Related Items: Search

Average Rating:

.A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain

by: Marc Morris

March 06, 2008
For the person like myself with a sketchy knowledge of medieval Britain and her Kings this excellent book filled a lot of gaps especially the chapters dealing with Wales
>>See More Reviews & Details on A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain

Used Price: £12.50

Average Rating:

.Empires of the Sea: The Final Battle for the Mediterranean, 1521-1580

by: Roger Crowley

May 01, 2008
The clash of civilisations is not a new notion. Civilisations have clashed for thousands of years, as rival tribes and nations with varying cultural mores and religious beliefs have struggled for supremacy.
In recorded history, Greek fought Persian, Roman fought Carthaginian (and countless others), and Christian fought Muslim.
It's the latter that we think of today when we shudder at the memory of 9/11 or sigh over the pointless loss of life in the Middle East.
This is a struggle that has flared up intermittently since the First Crusade in 1096 brought a motley crew of robber knights, religious zealots and sundry opportunists to wrest the holy places of Palestine from the hands of their Muslim overlords.
The crusades petered out towards ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Empires of the Sea: The Final Battle for the Mediterranean, 1521-1580

Used Price: £8.03

Average Rating:

.Warsaw 1920: Lenin's Failed Conquest of Europe

by: Adam Zamoyski

February 04, 2008
This is a superbly written little book that provides a concise history of the 1920 campaign that resulted in the defeat of Soviet forces by the newly formed Polish Army. Books describing military campaigns can often be tedious but Zamoyski overcomes this by writing with such elan that you find yourself rushing through the book. Thumbnail sketches are provided of the main protagonists including Pilsudski, Sikorski, and the Russians Tukhachevsky and Budionny as well as many other players including a young, and insubordinate political officer, Stalin. Other, more detailed tomes are available, (Norman Davies, 'White Eagle Red Star', 1972) but for the reader who is seeking a brief description of this most important of battles Zamoyski has done an excellent job. A number ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Warsaw 1920: Lenin's Failed Conquest of Europe

Used Price: £8.58

Average Rating:

.Hitler's Empire: Nazi Rule in Occupied Europe (Allen Lane History)

by: Mark Mazower

June 05, 2008
It's easy to work out if you'll like this book. The subject is, how did Nazi Germany administer and rule the countries they conquered and annexed? If you're already rolling your eyes and struggling to keep a yawn down, then clearly this book is not for you. On the other hand, if like me, you think, "wow, what an interesting subject," then you will probably like this book, and it should fulfil your expectations with ease. I only skipped about four pages about France's art scene and underground politics, and a page at the end that waffled on about the post war economy, so it's not a dull difficult to read book.

It goes into a fair amount of detail of how each country was handled differently. Eastern countries like Russia and Poland (the Nazi's took Poland off the map and ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Hitler's Empire: Nazi Rule in Occupied Europe (Allen Lane History)

Used Price: £10.33

Average Rating:

.Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45

by: Max Hastings

October 01, 2007
At the Winchester Festival, reviewing his book, Hastings made a misguided and alarming remark, "that the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, other than Taranto Raid, played no significant part in WW2". It is therefore no wonder that he has omitted to include in his book the British Pacific Forces's successful attack on the Japanese oil refineries at Palembang (Java) in January 1945. Four British fleet carriers with 244 aircraft embarked disabled the refineries that were supplying Japan precious aviation fuel. Glancing through the book Hastings does not do justice to the Royal Navy in the Far East during 1944-45 period, until he educates himselve on the Fleet Air Arm's war effort, I will stay clear of his books. Question for you Max, which allied torpedo bomber aircraft sank more enemy shipping (by ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45

Used Price: £10.00

Average Rating:

.God's Fury, England's Fire: A New History of the English Civil Wars

by: Michael Braddick

February 28, 2008
I am always a little reluctant to buy books that claim to be a "new history" of events that were well recorded and happened some 370 years ago. English history lacks bite, a dull procession of uninspired monarchs and a frenzy of Empire building. The Civil War seemed more a squabble, relatively small armies and minor engagements. Brought up in the West Country, the ruins of Corfe Castle and siege at Sherborne vaguely linked me to Cromwell, the man with warts, with no more than a hazy school history to call on.

