City Travel Guides > Books > History

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.The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House: Or the Murder at Road Hill House
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Kate Summerscale

July 26, 2008
Oh dear, what on earth were the judges thinking when they gave this book the Samuel Johnson Prize? It is a page-turner, I grant you, which is no doubt why it won the prize, and it's cleverly conceived, written in the style of a country-house murder, the genre it explores. But there have been many books on the Constance Kent case, perhaps the most famous murder in the Victorian era, and Summerscale has nothing new to say. Worse, the book is padded out with social history, elementary details that could have come directly from any one of countless history books on the shelves of Waterstones. In short, the book is not nearly as good as its many plaudits in the press and book prize judges think.
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.Masters and Commanders: How Roosevelt, Churchill, Marshall and Alanbrooke Won the War in the West
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Andrew Roberts

September 25, 2008
Oh dear, what on earth were the judges thinking when they gave this book the Samuel Johnson Prize? It is a page-turner, I grant you, which is no doubt why it won the prize, and it's cleverly conceived, written in the style of a country-house murder, the genre it explores. But there have been many books on the Constance Kent case, perhaps the most famous murder in the Victorian era, and Summerscale has nothing new to say. Worse, the book is padded out with social history, elementary details that could have come directly from any one of countless history books on the shelves of Waterstones. In short, the book is not nearly as good as its many plaudits in the press and book prize judges think.
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.The Duchess
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Amanda Foreman

August 04, 2008
I was very pleased that I was able to get into this book and I remember it as if it was a story! It is so well done and gave me the information I would want from any historical biography without the boredom! The film is good but isn't the tiniest patch on the book!
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.Apache
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Ed Macy

September 01, 2008
What an incredible true story Ed Macy delivers in "Apache".Detailing the the harsh brutal realities of war in Afganistan and the incredible devotion and bravery our troops display daily.This book is a great read for those not interested in military matters as much as for those that are.Utterly compelling and the "Jugroom Fort" chapters are so engaging you'll not want to put the book down before you finish them.

Absolutely recommended.
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.A History of Modern Britain
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Andrew Marr

May 02, 2008
I took this book on holiday with me and I feel a week by the pool is a perfect way to enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed the pace of this work. I felt it gave just the right amount of detail without dwelling on unimportant facts.

For me it was constantly enthralling. As a 23 year-old I certainly learnt a great deal. The detail is far greater than the BBC series that accompanied the book. My only doubt is whether had I lived through the times discussed I would have found it a little lightweight.
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.Henry: Virtuous Prince
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: David Starkey

October 01, 2008
I took this book on holiday with me and I feel a week by the pool is a perfect way to enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed the pace of this work. I felt it gave just the right amount of detail without dwelling on unimportant facts.

For me it was constantly enthralling. As a 23 year-old I certainly learnt a great deal. The detail is far greater than the BBC series that accompanied the book. My only doubt is whether had I lived through the times discussed I would have found it a little lightweight.
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.Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Mary Beard

September 18, 2008
After reading Robert Harris's novel Pompeii I was keen on gaining more knowledge about both the people and the town that was overcome by the eruption of Vesuvius , so this books publication allowed me that opportunity.

The amount of information conveyed is awesome and the life of the various citizen's of Pompeii is truly bought to life , the book is written in a scholarly way as befits a Cambridge Don but in no way does this get in the way , she paint's a fantastic picture of the place and it's culture , organisation and politics as well as spicing thing's up by many reference's to the sexual liberation of the era.

A very well written book and did everything I asked of it.
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.The Great Crash, 1929 (Penguin business)
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: John Kenneth Galbraith

October 29, 1992
I found this book captivating, in a "gallows humor" sort of way.

Although written many years ago, and recounting events in the distant past, it should be required reading for anyone in the markets today. More specifically, it should have been required reading a year ago (mid 2007) for those invested in finance and property sectors.

Whether the malaise in those sectors (some stocks down 90%) spreads eventually to the general indexes remains to be seen.

Tony Loton, author --
DON'T LOSE MONEY! (in the Stock Markets)
Financial Trading Patterns

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.The Art of War
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Sun Tzu, Sun Zi

May 01, 2006
I'm not especially interested in military history, neither am I a manager or businessman, but I still found this book very enjoyable. It has the rare appeal of being of its time but at the same time applicable to the present day. Many of the insights feel very contemporary - not simply to the business arena but to any aspect of life. The style is terse and aphoristic, which means that it doesn't really matter that the book is quite short. Even the chapters on terrain tactics are interesting from a historical point of view. I would also recommend a book called the Fall by Steve Taylor for its insights into the origins and history of warfare and social conflict The Fall:the Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of a New Era: The Insanity of the Ego in ... Read More:
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.The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science
City Travel Guides > Books > History
by: Richard Holmes

October 01, 2008
I'm not especially interested in military history, neither am I a manager or businessman, but I still found this book very enjoyable. It has the rare appeal of being of its time but at the same time applicable to the present day. Many of the insights feel very contemporary - not simply to the business arena but to any aspect of life. The style is terse and aphoristic, which means that it doesn't really matter that the book is quite short. Even the chapters on terrain tactics are interesting from a historical point of view. I would also recommend a book called the Fall by Steve Taylor for its insights into the origins and history of warfare and social conflict The Fall:the Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of a New Era: The Insanity of the Ego in ... Read More:
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Used Price: £19.14