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.1421: The Year China Discovered the World

by: Gavin Menzies

March 01, 2004
The basic premise of this book is that prior to the European voyages of discovery a massive fleet of ships left China and ended up circumnavigating the globe and on the way discovered North and South America, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand and Greenland. The author, Gavin Menzies, is a former Royal Navy submarine commander and as such much of his evidence is based on his knowledge of currents and wind direction when compared to maps that predate the voyages of Columbus. He goes on to use a number of other sources of evidence to back up his case including, among other things, the presence of mysterious wrecks scattered the globe, the presence of animals and plants outside their native lands before Europeans reached them and the diaries ... Read More:
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.When China Ruled the Seas: The Treasure Fleet of the Dragon Throne, 1405-33

by: Louis Levathes

March 13, 1997
While the West was still dragging itself out of the Dark Ages, China had a thriving sea trade with India and Africa, and arguably with places as far off as South America and Australia, not to be beaten for hundreds of years.

There is an incredible amount of history here, most of it unknown in the West, which sets the scene for the building of a massive trading fleet by the eunuch Admiral Zheng He, and his subsequent voyages of exploration. At least one type of ship was 400 feet long, at the time when Columbus's ships were under 100 - about 50 times the capacity.

So what went wrong? What could stop such a powerful naval nation in its tracks? An Imperial Decree - forbidding sea voyages, considering them unproductive, uneconomic and, ... Read More:
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.1421: The Year China Discovered America (P.S.)

by: Gavin Menzies

2008-06
This is a very well written book. The author obviously has a great enthusiasm for his subject, and this comes across in the book and makes it a very enjoyable read. However, I think it should be noted that there is little if any physical evidence to back some of his claims. Also, the way that he has interpreted some of the evidence is a bit one-sided.

Overall this is a good read but maybe not quite as scholarly as it at first appears.
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.Secret Maps of the Ancient World

by: Charlotte Harris Rees

June 10, 2008
This is a very well written book. The author obviously has a great enthusiasm for his subject, and this comes across in the book and makes it a very enjoyable read. However, I think it should be noted that there is little if any physical evidence to back some of his claims. Also, the way that he has interpreted some of the evidence is a bit one-sided.

Overall this is a good read but maybe not quite as scholarly as it at first appears.
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.Fighting Ships of the Far East: China and Southeast Asia 202 BC-AD 1419 Vol 1 (New Vanguard)

by: Stephen Turnbull

November 14, 2002
Very intersting and a must for every serious naval enthusiast looking to round out his collection of naval history. The size of the book leaves one thirsting for more .......... and that is why it does not earn a five star.

What is there though, is fascinating!
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.Wild China

starring: Wild China

June 09, 2008
In rather a departure from the previous informal "wild" series (Andes To Amazon,Wild Africa, Wild Caribbean, Wild Down Under), this 6 part documentary includes more of the life of Chinese peoples in both countryside and cites. The previous offerings divided up the geography into distinct biomes- plains, mountains, freshwater, seas etc. Here we are presented with a specific region at a time.

It still has stirring landscapes, engaging animals, dramatic music and Bernard Hill's lugubrious voiceover, but compared with previous offerings the actual wildlife photography seemed to be a bit on the cheap. If you compare the recent Life In Cold Blood which was packed full of technological wizardry, this documentary seems to have been done relatively cheaply. ... Read More:
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.The 1421 Heresy: An Investigation into the Ming Chinese Maritime Survey of the World

by: Anatole Andro

September 08, 2005
In rather a departure from the previous informal "wild" series (Andes To Amazon,Wild Africa, Wild Caribbean, Wild Down Under), this 6 part documentary includes more of the life of Chinese peoples in both countryside and cites. The previous offerings divided up the geography into distinct biomes- plains, mountains, freshwater, seas etc. Here we are presented with a specific region at a time.

It still has stirring landscapes, engaging animals, dramatic music and Bernard Hill's lugubrious voiceover, but compared with previous offerings the actual wildlife photography seemed to be a bit on the cheap. If you compare the recent Life In Cold Blood which was packed full of technological wizardry, this documentary seems to have been done relatively cheaply. ... Read More:
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.Marlborough: England's Fragile Genius

by: Richard Holmes

May 06, 2008
A fine overview of the life of Marlborough with some interesting details and fascinating insights. This may not be the definitive book on Marlborough (I think that honour still lays with Churchill's 3 volume history of his illustrious ancestor) but it would serve as a useful companion to the Churchill series giving some much needed balance to Churchill's occasionally one sided view.
The book has a minor but niggling weakness in that the title, 'England's Fragile Genius' seems to have little connection with the contents. It mentions his headaches and various illnesses but he doesn't seem to be portrayed as particularly fragile.
The major strength of this book is Holmes descriptive capabilities. I've previously read descriptions of the Battle of Sedgemoor ... Read More:
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.The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House: Or the Murder at Road Hill House

by: Kate Summerscale

July 26, 2008
This book exists of three interwoven strands: a recounting of a murder, a social history of the period that the murder occured, and discussions of contemporary crime fiction.

The first strand worked fine, and I appreciate the necessity of the second, but the detours into the contemporary crime fiction completely ruined the rhythm of the book for me. Where I had been hooked, I found my mind wandering, hoping the book would get back on track in as short a time as possible.

The prose was also, at times, rather too flowery for my liking.

I would have enjoyed the book more if it were a straight account of the murder which, it must be said, the author has researched very well.
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.Bones of the Hills (Conqueror 3)

by: Conn Iggulden

September 01, 2008
This is just as good as the other two books, wolf of the plains & lord of the bow, Book one is the best in it's own wright as a great start to a fantastic series, just buy them all you would not regret it as you cannot put the book down.
Logan1
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