Welcome to The Past in Review, a website devoted to book reviews in history, biography and sports. Your comments are welcome. David Lee Poremba
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"History is who we are and why we are the way we are." David McCullough |
"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill." Barbara Tuchman
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American Indian Wars
Solimine, Leo. Custer’s Bugler: The Life of John Martin (Giovanni Martino). Universal Publishers. Ill.; appendices; notes; bib.; 135p. ISBN: 978-1-6123-3084-3. $25.95. February, 2012.
One of the seminal events of the Plains Indian Wars of 1866-1890, was the Battle of the Little Big Horn, which saw the destruction of General George Armstrong Custer and some five companies of the U.S. Seventh Cavalry by the largest concentration of Native Americans ever seen on the continent to that date (1876).
Custer’s Last Stand has been the subject of many articles, books, films and documentaries, fomenting debate and argument over personalities, strategy and tactics, etc. There are heroes and villains galore in the ranks of the Seventh Cavalry and there have been a few biographies written about the men involved (excluding, of course, Custer himself, which is a cottage industry). One of the latest to appear is Custer’s Bugler, a very nicely researched story of the life of Trumpeter, later Sergeant John Martin, probably the last white man to see Custer alive.
Author Solimine has gone to great pains to assemble this story as Bugler Martin’s story begins in Italy as a foundling in May of 1852. Such cases can be extremely difficult to research and Solimine’s efforts are rewarded with the discovery of Martin’s real name, his service with Garibaldi’s army during Italy’s wars of unification and his emigration to the United States in 1873. Solimine treats his (Martin’s) Indian War service in a straightforward manner; Martin, acting as an orderly on that fateful day, carried the message from Custer to Captain Frederick Benteen, which ordered the ammunition packs forward. He describes Martin’s subsequent military career through to his retirement in 1904.
This is a nice, easy read, full and properly researched and therefore informative; a welcome addition to the literature of Custer’s Last Stand.
One of the seminal events of the Plains Indian Wars of 1866-1890, was the Battle of the Little Big Horn, which saw the destruction of General George Armstrong Custer and some five companies of the U.S. Seventh Cavalry by the largest concentration of Native Americans ever seen on the continent to that date (1876).
Custer’s Last Stand has been the subject of many articles, books, films and documentaries, fomenting debate and argument over personalities, strategy and tactics, etc. There are heroes and villains galore in the ranks of the Seventh Cavalry and there have been a few biographies written about the men involved (excluding, of course, Custer himself, which is a cottage industry). One of the latest to appear is Custer’s Bugler, a very nicely researched story of the life of Trumpeter, later Sergeant John Martin, probably the last white man to see Custer alive.
Author Solimine has gone to great pains to assemble this story as Bugler Martin’s story begins in Italy as a foundling in May of 1852. Such cases can be extremely difficult to research and Solimine’s efforts are rewarded with the discovery of Martin’s real name, his service with Garibaldi’s army during Italy’s wars of unification and his emigration to the United States in 1873. Solimine treats his (Martin’s) Indian War service in a straightforward manner; Martin, acting as an orderly on that fateful day, carried the message from Custer to Captain Frederick Benteen, which ordered the ammunition packs forward. He describes Martin’s subsequent military career through to his retirement in 1904.
This is a nice, easy read, full and properly researched and therefore informative; a welcome addition to the literature of Custer’s Last Stand.
Biography
Patton, Benjamin with Jennifer Scruby. Growing Up Patton: Reflections on Heroes, History and Family Wisdom. Berkley. Ill.; notes; index. 368p. ISBN: 978-0-4252-4351-0. $26.95. March, 2012.
When I was offered the opportunity to consider this book for review, I figuratively jumped at the chance, thinking I would finally learn some things about General Patton (the son), having briefly served under his command, in what seems like eons ago. I learned much more than that.
