The History Book Club discussion

Over half done with by Leonie Frieda. Liking it so far!

Hi Faith, good to hear you are enjoying "Catherine de Medici" as I just realised that its one of the many books on my 'to-read' list. I'll be interested to hear your final views on the book.

by Leonie Frieda

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Faith, good to hear you are enjoying "Catherine de Medici" as I just realised that its one of the many books on my 'to-read' list. I'll be interested to hear your final views on the book.

[bo..."

So 'Aussie Rick' just out of interest how many books are on your to read list?

Michael wrote: "So 'Aussie Rick' just out of interest how many books are on your to read list? "

I don't know if anyone can count that high! (smile)

I can't really tell you as I've lost count, but way too many :)

I have started reading my 1918 edition of "British Campaigns in Flanders 1690 - 1794" by the Honourable J. W. Fortscue.

by The Hon. J. W. Fortescue

Wow, any idea what made this guy so honorable?

Maybe this:

http://www.napoleon-series.org/cgi-bi...

Doesn't sound very convincing to me. More like a typical snobbish Brit, often not taking the facts too seriously.

André wrote: "Wow, any idea what made this guy so honorable?"

He's "The Hon." because he's the son of an earl; as a younger son, he can't inherit the title, but "The Hon." recognises his status and aristocratic origins. It's his official title. And he's an absolutely essential source for British military history; you can't really do serious research into the subject without dealing with Fortescue's work. Interpretations have shifted and new information become available since he wrote his books, but--like all good historians--he did the best he could with what he had.

Leslie,

Thanks so much for the valuable tidbit of info in reference to "The Hon." Fortescue I've had some inkling of.


KOMET

Oops, things have been happening whilst I've been off line:)

Great information supplied by Elizabeth (Alaska) and Leslie on J.W. Fortescue, thanks you both for that.

I have read Fortescue's book "The War of Independence: The British Army in North America, 1775-1783" and found it a great read if a little dated but as Leslie has already mentioned you can't conduct any research on British military history without reference to Fortescue's "A history of the British Army from the Norman Conquest to the First World War".

by John Fortescue

Leslie wrote: "André wrote: "Wow, any idea what made this guy so honorable?"

He's "The Hon." because he's the son of an earl; as a younger son, he can't inherit the title, but "The Hon." recognises his status an..."

Thanks Leslie, for the information. I knew about the title, but I did not take things too seriously as I posted my comment, especially since I think with the Waterloo battle the different historians from the different countries often liked to shift the victory as they saw it fit. Which was quite easy to do with all the different accounts and opinions circulating after the slaughter.

Aussie Rick,

I haven't read any of his books, unfortunately, but I've consulted him more than once. He wrote in a period when all historians, no matter how serious and/or academic, were expected to write in a way that was acceptable and even pleasurable to the average intelligent layperson. The sort of clotted, opaque, jargon-heavy academic prose that's virtually unintelligible to all but other academics that is so common now is a pretty recent invention (and not a good one!). That's why older histories, though dated, are often so much more readable than recent ones. Which makes me appreciate all the more historians now who can really write and who care about ordinary, nonspecialist readers.

Leslie

I think I'd have to agree with you Leslie. I find many of the books published in the late 1800's and early 1900's a pleasure to read and you tend to finish the book feeling like you have learnt something whilst taking a pleasurable journey through history.

Folks, for the last three or four months I have been reading periodicals; however, I recently went back to my book shelves and pulled down "The Lexington Automobile" for a reread. I don't recommend this to the average reader, only to the diehard automobile buff like myself. Richard A. Stanley's work published by McFarland and Co. is a historical compilation of a somewhat obscure early automobile. It does give an insight into how early automobile ventures were launched and how they endured in the market. I will at this time mention the publisher; McFarland and Co. publish quite a few books every year, no best sellers to my knowledge; however,books that might be of interest to some of you.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I think I'd have to agree with you Leslie. I find many of the books published in the late 1800's and early 1900's a pleasure to read and you tend to finish the book feeling like you have learnt som..."

As ever so often, taste differs. Whereas I can't get past page 2 with that Honorable fellow I prefer the much livelier writing of f.e. Taylor Branch or Frank McLynn

Parting the Waters: Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement 1954-63 by Taylor Branch

or

1066: The Year of the Three Battles by Frank McLynn

Harry wrote: "Folks, for the last three or four months I have been reading periodicals; however, I recently went back to my book shelves and pulled down "The Lexington Automobile" for a reread. I don't recommend..."

Harry, thanks for posting what looks like an interesting selection. Please remember that our rules require you to also post the author photo (where available) and link (always) in addition to posting the book cover of any mentioned work.

