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.Warsaw 1920: Lenin's Failed Conquest of Europe

by: Adam Zamoyski

February 04, 2008
Warsaw 1920 is an easily available book on an important topic. As an introductory narrative it's OK. There's little exploration of major themes, the presumptions behind what analysis there is are unexplored. Quite why (other than a 'miracle') the Poles reversed their early defeats remains unexplained. The wider context of the Russian Civil War isn't really integrated. The pro-Polish bias grates after a while.

Much richer, if you can still get it, is Norman Davies' 'White Eagle, Red Star'. Plenty wrong with that as well, but it provides a deeper exploration that makes it useful even if you don't share Davies' viewpoint.
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Used Price: £8.64

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.1812: Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow

by: Adam Zamoyski

April 04, 2005
The book is an exellent example of manipulation of history made by somebody with a strong ideological background. The only goal of Zamoyski is to show that Russia and Russians have nothing to do with the defeat of Napoleon and this defeat was ceased by anything else - bad weather, illness of Napoleon or maybe little green alliens. The plan of the campaine desined by Barklay de Tolly and followed by Kutuzov is not mentioned at all. Kutuzov is shown as a stupid and lazy idiot (this is an example of manipulation again - he is characterised in the book by exepts from letters of his rivals and enemies only).
Another problem is a discription of brutality of the war. From the book it is completely impossible to understand why russians flew from Moscow ... Read More:
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Used Price: £3.69

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.Rites of Peace: The Fall of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna

by: Adam Zamoyski

February 04, 2008
At a time when most history seems to consist of unconnected trivia suitable only for pub quizzes, it's a relief to find a book by an author who sees history as a process. The book is a study of the Congress of Vienna at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The Congress was one of the most important gatherings of the 19th century, and it set the tone for 'big power' politics for the next hundred years. The way in which it carved up Europe between the victors and losers without consideration for the wishes of the populations also set the parameters for the two World Wars in the 20th century.

But Zamoyski doesn't just deal with the 'dry' politics - he also deals with the social event that was also the Congress of Vienna. Judging from his description and ... Read More:
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Used Price: £3.83

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.Rites of Peace: The Fall of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna

by: Adam Zamoyski

April 16, 2007
We were overdue for a readable history of this period, and Zamowski (bar the odd quibble) has done a creditable job.

In particular, he brings out well the crucial importance of the Hundred Days, not for what might have happened - Napoleon's prospects were never very bright - but for what did, in giving the victors a badly needed cold shower. In the Summer of 1814 - barely three months after Napoleon's despatch to Elba - disputes over Saxony and Poland had brought them to the brink of war - with Britain and Austria ready to ally with France against their fellows. With Napoleon's defeat, all thought themselves "home and dry" and free to quarrel among themselves. The Deus ex machina - or "Diabolus ex Elba"? - delivered the mother of all wakeup calls, ramming ... Read More:
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Used Price: £8.99

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.The Forgotten Few: The Polish Air Force in World War II

by: Adam Zamoyski

May 30, 2004
It tells the story of my father's wartime experiences in Britain with the Polish Airforce. An excellent book, very readable. But it does perpetuate the myth the US forces where the highest paid they were not. Dad discovered the Canadians where the highest paid. Dad was one of the many ground staff in aircraft maintenance, and this is one of the few books to honour those who fought with spanners, hammers, screwdrivers, saws & abrasives keeping a multitude of plane types aloft.
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Used Price: £8.99

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.1812: Napoleon's Fatal March on Moscow

by: Adam Zamoyski

April 05, 2004
The book is an exellent example of manipulation of history made by somebody with a strong ideological background. The only goal of Zamoyski is to show that Russia and Russians have nothing to do with the defeat of Napoleon and this defeat was ceased by anything else - bad weather, illness of Napoleon or maybe little green alliens. The plan of the campaine desined by Barklay de Tolly and followed by Kutuzov is not mentioned at all. Kutuzov is shown as a stupid and lazy idiot (this is an example of manipulation again - he is characterised in the book by exepts from letters of his rivals and enemies only).
Another problem is a discription of brutality of the war. From the book it is completely impossible to understand why russians flew from Moscow in the view of Frensh ... Read More:
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Used Price: £6.50

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.The Polish Way: A Thousand Year History of the Poles and Their Culture

by: Adam Zamoyski

1993-10
This book provides a wide and far ranging account of a thousand years of Polish history and culture.
Zamoyski has given the subject of Polish culture a far greater share of the pages than many books about Polish history that I have read.The book is illustrated with examples of Polish art, documents,photographs and maps.A detailed and contextualised account of Polish history is given in a very readable format.An excellent book for both newcomers to Polish history and old hands.
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Used Price: £15.20

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.Chopin: A Biography (A Panther book)

by: Adam Zamoyski

January 07, 1982
This book provides a wide and far ranging account of a thousand years of Polish history and culture.
Zamoyski has given the subject of Polish culture a far greater share of the pages than many books about Polish history that I have read.The book is illustrated with examples of Polish art, documents,photographs and maps.A detailed and contextualised account of Polish history is given in a very readable format.An excellent book for both newcomers to Polish history and old hands.
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.Holy Madness : Romantics, Patriots and Revolutionaries 1776 - 1871

by: Adam Zamoyski

October 14, 1999
This book provides a wide and far ranging account of a thousand years of Polish history and culture.
Zamoyski has given the subject of Polish culture a far greater share of the pages than many books about Polish history that I have read.The book is illustrated with examples of Polish art, documents,photographs and maps.A detailed and contextualised account of Polish history is given in a very readable format.An excellent book for both newcomers to Polish history and old hands.
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Used Price: £9.15

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.Chopin: A Biography

by: Adam Zamoyski

September 13, 1979
This book provides a wide and far ranging account of a thousand years of Polish history and culture.
Zamoyski has given the subject of Polish culture a far greater share of the pages than many books about Polish history that I have read.The book is illustrated with examples of Polish art, documents,photographs and maps.A detailed and contextualised account of Polish history is given in a very readable format.An excellent book for both newcomers to Polish history and old hands.
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Used Price: £8.99