This is a book about the Patton family and their relationships with family, friends and even some enemies. The unpublished letters between the World War II general and his namesake son speak volumes of the familial side of “Old Blood and Guts”. Written in the middle of active campaigning in 1944 and 1945, they illustrate the fact that family is important to them and they need to aspire to live up to a certain standard that is somewhat different than anyone else’s. After the general’s premature death in December, 1945, the book picks up the career of the namesake and the astonishing number of friends and acquaintances that were positively affected by that fact. The rather controversial career of George Patton IV proves the fact that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.
That there are a number of women both inside and outside of the family that had made such a mark on their respective societies also speaks volumes of the relevance of this particular family and their impact on history.
The Patton in the byline of this book is the grandson of the four-star general and the son of the two-star general. He ahs never served in the military. By giving us new insights into this illustrious American family and doing so without embellishment, he has added significantly to the literature on American history and the Pattons.
When I was offered the opportunity to consider this book for review, I figuratively jumped at the chance, thinking I would finally learn some things about General Patton (the son), having briefly served under his command, in what seems like eons ago. I learned much more than that.
This is a book about the Patton family and their relationships with family, friends and even some enemies. The unpublished letters between the World War II general and his namesake son speak volumes of the familial side of “Old Blood and Guts”. Written in the middle of active campaigning in 1944 and 1945, they illustrate the fact that family is important to them and they need to aspire to live up to a certain standard that is somewhat different than anyone else’s. After the general’s premature death in December, 1945, the book picks up the career of the namesake and the astonishing number of friends and acquaintances that were positively affected by that fact. The rather controversial career of George Patton IV proves the fact that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.
That there are a number of women both inside and outside of the family that had made such a mark on their respective societies also speaks volumes of the relevance of this particular family and their impact on history.
The Patton in the byline of this book is the grandson of the four-star general and the son of the two-star general. He ahs never served in the military. By giving us new insights into this illustrious American family and doing so without embellishment, he has added significantly to the literature on American history and the Pattons.
Newspaper Woman
Negev, Eliat and Yehuda Koren. The First Lady of Fleet Street: The Life of Rachel Beer: Crusading Heiress and Newspaper Pioneer. Bantam. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 368p. ISBN: 978-0-5538-0743-1. $30.00. February, 2012.
It is wonderfully amazing how many previously unknown historical subjects there are and how many of these are coming to light, especially in book form. The First Lady of Fleet Street is an exemplary example of this, bringing back to prominence the life and career of Rachel Beer, a remarkable woman of Victorian era Britain who rose to a position of power and influence in a time when women were denied the right to vote and had little time or opportunity to acquire an adequate education.
Born in Bombay, India, Rachel always considered herself English yet never hid her Eastern empire roots. She was born a Sassoon, one of London, England’s more prominent Jewish immigrant families and married into another of the same family group types – the Beers, specifically newspaper owner Frederick Beer, sole beneficiary to his father’s immense wealth. Rachel, never one to stand idly by, used her husband’s position to take the editor’s position of two, not just one, of London’s oldest papers, the Sunday Times and The Observer. After that, she refused to limit herself or her ideas and beliefs; and she had several, including the belief that French Army officer Alfred Dreyfuss was innocent.
As much as her professional life was successful, her personal life was anything but. Her marriage succeeded in isolating her from her conservative family and her outspokenness isolated her from public life entirely. It is typical of the time period that she was eventually declared “deranged” and ultimately institutionalized.
Drawn from a wealth of previously unused primary sources, the authors have successfully illuminated an interesting time period and a woman who definitely made her own mark on it.
It is wonderfully amazing how many previously unknown historical subjects there are and how many of these are coming to light, especially in book form. The First Lady of Fleet Street is an exemplary example of this, bringing back to prominence the life and career of Rachel Beer, a remarkable woman of Victorian era Britain who rose to a position of power and influence in a time when women were denied the right to vote and had little time or opportunity to acquire an adequate education.