Thanks!
byRichard Stanley

André wrote: "'Aussie Rick' wrote: "I think I'd have to agree with you Leslie. I find many of the books published in the late 1800's and early 1900's a pleasure to read and you tend to finish the book feeling li..."

Ooooh, I have heard GREAT things about that entire Taylor Branch series. I have one of them on my short-list, which means hopefully this year! :-)
Taylor Branch

I am getting into "Unbroken" that I started the other day..
by Laura Hillenbrand

Also reading a book on Hannibal...
(No cover) Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy by Sir Gavin R. De Beer

André, I really liked Frank McLynn's book about Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Charles Edward Stuart: A Tragedy in Many ActsFrank McLynn

You're right, the man can write! I'll have to hunt down 1066.

Hi Tom, I'm a great fan of books on Hannibal so please let me know what you think of your current book on Hannibal by Sir Gavin De Beer

Hannibal: Challenging Rome's Supremacy (no cover) by Sir Gavin R. De Beer

Alisa wrote: "André wrote:"

Alisa, I'm sure you'll love them all.
Mr. Branch is one of the best when it comes to making history come alive. The way he mixes the famous with the lesser known, always staying true to the facts, adding detail here and there, may it be a bit of music or just the weather, it's fantastic.
He knows exactly how to "build" a story. His feeling for pace, change of rhythm and tension: marvelous!

Taylor Branch

Leslie wrote: "André, I really liked Frank McLynn's book about Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie."

Leslie, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Just in case you're also interested in Napoleon, Philip Dwyer is a fabulous writer and expert.

Napoleon: The Path to Power by Philip Dwyer

I'd have to second Andre's recomendation on "Napoleon: The Path to Power" by Philip Dwyer, its a very good book on Napoleon.

by Philip Dwyer

Alisa wrote: "Harry wrote: "Folks, for the last three or four months I have been reading periodicals; however, I recently went back to my book shelves and pulled down "The Lexington Automobile" for a reread. I d..."

Alisa, Thanx for the reminder; however, if you click on the cover image on my post it links to the book site. as far as the author's pic; I will try to get it.

Alisa wrote: "Harry wrote: "Folks, for the last three or four months I have been reading periodicals; however, I recently went back to my book shelves and pulled down "The Lexington Automobile" for a reread. I d..."

Thank you Alisa for helping Harry. Harry, I checked goodreads and the author's photo is not available for this selection; what Alisa was mentioning is that your entry should have looked like the one she did with the bookcover and the author's link which is the author's name in linkable text as she showed and you had not added. Most of the time the bookcover is always available, if it is not - simply tell us no cover available and add the book's link, if the author's photo is available add that second but sometimes it is not available; then add the third part which is always available and that is the part that Alisa was talking about: the author's name in linkable text.

Hope this helps and I did not confuse you more.

Bentley, thanks for the clarification, yes that is what I meant. Harry, the author photos (when available) and links can be accessed through the add book/author feature where you added the book cover. Thanks!

Gosh folks, it's hard for me to learn, I'm trying though, thanx again.

Harry, you'll get the hang of it I know. If you ever have a question you can always drop a note to one of the moderators as well. We are happy to help! =)

There is a picture of the author on page 231 of the book. I have scanned it; however I can't get it to this site.

Leslie wrote: "Aussie Rick,

I haven't read any of his books, unfortunately, but I've consulted him more than once. He wrote in a period when all historians, no matter how serious and/or academic, were expected t..."

Talking about Fortescue's style of writing here is a nice section from my current book that provides us with a delightful description of Sir James Murray. I just found this to be a perfect sentence and a delight to read so I hope others find it fun as well:

"His knowledge was great, his grasp and outlook wide, his judgement cool and accurate, his indifference to danger and hardship absolute; but he was shy, awkward and diffident, with a dreamy indolence which led him too readily to surrender his own correct opinion, and to amuse himself with speculation upon the incorrect opinions of others."

Isn't that how history should be written?

by The Hon. J. W. Fortescue

Presently, I'm reading ---



Very interesting to fully uncover how and why the U.S. became a continental nation during the 1840s through the single-minded determination of President James K. Polk.




Fred Zinn, a former French Foreign Legionnaire and member of the Lafayette Flying Corps and U.S. Army Air Service in WWI, was the pioneer in the efforts to find and identify missing U.S. military personnel in both World Wars. Truly an unsung hero.



KOMET

KOMET wrote: "Presently, I'm reading..."

Hey Komet, great books! I'll definitely check out the 2nd one.
Lost Eagles: One Man's Mission to Find Missing Airmen in Two World Wars
Blaine Pardoe

'Aussie Rick' wrote..."

Wow, it sure leaves me speechless. But isn't it wonderful, Rick, that we all got blessed with different tastes?!
Have fun with the book!

My first post...I'm a little nervous. :-)

I just finished doing a re-read of Generation Kill because I have recently acquired Lt Nathaniel Fick's book, One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer and wanted the Generation Kill refresher as this is the book in which Lt Nate Fick is first introduced to the world.

Before I jump into One Bullet Away, however, I thought I'd read Corsair by Tim Severin. I am about 50 pages in.

I'm one of those avid readers who tends to read from more than 1 book at a time.




Captain Coignet, who grew up in near poverty in rural France, joined the French Army and by dint of hard work and devotion to duty, was cited for bravery and later became an officer in one of Napoleon's elite units. This is all the more remarkable for a man who remained largely illiterate.

KOMET,

You are doing a great job with the book covers. All you have to do to get the full references is use the "add book/author" feature again to add the author photo (if it is already in goodreads) and the author link. Andre did a great job for one of your books in comment #689. Here are how your other books should look:

Robert W. Merry
Jean-Roch Coignet

Note that goodreads does not have author photos for either of those authors, so you only need to use the name link.

Terri, I hope the nervousness goes away and you quickly become comfortable with posting! In the Introduction thread I just demonstrated for you the way we ask books to be referenced. Basically, we need the book cover, the author picture (if available) and the author name link. Like this:

Evan Wright
Nathaniel Fick
Clive Cussler

Thanks for sharing your current reads with us!

Komet, have you heard of this one:

Sergeant Bourgogne - With Napoleon's Imperial Guard in the Russian Campaign and on the Retreat from Moscow 1812 - 13
Adrien Bourgogne

I don't know the English translation, but the account of the Russian campaign by a devoted soldier and true "fan" of Napoleon will stay with you for a long time.

Hi Andre,

Yes, I know of the Bourgogne memoir. I bought it a few months ago, but have yet to read it.

Here are a few books about Napoleon/Napoleonic Wars (all of them I already own) that may interest you ---












KOMET

KOMET, thanks for those recommendations and adding the book covers but please remember to also add the appropriate author link and author photo (if it is available.) Without the cover and author the goodreads software will not properly cross-reference your post to the site, and it is a requirement of our membership. Your posts should look like this:
Alistair Horne
Charles Esdaile
Georges Blond

John R. Elting
Heinrich Von Brandt

Harry wrote: "There is a picture of the author on page 231 of the book. I have scanned it; however I can't get it to this site."

Harry, the author photo and links are in the same function where you add the book cover. When you go to the add book/author function above the comment box, click on that to add a book cover. Once you click to add the cover to your comment, click on the add book/author feature again and select the author tab. Then add the photo (if there is one there) or the author link, the same as you did for the book cover. You can then click the preview button before you post to check it, then post.

Thank you Alisa for taking the time to help Komet. For those having trouble mastering the citations. Here is a thread called Mechanics of the Board which goes into this in detail:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

Leslie on the following:

by Frank McLynn

Thanks to Elizabeth and Alisa for all of the helpful catches and corrections and assistance given to the group members.

Harry, please read post 682. Also, images can actually be added; click on the some html is OK button above comment box and it will show you how.

But when you did your citation, the author's photo was not available on goodreads so you are OK. Sometimes the author's photo is on goodreads and sometimes it is not. In your case, you only had to add the bookcover and the author's link because the author's photo was not available.

byAnthony Wood

though I read a lot of history, my knowledge of Europe during this time period was pretty much Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo and then World War I broke out. I'm up to about 1850 and find it quite interesting. This book was written in 1964.

Patricrk, thank you for your add; that does look like an interesting book.

Let me help you with the citation; since there is no book cover on hand and no photo on goodreads; you could use the book link and say no cover in parenthesis and just add the author's link as you so aptly did above:

Europe, 1815-1945 - (no bookcover available on goodreads) by Anthony Wood

Patricrk wrote: "...my knowledge of Europe during this time period was pretty much Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo and then World War I broke out..."

I love how you said this, Patricrk! I think a lot of us are in the same camp. When you finish the book, let us know if it is worth tracking down.

KOMET wrote: "Hi Andre,

Yes, I know of the Bourgogne memoir. I bought it a few months ago, but have yet to read it.

Here are a few books about Napoleon/Napoleonic Wars (all of them I already own) that m..."

Hi Komet,
thanks for the list! I will definitely read some - if not all - in due time.

Hi Elizabeth S,
lol, yes, I just checked out the Intro thread and was grateful to you for showing me how you'd like my reads posted.

One thing, in my three books before, it is a different Corsair that I am reading.
Here, let me amend it and have my first go at getting all the links right.
by Tim Severin

Terri, nice job with the links and the post!