an Indian whorehouse.
This would have been an excellent mystery anyway, but I believe it is even more so because the author is a Brit from an Indian heritage who is able to give the reader insight into thinking and attitudes of both the British Raj and the Indians.
Simon Bubb is now of of my favorite readers, able to both distinguish the characters, and accurately handle multiple accents.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 08-02-22
My best detective story in years.
You won't be dissapointed. Great plot, narration, historical back ground, the lot! Most recomended.