Born in Bombay, India, Rachel always considered herself English yet never hid her Eastern empire roots. She was born a Sassoon, one of London, England’s more prominent Jewish immigrant families and married into another of the same family group types – the Beers, specifically newspaper owner Frederick Beer, sole beneficiary to his father’s immense wealth. Rachel, never one to stand idly by, used her husband’s position to take the editor’s position of two, not just one, of London’s oldest papers, the Sunday Times and The Observer. After that, she refused to limit herself or her ideas and beliefs; and she had several, including the belief that French Army officer Alfred Dreyfuss was innocent.
As much as her professional life was successful, her personal life was anything but. Her marriage succeeded in isolating her from her conservative family and her outspokenness isolated her from public life entirely. It is typical of the time period that she was eventually declared “deranged” and ultimately institutionalized.
Drawn from a wealth of previously unused primary sources, the authors have successfully illuminated an interesting time period and a woman who definitely made her own mark on it.
Show Horse
Letts, Elizabeth. The Eighty-Dollar Champion: Snow man, the Horse That Inspired a Nation. Ballatine Books. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. IBSN: 978-0-3455-2108-8. $26.00 August, 2011.
There is “something” about a well written book about an animal, be it a dog, or, in this case, a horse, that makes it a classic to be read over and over again, maintaining a permanent spot on one’s bookshelves. That “something” must be the bottom line story of horse, human companion and their interaction and reaction to challenges and obstacles.
This is that “something” story about a horse, a Danish immigrant and their rise from the glue factory to the show-jumping winners circle at Madison Square Garden in late 1958. This horse, Snowball, rescued off the slaughter truck by trainer Harry de Leyer for the purchase price of $80.00 (which he could not afford), is put to work giving rides to children and balky beginners. On off times, the horse was found jumping over fences without a rider and the impossible rise of a former plow horse to show-jumping champion.
This is sure to become a classic to be read by all ages.
There is “something” about a well written book about an animal, be it a dog, or, in this case, a horse, that makes it a classic to be read over and over again, maintaining a permanent spot on one’s bookshelves. That “something” must be the bottom line story of horse, human companion and their interaction and reaction to challenges and obstacles.
This is that “something” story about a horse, a Danish immigrant and their rise from the glue factory to the show-jumping winners circle at Madison Square Garden in late 1958. This horse, Snowball, rescued off the slaughter truck by trainer Harry de Leyer for the purchase price of $80.00 (which he could not afford), is put to work giving rides to children and balky beginners. On off times, the horse was found jumping over fences without a rider and the impossible rise of a former plow horse to show-jumping champion.
This is sure to become a classic to be read by all ages.
Library History
Wiegand, Wayne A. Main Street Public Library: Community Places and Reading Spaces in the Rural Heartland, 1876-1956. University of Iowa Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 284p. ISBN: 978-1-6093-8067-0. $25.95 October, 2011
Professor Wiegand focuses on four small-town libraries in the Midwest – Sauk Center, Minnesota; Osage, Iowa; Rhinelander, Wisconsin; and, Lexington, Michigan, in this his latest offering in the history of libraries. He discusses the events surrounding the founding of each community library, how each one functioned and evolved over time, the staff of each, and the development of each library’s collection. This last leads to interesting analysis of what was being purchased and read and what was not being added to the collections. The results tend to go against the traditional perceptions of the role of the library in communities of this type. The ongoing battle to suppress certain types of literature by both national and local groups and the fiction versus nonfiction argument are reflective of the rise of pivotal issues in society, for example; unionism and socialism; women’s suffrage; and prohibition.
This is a wonderful addition to the literature of the history of libraries.
Professor Wiegand focuses on four small-town libraries in the Midwest – Sauk Center, Minnesota; Osage, Iowa; Rhinelander, Wisconsin; and, Lexington, Michigan, in this his latest offering in the history of libraries. He discusses the events surrounding the founding of each community library, how each one functioned and evolved over time, the staff of each, and the development of each library’s collection. This last leads to interesting analysis of what was being purchased and read and what was not being added to the collections. The results tend to go against the traditional perceptions of the role of the library in communities of this type. The ongoing battle to suppress certain types of literature by both national and local groups and the fiction versus nonfiction argument are reflective of the rise of pivotal issues in society, for example; unionism and socialism; women’s suffrage; and prohibition.