I dipped into Michael Braddick's large book and - as they say - found it hard to put down. The issues, sketched from numerous angles were well developed. The politics of the three Kingdoms (although this is not focussed on Ireland and Scotland), the personality of Charles vacillating ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on God's Fury, England's Fire: A New History of the English Civil Wars

Used Price: £19.38

Average Rating:

.Burghley: William Cecil at the Court of Elizabeth I

by: Stephen Alford

May 31, 2008
I am always a little reluctant to buy books that claim to be a "new history" of events that were well recorded and happened some 370 years ago. English history lacks bite, a dull procession of uninspired monarchs and a frenzy of Empire building. The Civil War seemed more a squabble, relatively small armies and minor engagements. Brought up in the West Country, the ruins of Corfe Castle and siege at Sherborne vaguely linked me to Cromwell, the man with warts, with no more than a hazy school history to call on.

I dipped into Michael Braddick's large book and - as they say - found it hard to put down. The issues, sketched from numerous angles were well developed. The politics of the three Kingdoms (although this is not focussed on Ireland and Scotland), the personality of Charles vacillating ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Burghley: William Cecil at the Court of Elizabeth I

Used Price: £19.89

Average Rating:

.Italy's Sorrow: A Year of War 1944-45

by: James Holland

March 03, 2008
James Holland's generosity of spirit and indefatiguable labour has created one of the best general histories I've read recently--and there's a lot of stiff competition about. As well as using writen sources, Holland personally interviewed survivors from all sides of the conflict; Germans, Poles, Canadians, Britons, Americans, Italian partisans and fascists. These accounts give a vivid picture of the heroism and brutality of war, and instil a sense of sympathy for (almost) all of the participants. Their stories are skillfully blended into the larger narrative, which explains what happened, and why the major players (Alexander, Mark Clark, Kesselring, Churchill, Roosevelt, Mussolini, etc) made crucial decisions. Holland is immenently fair-minded; the controversy surrounding Clark's dash for Rome (in defiance ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Italy's Sorrow: A Year of War 1944-45

Used Price: £8.70

Average Rating:

.Revelation (Matthew Shardlake 4)

by: C.J. Sansom

April 04, 2008
First Sentence: The high chandeliers in the Great Hall of Lincoln's Inn were ablaze with candles, for it was late afternoon when the play began.

Henry VIII has asked to marry Catherine Parr and England is in a time of religious turmoil.

The Dissolution of the monasteries is done but now Henry, and the reformists, are moving back toward Catholic ways, under the King rather than the Pope, at the same time as the rise in Protestantism. An English version of the Bible has been published, but only Churches and the upper class are allowed to read it.

One of lawyer Matthew Shardlake's closest friends has been murdered and his body publicly displayed. Brought before Archbishop Cramer, Matthew learns this is not the first such killing. A serial killer is using versus in the Book ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on Revelation (Matthew Shardlake 4)

Used Price: £2.97

Average Rating:

.The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815

by: Tim Blanning

February 28, 2008
Before having read this book, I was largely ignorant about this period (1648 - 1815) in European history. Now, having read Tim Blanning's amazing book, I think that on the one hand I not only know a lot more but, on the other hand, remain conscious that I've barely scratched the surface (the suggested reading-list in itself covers some 11 pages, in small typescript) .

Contrary to what the title might seem to indicate, this book is about ever so much more than royalty and monarchs in the pursuit of glory. There's that too of course, but - as the titles to the four parts indicate - it's about life in all its aspects between 1648 and 1815:
- Part one: Life and death
- Part two: Power
- Part three: Religion and culture
- Part four: War and peace

In all, the book offers 677 pages ... Read More:
>>See More Reviews & Details on The Pursuit of Glory: Europe 1648-1815

Used Price: £5.94