WIREDGOV

Four fantastic books showcasing the wealth of treasures held at The National Archives are being released this autumn. 

Maps: Their Untold Stories, by Rose Mitchell and Andrew Janes, is a richly illustrated book that spans seven centuries. A variety of maps are put in their historical context, including London before the Great Fire, the Battle of Balaclava, and Nagasaki after the atomic bomb. You can hear more from Rose and Andrew at their talk on 25 September.

Secrets of The National Archives, by Writer of the Month Richard Taylor, is the result of a 2010 poll asking The National Archives' staff to nominate their favourite document. The Domesday Book is included alongside the story of documents such as Captain Cook's journals, the US Declaration of Independence, and George Orwell's Special Branch file.

David Clarke's Britain's X-traordinary Files tells of ghostly archers at the Battle of Mons, the Hammersmith Ghost and Churchill's views on the Death Ray among other paranormal and strange occurrences.

Finally, Julie Halls' Inventions That Didn't Change the World will be published on 6 October and explores such delights as the anti-garotting cravat, a self-ventilating hat and artificial leeches