This is a wonderful addition to the literature of the history of libraries.
American Civil War
McKnight, Brian D. Confederate Outlaw: Champ Ferguson and the Civil War in Appalachia. Louisiana State University Press. Ill.; bib.; index. 288p. ISBN: 978-0-8071-3769-7. $34.95 April, 2011.
Guerilla warfare is one of the ugliest personifications of armed conflict and every conflict has had its share of this particularly brutal form, especially the American Civil War, which pitted divided families against each other to start with. Guerilla fighters during the Civil War were an especially feared breed and several have become infamous; perhaps none were more feared than the subject of this book, Champ Ferguson, who spread terror and spilled blood throughout the Appalachian area of Kentucky and Tennessee until he finally found himself at the end of a rope in the fall of 1865, convicted in 23 cases involving 53 murders.
McKnight’s biography begins by delving into the literature of guerilla warfare and Ferguson’s place in it. He discusses the situation in the Appalachian region, with its paranoia and its definition of loyalty, portraying Ferguson as a product of his time and place. His description of Ferguson’s crimes is especially graphic and is related thusly in order to present the murderer as the type of man he was. Finally, he finishes up by accurately separating fact from fiction in Ferguson’s savagely led life.
Meticulously researched, Confederate Outlaw paints a stunning picture of how the war reached beyond the battlefield in its spread of devastation when personal feuds and grudges escalated into wanton butchery. This should be standard reading for all those interested in the calumny of war.
Guerilla warfare is one of the ugliest personifications of armed conflict and every conflict has had its share of this particularly brutal form, especially the American Civil War, which pitted divided families against each other to start with. Guerilla fighters during the Civil War were an especially feared breed and several have become infamous; perhaps none were more feared than the subject of this book, Champ Ferguson, who spread terror and spilled blood throughout the Appalachian area of Kentucky and Tennessee until he finally found himself at the end of a rope in the fall of 1865, convicted in 23 cases involving 53 murders.
McKnight’s biography begins by delving into the literature of guerilla warfare and Ferguson’s place in it. He discusses the situation in the Appalachian region, with its paranoia and its definition of loyalty, portraying Ferguson as a product of his time and place. His description of Ferguson’s crimes is especially graphic and is related thusly in order to present the murderer as the type of man he was. Finally, he finishes up by accurately separating fact from fiction in Ferguson’s savagely led life.
Meticulously researched, Confederate Outlaw paints a stunning picture of how the war reached beyond the battlefield in its spread of devastation when personal feuds and grudges escalated into wanton butchery. This should be standard reading for all those interested in the calumny of war.
American Civil War
Marvel, William. Tarnished Victory: Finishing Lincoln’s War. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 512p. ISBN: 978-0-5474-2806-2. $35.00 November, 2011.
This is the fourth and final volume in William Marvel’s revisionist history of the American Civil War. Each of these books covers a thirteen month period of the war; this volume begins with Ulysses Grant’s appointment as commander of all the Union armies and ends with the Grand Review of the triumphant Union armies in Washington, D.C., in May, 1865. There is a well-written Epilogue that takes a brief look at Reconstruction and its failure – thus the tarnished victory.
As is the case with his previous volumes in this series, Marvel’s focus is on the North and he takes a very negative view of the prosecution of the war to its final, bloody conclusion. He is not hesitant to point out mistakes made, including President Lincoln’s. one of his criticisms is that Lincoln began the war thinking that it would be of short duration; he did not realize the great cost in blood and suffering the war would entail.
Marvel offers up an exceptional military account of the last year of the war, emphasizing the lesser known actions, many of which were extremely bloody and oftentimes perpetrated by mistakes made by the generals. He also includes the political, social and economic aspects of the conflict. He discusses the widespread dissatisfaction with the progress of the war, the opposition to the draft and military service in general, the distinct possibility of George McClellan winning the election in 1864, the brutality of Grant’s and Sherman’s campaigns and the abuses occurring in the prisoner of war camps..
