This discussion has been closed.
Posted by Scottish Librarian (U1772828) on Monday, 2nd January 2006
What were your favourite books that you read last year? As a librarian in an academic library i get a huge choice of new history books to go through every year, definitley a perk of the job! Last year was a pretty goo d one and my personal faves were
Persian Fire - Tom Holland
Auschwitz - Laurence Rees
In the Ruins of the Reich - Douglas Botting
I also enjoyed The Origins of the Final Solution by Christopher Browning, Stasiland by Anna Funder (though obviously not military history) and Dresden by Frederick Taylor.
cheers,
Paul
History goes further than WW2 (unless you work at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ).
In the anniversary year of Austerlitz, Ian Castle's book: Austerlitz: Napoleon and the Eagles of Europe is a very accessible book looking at the whole campaign and is thus ideal for the novice as well as those who know something about the subject.
, in reply to message 2.
Posted by Scottish Librarian (U1772828) on Tuesday, 3rd January 2006
Neither Persian Fire or Stasiland are about WW2. I should also have mentioned "1812: Napoleon's fatal march on Moscow" by Adam Zamoyski, another outstanding book.
cheers,
Paul
Neither Persian Fire or Stasiland are about WW2. I should also have mentioned "1812: Napoleon's fatal march on Moscow" by Adam Zamoyski, another outstanding book.
cheers,
±Κ²Ή³ά±τΜύ
Ok, so there are fascinating events pre-WWII. Still, the best book I read last year was about that very subject. Forgotton Soldier, a diary of a soldier of the Wehrmacht.
Cheers, Niall
Off the topic, but I strongly recommend "That Summer", Andrew Greig, , Faber and Faber, 2000, as by far the best novel I have read on the Battle of Britain. I do not have the words to express my feelings on this wonderful book.
Peaceful New Year all.
, in reply to message 5.
Posted by marduk-slayer of tiamat (U2258525) on Tuesday, 3rd January 2006
i like anything to do with crimea and earlier.
dont know why, but the modern histories i just cant get into
Best books I've read this year are:
An Army at Dawn (The War in North Africa, 1942-1943) by Rick Atkinson. ISBN 0-349-11636-9
The Safeguard of the Sea (A Naval History of Britain, 660-1649) by N.A.M Rodger. ISBN 0-140-29724-3
Both are good narratives, well presented and don't have too much of the author's opinion (I prefer to make my own judgements)
, in reply to message 7.
Posted by Little Enos Rides Again (U1777880) on Thursday, 5th January 2006
For me has to be Shockwave Countdown to Hiroshima by Stephen Walker.
Absolutely superb book about the events leading upto and development of the A-Bomb used on Hiroshima in 1945. Takes both American and Japanese perspectives.
Great read!
'I get a huge choice of new history books to go through every year, definitley a perk of the job!'-I envy you really.Well,here is my own list of books:
Robert Payne,
The Rise and Fall Of Stalin.
Robert Conquest,
Power and Policy in the USSR.
John R.Deane,
The Strange Alliance :the Story Of American Efforts At Wartime Cooperation With Russia.
Averell Harriman&Alie Abel,
Special Envoy To Churchill and Stalin 1941-1946.
Another superb one:
Robert Massie, "Castles of Steel". WW1 naval war.
Read it!!
, in reply to message 10.
Posted by pedrokelly (U1360661) on Wednesday, 11th January 2006
Got myself 'Persian Fire' just before Christmas, and finished it a couple of days ago. Found it a very good read.
And changing the subject slightly, I did read all 20 books in O'Briens Aubrey/Mautarin series which I enjoyed...in parts.
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by Coeur_de_Lion (U2789688) on Wednesday, 11th January 2006
Finished 'The First Crusade' by Thomas Asbridge a week ago, brilliant book, very in-depth account of the whola affair. I am reading Aristotle's Politics at the moment.
I also finished Paul Kennedy's 'the rise and fall of the great powers since 1500' about two months ago. amazing book, very factual.
Would someone like to recommend a book about the Boer War?
The Thomas Pakenham book 'The Boer War' was a good read.
Ernst von Salomon´s Die Geächteten (The Outlaws).
ItΒ΄s about the experiences of a young german cadett who, after fighing in the Baltikum in the aftermath of WWI, describes what let him to take part in the so-called Feme-murders, and the Rathenau assassination.
My favourite reads are military memoirs from the Napoleonic period particularly from private soldiers or lower ranking officers as I feel they give more of an accurate picture of life on campaign and (generally) tend not to get too involved with political opinion.
Although it is certainly not a new publication, the best one I have read so far is the memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne (an officer in Napoleons Imperial Guard) who records his experiences during Napoleons invasion of Russia in 1812 and the subsequent retreat. He spares no detail of some of the horrors he witnessed during the campaign, particularly the reteat, so much so that it is almost impossible to comprehend the absolute misery suffered by the soldiers during the retreat especially from cold and hunger.
It is a fascinating account and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the napoleonic period and this campaign in particluar.
If anyone can recommed other memoirs from french soldiers during the napoleonic wars I would be most interested. I have read the notebooks of captain coignet which were also very good athough I feel it lacked a bit of detail of the battles he fought in.
Craig
, in reply to message 16.
Posted by Pugwash Trouserpress (U1865008) on Monday, 23rd January 2006
I thoroughly enjoyed Nelson-Dream of Glory. Can't remember who wrote it though!!
The book which was the most enlightening for me was "A People's History of the American Revolution; How Common People Shaped the Fight for Independence," by Ray Raphael. The Am. Revolution is described as more of a civil war than a revolt.
"Paris 1919" by Margaret Macmillian--The goings on after the Great War, that gave us the next European war, set the stages for the Balkan blood-letting and the Middle Eastern conflicts which have raged for over 50 years.
The History message boards are now closed. They remain visible as a matter of record but the opportunity to add new comments or open new threads is no longer available. Thank you all for your valued contributions over many years.
or Β to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
The message board is closed for posting.
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.