{"title":"Books by Paul Harper","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781399037280","title":"CERDIC","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of Britain’s most enigmatic legendary figures is brought to life in this new account.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCerdic was a Dark Age warrior who founded the kingdom which became England, but the circumstances of his reign amid the collapse of the Western Roman Empire have been shrouded in mystery. Until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaul Harper tells of how Cerdic emerged from the ashes of Rome and rose to power with a warband known as the Gewisse, who offered protection to civilians from barbarians roaming the land and then fought for territory with Anglo- Saxon and Romano-British kingdoms. While other domains were conquered, the Gewisse survived and evolved into Wessex (West Saxons). During an unprecedented climate disaster, which blocked out normal sunlight for 18 months and led eventually to a plague pandemic which killed millions, Cerdic carved out a new realm that would shape Britain up to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHow various myths and folklore, including the King Arthur Legend, are connected to Cerdic is explored at length.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book features an in-depth investigation into the potential site of Cerdic’s burial based on an ancient charter from Edward the Elder, the son of Alfred the Great, which suggested his great ancestor had been laid to rest at a spot in Hampshire. Fascinating research leads to a former Bronze Age burial mound which was once known as Ceardices Beorg (Cerdic’s Barrow). One-by-one mysteries are solved including the identity of his shadowy son Creoda, the location of every bloody battle against rival warlords and the links to an iconic medieval poem – called the Elegy for Geraint.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298339664245,"sku":"9781399037280","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399037280_f86954ab-826f-4f74-ad38-6a92cb7cc1c4.jpg?v=1786019998"},{"product_id":"9781739129309","title":"Reinventing the Financial Advice Profession","description":"\u003cp\u003eA study of the UK Financial Advice profession over 40 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 1980s were the glory days for financial advisers. The promise of flash cars, incentive trips and high commission cheques drove the profession. There were no barriers to entry. You could sell double glazing one week and be a financial advisor the following Monday.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThrough to the 2000s, it was \"sell sell sell\". Although this was great for the commission hungry financial adviser, it didn't give any longevity to the industry. In reality, a financial advisor's income was only as good as his or her last commission cheque, and the major focus was on winning new business rather than servicing and supporting existing clients.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDuring this time, the Financial Services Act started to change the profession, which led to an 89% decline in advisor numbers. Financial planning businesses had very little value. Most had self-employed advisors from whom the business skimmed off some commission and a percentage paid to brokers for introductions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn reality, the industry had been in decline for 25 years. But it wasn't until 2013 until the tipping point happened. The Retail Distribution Review (RDR) led to a further drop of 25% financial advisors in the three months after, as advisors saw the lost earning potential and chose not to take the qualifications required to continue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe profession appeared to be on the edge of extinction. But it survived by a narrow squeak. It took a further 10 years for the industry to stabilise and start over again. And today, a typical small financial advice business could be valued in the £millions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten for financial advisors, if you are new to the industry, my goal is for you to realise that the industry hasn't always been like it is now and to see how the past has impacted what happens today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you've been in the business for decades, it will give you a great trip down memory lane, stir up some memories and you may well think \"those were the days\".\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUsing real life examples from my 35+ years in the industry, with stories from others who have lived through it, I explain what happened and why, how the market deteriorated and almost collapsed before its saviour arrived when least expected.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this book I explain how and why this has happened as well as attempting to address the question: Where do we go from here?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI'm not promising you all the answers, but this book gives you a fighting chance of succeeding.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56302599242101,"sku":"9781739129309","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"sons-of-ragnar","title":"Sons of Ragnar","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe iconic Ragnar Lothbrok and his five famous sons Ivar, Bjorn, Ubbe, Halfdan and Sigurd have become immortalised through Norse sagas and the hit TV show Vikings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe real life story of this warrior family from the Viking Age is just as dramatic. Sons of Ragnar led a ‘great heathen army’ to avenge their father's death according to a legendary Old Norse tale and changed the face of Britain. Drawing on numerous ancient sources, extensive archaeological findings and exciting new research, this investigation will piece together the incredible true story of Ragnar's five famous sons and how much of the iconic saga traditions were based on reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe most notorious son was Ivar the Boneless. This book will explore his connection to the mysterious ‘Dark Foreigners’ in Ireland, his infamous executions of two Anglo Saxon kings and a spectacular raid on an impregnable fortress in modern Scotland. A giant skeleton found in the mass Viking burial at Repton has been linked to Ivar, while another legend says he was buried on the coast to scare away future invaders. Both of these fascinating claims are probed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBjorn Ironside's notorious raid in the Mediterranean is featured as well as his links to a Swedish dynasty and a huge burial mound in Sweden. One of the most decisive battles in British history - the Battle of Cynuit - where Ubbe fought the Anglo Saxons is subject of a major investigation, while the location of the Battle of Ashdown pitting Halfdan against Alfred the Great is also revealed through new research.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe captivating question of whether shield maidens and a Lagertha type character existed is also explored.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book also draws on the remarkable Norse mythology which inspired the sons of Ragnar as they left a trail of carnage across Britain, Ireland and France.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo massive Viking raids in Paris, including one potentially led by Sigurd Snake in the Eye which was documented in a remarkable poem, begin and end this incredible story. The first attack was led by the real life Ragnar Lothbrok…\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57502293852533,"sku":"9781036105594","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781036105594.jpg?v=1786781116"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-paul-harper.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}