Marvels’ control of the literature of the war is evident and he uses many contemporary sources to point out the extensive was weariness of the North. This is definitely a very different picture of the Civil War than we’re used to, and should be read by all.
This is the fourth and final volume in William Marvel’s revisionist history of the American Civil War. Each of these books covers a thirteen month period of the war; this volume begins with Ulysses Grant’s appointment as commander of all the Union armies and ends with the Grand Review of the triumphant Union armies in Washington, D.C., in May, 1865. There is a well-written Epilogue that takes a brief look at Reconstruction and its failure – thus the tarnished victory.
As is the case with his previous volumes in this series, Marvel’s focus is on the North and he takes a very negative view of the prosecution of the war to its final, bloody conclusion. He is not hesitant to point out mistakes made, including President Lincoln’s. one of his criticisms is that Lincoln began the war thinking that it would be of short duration; he did not realize the great cost in blood and suffering the war would entail.
Marvel offers up an exceptional military account of the last year of the war, emphasizing the lesser known actions, many of which were extremely bloody and oftentimes perpetrated by mistakes made by the generals. He also includes the political, social and economic aspects of the conflict. He discusses the widespread dissatisfaction with the progress of the war, the opposition to the draft and military service in general, the distinct possibility of George McClellan winning the election in 1864, the brutality of Grant’s and Sherman’s campaigns and the abuses occurring in the prisoner of war camps..
Marvels’ control of the literature of the war is evident and he uses many contemporary sources to point out the extensive was weariness of the North. This is definitely a very different picture of the Civil War than we’re used to, and should be read by all.
English Monarchy
Smith, Sally Bedell. Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch. Random House. 688p. ISBN: 978-1-400-6789-3. $30.00 January, 2012.
On a list of remarkable things (which grows longer the longer one lives), is the fact that 2012 represents the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign – her Diamond Jubilee. It is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes of her perseverance, stability and resources. Elizabeth has always been the living symbol of not only the monarchy but of England itself. But who is the person behind the symbol? Who is she who is, perhaps, the world’s most famous woman?
Elizabeth the Queen is the fascinating story of a remarkable woman and, to a lesser extent, the House of Windsor. Sally Smith presents a detailed, well-thought, balanced portrait of the Queen and her life story. With just enough detail to give us a glimpse of the young daughter of King George VI, Smith focuses on her from 1952 and her ascension to the throne to the present day and the preparation for the Jubilee. In between is a plethora of details and observations form those in actual contact with Her Majesty and her entourage, as well as Smith’s own research.
For those interested in reading about the current English monarchy, this an excellent place to begin.
On a list of remarkable things (which grows longer the longer one lives), is the fact that 2012 represents the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign – her Diamond Jubilee. It is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes of her perseverance, stability and resources. Elizabeth has always been the living symbol of not only the monarchy but of England itself. But who is the person behind the symbol? Who is she who is, perhaps, the world’s most famous woman?
Elizabeth the Queen is the fascinating story of a remarkable woman and, to a lesser extent, the House of Windsor. Sally Smith presents a detailed, well-thought, balanced portrait of the Queen and her life story. With just enough detail to give us a glimpse of the young daughter of King George VI, Smith focuses on her from 1952 and her ascension to the throne to the present day and the preparation for the Jubilee. In between is a plethora of details and observations form those in actual contact with Her Majesty and her entourage, as well as Smith’s own research.
For those interested in reading about the current English monarchy, this an excellent place to begin.
British Colonialism
Kwarteng, Kwasi. Ghosts of Empire: Britain’s Legacies in the Modern World. Public Affairs. Maps; ill.; notes; bib.; index. 480p. ISBN: 978-1-6103-9120-7. $29.99 February, 2012.
It is rather distracting to see British politicians genuinely contribute to scholarship, while their American counterparts, for the most part, couldn’t find two coherent sentences if they cut them out of a magazine. Here, economic history scholar and member of Parliament, Kwasi Kwarteng has written an engaging story of the history and lingering effects of British imperialism in six regions of the world: Iraq, Kashmir, Burma, Sudan, Nigeria and Hong Kong. All six regions are still never too far from today’s front pages.
Kwarteng has written a well-balanced story filled with colorful characters some, such as Lord Kitchener, General Charles Gordon and Lawrence of Arabia, and others, such as Lord Lugard of Nigeria, Sir Henry Dobbs of Iraq and Sir Anthony Grantham, not so much. These men, and in some cases, their equally situated wives, set out at a relatively young age (20’s – 30’s), to rule over vast areas of the planet with little or no training but a firm belief in their right to rule and a lot of common sense. The results were, for the most part, disappointing. The policy making was haphazard; these men often found themselves in the middle of religious and political miasmas. Policy favored the British, not their foreign subjects. But rather than being run by the definitely worse-run French, German or Spanish empires, things generally worked out for the good.
With parallels to America’s position in the world today, this book should be read by all those who are paying attention.
It is rather distracting to see British politicians genuinely contribute to scholarship, while their American counterparts, for the most part, couldn’t find two coherent sentences if they cut them out of a magazine. Here, economic history scholar and member of Parliament, Kwasi Kwarteng has written an engaging story of the history and lingering effects of British imperialism in six regions of the world: Iraq, Kashmir, Burma, Sudan, Nigeria and Hong Kong. All six regions are still never too far from today’s front pages.
Kwarteng has written a well-balanced story filled with colorful characters some, such as Lord Kitchener, General Charles Gordon and Lawrence of Arabia, and others, such as Lord Lugard of Nigeria, Sir Henry Dobbs of Iraq and Sir Anthony Grantham, not so much. These men, and in some cases, their equally situated wives, set out at a relatively young age (20’s – 30’s), to rule over vast areas of the planet with little or no training but a firm belief in their right to rule and a lot of common sense. The results were, for the most part, disappointing. The policy making was haphazard; these men often found themselves in the middle of religious and political miasmas. Policy favored the British, not their foreign subjects. But rather than being run by the definitely worse-run French, German or Spanish empires, things generally worked out for the good.
With parallels to America’s position in the world today, this book should be read by all those who are paying attention.
American Wars
Hamner, Christopher H. Enduring Battle: American Soldiers in Three Wars, 1776-1945. University of Press of Kansas. Notes; bib.; index; 294p. ISBN: 978-0-7006-1775-3. $29.95 April, 2011.
One of the eternal questions that leads one to a lifetime study of warfare is: what motivates free-thinking humans (mostly men) to take up arms against others of the species in an effort to subject or annihilate them? Despite the intense mental and physical pressures involved in armed conflict, what makes soldiers want to risk their lives in battle? This has been the subject of a number of books over the years and the latest, by Christopher Hamner, takes a long look at American soldiers’ fears and motivations through three wars: the American Revolution, the Civil War and World War II.
In Enduring Battle, Hamner focuses on the individual infantry soldier instead of “band of brothers” groups, examining not only their experiences but their social organization as well. The evolution of infantry combat from mass formations fighting a visible enemy and soldiers in relative comfort side by side to a less crowded battlefield with troops dispersed either singly or in pairs in much less comfortable foxholes out of sight of each other. The important element of visual comradeship is lessened in this combat environment and increases the fear factor, which is a continuum throughout the book. More visibility increases the chances of troops staying in the fight while modern weaponry dictates less visibility/vulnerability and survival on the battlefield. It is quite a dilemma and still a concern on the modern battlefield.
Hamner’s book is highly recommended to students of warfare and those who practice the art.
One of the eternal questions that leads one to a lifetime study of warfare is: what motivates free-thinking humans (mostly men) to take up arms against others of the species in an effort to subject or annihilate them? Despite the intense mental and physical pressures involved in armed conflict, what makes soldiers want to risk their lives in battle? This has been the subject of a number of books over the years and the latest, by Christopher Hamner, takes a long look at American soldiers’ fears and motivations through three wars: the American Revolution, the Civil War and World War II.
In Enduring Battle, Hamner focuses on the individual infantry soldier instead of “band of brothers” groups, examining not only their experiences but their social organization as well. The evolution of infantry combat from mass formations fighting a visible enemy and soldiers in relative comfort side by side to a less crowded battlefield with troops dispersed either singly or in pairs in much less comfortable foxholes out of sight of each other. The important element of visual comradeship is lessened in this combat environment and increases the fear factor, which is a continuum throughout the book. More visibility increases the chances of troops staying in the fight while modern weaponry dictates less visibility/vulnerability and survival on the battlefield. It is quite a dilemma and still a concern on the modern battlefield.
Hamner’s book is highly recommended to students of warfare and those who practice the art.
French History
Falkner, James. Marshall Vauban and the Defense of Louis XIV’s France. Pen and Sword Books. Ill.; appendices; notes; bib.; index. 256p. ISBN: 978-1-8441-5927-7. $49.95 July, 2011.
One of the greatest military engineers of all time was Sebastien Le Pestre, Marshall Vauban, whose fortifications are still extant in such French cities as Mons, Lille and Cambrai, despite the determined efforts of belligerent nations at war with France since the seventeenth century and French city planners themselves.
Born in Burgundy on May 1, 1633 and well educated at a Carmelite college, Vauban joined the Regiment de Condé in 1652, hoping to make his fortune with his sword. He would serve his king for the next fifty-two years. He began his military career as a cavalryman, brave and dashing, while also observing the art of his craft; namely, fortifications and their use in offensive and defensive operations. He learned to view these structures of brick and stone from a different perspective than others engineers. He could spot flaws in the angles and proportions of the defensive works that were in front of him. Vauban also worked to perfect a method of attacking fortifications effectively and at the least cost in blood and treasure.
As Louis XIV expended French territory throughout the latter half of the seventeenth century, it became Vauban’s job to establish a defensive system to protect the country. On a hectic schedule, he inspected existing structures and designed others. The effort wore him out mentally and physically.
Falkner’s expertise in seventeenth and eighteenth century warfare is evident in the details and easy flow of the narrative. He ably blends Vauban’s life and contributions with a general discussion of siege warfare during this time period. Vauban’s influence on the history of warfare is enduring and this book is an excellent starting point for those with an interest in this period.
One of the greatest military engineers of all time was Sebastien Le Pestre, Marshall Vauban, whose fortifications are still extant in such French cities as Mons, Lille and Cambrai, despite the determined efforts of belligerent nations at war with France since the seventeenth century and French city planners themselves.
Born in Burgundy on May 1, 1633 and well educated at a Carmelite college, Vauban joined the Regiment de Condé in 1652, hoping to make his fortune with his sword. He would serve his king for the next fifty-two years. He began his military career as a cavalryman, brave and dashing, while also observing the art of his craft; namely, fortifications and their use in offensive and defensive operations. He learned to view these structures of brick and stone from a different perspective than others engineers. He could spot flaws in the angles and proportions of the defensive works that were in front of him. Vauban also worked to perfect a method of attacking fortifications effectively and at the least cost in blood and treasure.
As Louis XIV expended French territory throughout the latter half of the seventeenth century, it became Vauban’s job to establish a defensive system to protect the country. On a hectic schedule, he inspected existing structures and designed others. The effort wore him out mentally and physically.
Falkner’s expertise in seventeenth and eighteenth century warfare is evident in the details and easy flow of the narrative. He ably blends Vauban’s life and contributions with a general discussion of siege warfare during this time period. Vauban’s influence on the history of warfare is enduring and this book is an excellent starting point for those with an interest in this period.
World War II
Caddick-Adams, Peter. