Book
Review by Michael D Booker
(August 2005)
BONAPARTE
IN EGYPT
Author: J Christopher Herold
Publisher: Pen and Sword
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire S70 2AS
ISBN:
1 84468 285 5
Published in June 2005
UK Price: £14.99
When
J.Christopher Herold wrote this masterpiece in 1963. it was
without a doubt, considered to be the best modern account
of a very extraordinary campaign. That was forty years ago
and the book in its original hardback form, is now long out
of print and much sought after today. I believe it is fair
to say, that as this brilliant work has not been bettered
since that time and therefore, this very reasonably priced,
newly published version in it’s paperback format, will
be an outstanding success too and once again be in demand
both at home and abroad.
Napoleon
described his time in Egypt as “the most beautiful in
my life”, it was after all the most critical stage in
his road to power, however for the average French soldier
many miles from home, it was a nightmare, as they suffered
from the extreme heat, hunger and sickness, whilst fighting
horrendous battles with the British, Turkish and Mameluke
forces. As I write this review in my air conditioned office
in the centre of Cairo, I have been spared these atrocious
conditions, however when I step outside into the 100 degree
heat and see many of the Colonial buildings of that period
that still stand today, I can step back in time and am able
to appreciate much of what is written in this splendid book.
The
author has cleverly combined his skills as an historian and
story teller to produce this definitive history. Covering
the military, cultural and political aspects of the campaign
whilst at the same time adding a sense of adventure, this
is one volume that is sure to intrigue the reader from its
beginning to its end.
Anyone
with an interest in this fascinating period of history will
not wish to be without a copy of this book, however they should
act quickly as at this price,its bound to be snapped up! |
Book
Review by Michael D Booker
(August 2005)
WATERLOO
In the footsteps of the commanders
Author: Jonathan Gillespie-Payne
Publisher: Pen and Sword
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire S70 2AS
ISBN:
1 84415 024 0
Published in 2005
UK Price: £12.99
Acclaimed
to be one of the most decisive battles in British history,
The Battle of Waterloo took place on Sunday 18th June 1815,
on a battlefield covering an area 2 miles wide by one mile
deep, just 20 miles south of Brussels.
The battle, where Wellington and Napoleon actually met face
to face on the battlefield, is considered to have changed
the destiny of the whole of Europe, lasted just nine hours,
however in this short space of time, in excess of 40,000 men
and 10,000 horses were either killed or wounded.
The author of this excellent, very readable, handy sized and
reasonably priced volume is no stranger to the battlefield,
he served in the Britsh Army himself and was in fact, prompted
to write this book after finding very little useful information
available when he first visited Waterloo.
He has therefore adopted a very original approach to the battle
and provided a wealth of information which includes an extensive
list of memorials, a summary of the main personalities involved
and the strengths of the armies on the battlefield. Many excellent
photographs, maps and diagrams, are included and therefore,
I am sure therefore, it will prove to be invaluable to military
researchers, battlefield guides and tourists alike.
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Book
Review by Michael D Booker
(August 2005)
BOMBER
BOYS
Author: Kevin Wilson
Publisher:
Weidenfield & Nicholson
The Orion Publishing Group Ltd
Orion House
5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane
London WC2H 9EA
ISBN:
029784637X
Published
in 2005
UK
Price: £25.00
This
superb publication tells the fascinating, yet often heart
breaking story of the brave young aircrew of Bomber Command,
who during the dark years of the Second World War, battled
not only with treacherous weather conditions and numerous
mechanical malfunctions of their often experimental aircraft,
but also with the full wrath of the fighter aircraft of the
German Luftwaffe and the anti aircraft guns on the ground,
as they flew the vast distances across Northern Europe, to
reach their designated targets in the German industrial heartland.
Although
their story started in 1939, it was not until 1943 that the
allied bombing campaign reached its height, when thousands
of aircrew set out on offensive missions from British shores
night after night. Of course, everyone involved knew the risks
were great, however nobody expected such large numbers of
aircraft to be lost and for their crews to be killed, injured
or be taken prisoner.
In
fact, over 18,000 airmen died during this year alone. Many
at that time, were “boys” in their teens and early
twenties and therefore the few that are still alive today,
are often well into their 80’s and it is from the true
stories told at interviews with these extraordinary surviving
airmen, that the author has based his remarkable story.
Years
of extensive and painstaking research has resulted in a most
splendid book, which is sure to interest a wide range of readers.
Many superb photographs are included too. Just about every
page tells a real-life tale of individual bravery and although
many gallantry awards were made, they were not relative to
the numerous acts of heroism shown and the exceptionally high
price paid.
It
is often though that a separate Bomber Command Medal should
have been awarded, sadly however this was not to be and therefore,
I cant think of a more fitting tribute to those brave young
men than this excellent book, in which their remarkable story
is now told. |
Book
Review by Michael D Booker
(August 2005)
A
LIFE IN SECRETS
Author: Sarah Helm
Publisher:
Little, Brown
An imprint of Time Warner Books UK
Brettenham House
Lancaster Place
London WC2E 7EN
ISBN:
0316724971
Published in 2005
UK Price: £20.00
This fascinating book tells
the intriguing story of Vera Atkins, a most remarkable woman,
who worked tirelessly behind the scenes in the S.O.E., both
during and immediately after the Second World War. She was
perhaps, one of the few people in this country and in that
clandestine organisation itself for that matter, who met just
about every one of the 400 S.O.E. agents sent to France in
those dark war years.
As well as being involved
in the initial recruitment process, Vera personally reviewed
their progress through the demanding training programme, before
eventually travelling with them to their point of departure
on the South coast of England, where before checking their
clothing and equipment, also provided their final briefings.
Sadly as we now know, many
of these brave men and women never returned to these shores,
however Vera , who as well as keeping a distant “eye”
on the activities of her charges whilst they were operating
in Nazi occupied Europe, was also in close contact with their
families at home and therefore, was not prepared to settle
until she knew their final fate.
As a result, in the post-war
years, she travelled extensively in Europe, often delving
deep into war crimes files, visiting concentration camps and
interviewing notorious Nazis (many of whom had been accused
of some of the most atrocious crimes against humanity imaginable),
with dogged determination, she left no stone unturned until
she obtained her answers, the files were eventually closed
and those responsible brought to justice.
It is thanks to the publication
of the splendid book (and film of the same name) “Charlotte
Grey” in recent years, that the courageous wartime exploits,
of a small but dedicated band of unique men and women, has
been brought to the public’s attention once again. I
am certain, that anyone who found the book and film interesting
will enjoy reading this excellent volume too. |
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Book
Review by Michael D Booker
(August 2005)
THE
SOMME
Author:
Peter Hart
Publisher:
Weidenfield & Nicholson
The Orion Publishing Group Ltd
Orion House
5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane
London WC2H 9EA
ISBN:
0139780 297 84705 8
Published
in 2005
UK
Price: £20.00
The
Battle of the Somme which commenced on 1st July 1916, is considered
by many, to be the infamous battle of the Great War, as over
60,000 British and Commonwealth troops were killed in one
day alone – resulting in the greatest ever loss sustained
in the entire history of the British Army.
Naturally
therefore, many excellent books have already been written
on this fascinating subject over the years, however this splendid
volume is very different, as the author (who is Oral Historian
at the Sound Archive at the Imperial War Museum), has carried
out a vast amount of original research and by using both official
as well as unofficial oral and written archive material and
Regimental histories , together with previously unpublished
personal memoirs, diaries and letters, he has cleverly woven
together many eye witness accounts of events on that fateful
day, to produce a most outstandingly well written book, that
sits well alongside existing important publications such as
Martin Middlebrooke’s “First Day of the Somme”
and Lyn Mac Donald’s “Somme”.
Amongst
the 500 plus pages of thought provoking text, the reader will
see, heart breaking, first hand accounts of what it was like
for the British soldier to crawl through the rough and treacherous
terrain of no man’s land, whilst facing the full might
of the German Army with their numerous and heavily manned
machine guns. They will learn of the numerous and most atrocious
injuries treated by the dedicated men and women of the Royal
Army Medical Corps and also appreciate what it was like for
the young and often inexperienced pilots of the Royal Flying
Corps, who fought so bravely to maintain control in the skys,
as the horrific battle raged beneath them. - The list of the
often unbelievable accounts covered in this volume, is endless!
When
the book first arrived, I noticed the excellent reviews from
Max Arthur, Gary Sheffield and Major General Julian Thompson
and thought when a book is endorsed by distinguished military
historians such as these, I thought it must be good –
and it certainly was! A thoroughly excellent read, backed
up by many excellent photographs, maps and diagrams, which
priced at just 20 pounds, represents excellent value for money.
I
can honestly assure you, that this is one book that anyone
with an interest in the Great War will not want to be without.
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Book
Review by Michael D Booker
(August 2005)
STALIN'S
FOLLY
Author:
Constantine Pleshakov
Publisher:
Weidenfield & Nicholson
The Orion Publishing Group Ltd
Orion House
5 Upper Saint Martin’s Lane
London WC2H 9EA
ISBN:
0 297 84695 7
Published in June 2005
UK Price: £20.00
Despite
being rather specialist in it’s nature, this recently
published book will appeal to military historians as well
as students of Russian history, as it tells the fascinating
story behind what could have been the true turning point of
the Second World War, when Hitler invaded Russia, in June
1941.
The
intriguing facts contained in this excellent volume will no
doubt, surprise the majority of readers, as it was not until
as recently as 1991, when secret Russian archive material
that included translated Politburo documents and secret police
files were released for the first time, did the outside world
learn, just how close Hitler actually came to winning the
war!
Russia
had of course prepared for a possible invasion, however Hitler’s
troops still took the Red Army by surprise, almost wiping
it out within ten days! Stalin has often been blamed for this,
as he fled the Kremlin in a state of panic, leaving others
to step in for him at this crucial time. The details of the
atrocities reputed to have been committed in his secret police
torture chambers, together with the fact he is also reported
to have massacred his own officers, to enable him to remain
in power fuelled this belief too.
The
author has drawn a wealth of information, from a wide range
of sources to enable him to produce this, what I, along with
many others, will consider to be a major contribution towards
the history of the Second World War.
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