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.The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

by: Antony Beevor

May 24, 2007
The Spanish Civil War by Anthony Beevor is an interesting account of a conflict which in many ways was a prelude to the Second World War. Having read some of the author's other works I knew that it was going to be well-written with a well constructed narative, although it is not as good as either Stalingrad or Berlin the Downfall. The work itself shows the destructive impact of a Civil War especially on a country as divided on linguistic and political lines as Spain. It also shows how democracy was allowed to be crushed by facism by Britain and France and also how the Nationalist forces were able to exploit the divisions in their opponents to win. All in all a good book although I have read better by this author.
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Used Price: £4.98

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.Stalingrad

by: Antony Beevor

October 04, 2007
The Battle of Stalingrad was, without doubt, one of the most gruesome episodes of WWII. Beevor manages to write not just a well-researched history of the battle, he also manages to draw the reader into its horrors with his marvellous prose and eye-witness accounts. This is a history that comes alive from the pages to leave an indelible sense of anger, horror and, to some extent, shame in the reader's mind - are we really capable of acts such as this? Could we have survived?

Even someone for whom WWII is a remote historical curiosity would be hard-pressed to deny this account's power and immediacy. The book reads like a novel but, unlike a novel, what we're reading is true; it happened; this is what mankind is capable of. Too many books ... Read More:
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Used Price: £4.89

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.Berlin: The Downfall 1945

by: Antony Beevor

October 04, 2007
An amazingly detailed account of the scope & horror of the event. For all the movies & documentaries about WWII they berely scratch the surface of the reality of warfare. If war's were told like this we may be more apprehensive about starting new ones. Seven million strong the Red Army had on the border of East Prussia prior to the invasion, that was the entire population of Australia at the time!
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Used Price: £4.75

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.A Writer at War: Vasily Grossman with the Red Army 1941-1945

by: Vasilii Grossman

September 07, 2006
I think I would rather have read a long introduction by Beevor or whoever, and then a proper collection of Grossman's articles - rather than a series of fragments inserted into a narrative history of the War on the Eastern Front written not by Grossman but by Beevor. Maybe this is because Beevor assumes that the reader just won't know the history; even so it's annoying way to handle it.

That said, Grossman is a very interesting and sympathetic character, and there's nothing wrong with Beevor's narrative either. I was very moved both by the enormous privation and sacrifices of some Red Army soldiers - and the powerful contrasts between those who were prepared to sacrifice and suffer, and those who seem to have happily deserted and then "un-deserted" ... Read More:
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Used Price: £3.75

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.Crete: The Battle and the Resistance

by: Antony Beevor

September 12, 2005
The author's style is fast paced and entertaining without loosing track of a strategic overview or the main operational essentials. He provides a good background to invasion, covering political situation, the Greek campaign and evacuation, the organisation of the defence and preparations for the attack. He covers the fighting adequately giving more emphasis to individual experience rather than operational details and analysis of command decisions.

The author squarely blames Freyberg for the Allied defeat, with some justification. Puttick and Hargest, as senior commanders bungling severely in the most important sector deserve at least as much blame yet he gives them relatively less criticism.

A much stronger emphasis is given to the Allied side; although ... Read More:
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Used Price: £3.00

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.Stalingrad

by: Antony Beevor

May 06, 1999
well what can i add to the many glowing reviews already given?

all i can say that this book made me pause for thought on many occasion and try to appreciate or even just comprehend the sacrafices, scale and atrocities of this poignant part of WWII.

simply fantastic.

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Used Price: £2.89

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.The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

by: Antony Beevor

June 01, 2006
The Spanish Civil War by Anthony Beevor is an interesting account of a conflict which in many ways was a prelude to the Second World War. Having read some of the author's other works I knew that it was going to be well-written with a well constructed narative, although it is not as good as either Stalingrad or Berlin the Downfall. The work itself shows the destructive impact of a Civil War especially on a country as divided on linguistic and political lines as Spain. It also shows how democracy was allowed to be crushed by facism by Britain and France and also how the Nationalist forces were able to exploit the divisions in their opponents to win. All in all a good book although I have read better by this author.
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Used Price: £5.89

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.Paris After the Liberation: 1944 - 1949

by: Antony Beevor, Artemis Cooper

October 04, 2007
I was really looking forward to this book having read "Berlin" from the same author. However this book becomes very disjointed and difficult. For Military enthusiasts I wouls stay clear of this book. For social historians then this would probably be on your top 10 list.

Be prepared for little French phrases during the course of the book as well. This may satisfy the authors literary cravings but does little for the reader sometimes who does not have the required comprehension of the French language. Whilst none of these pieces are major they take the gloss off what appears to be a well researched book.
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.The Mystery of Olga Chekhova

by: Antony Beevor

May 05, 2005
I'm sure there was a mystery behind Olga's success in staying in Germany during the war, despite being a Russian (albeit of German extraction). And somehow her family survived at a time when even to surrender to the Germans was tantamount to a death sentence.
But the author didn't really come up with any answers as to why they all survived. He hints there may have been things going on under the surface, but can't shed any light on them. I finished the book thinking that it had more been a log of their lives rather than any explanation. A little frustrating!
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.Stalingrad

by: Antony Beevor

April 30, 1998
well what can i add to the many glowing reviews already given?

all i can say that this book made me pause for thought on many occasion and try to appreciate or even just comprehend the sacrafices, scale and atrocities of this poignant part of WWII.

simply fantastic.

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Used Price: £10.00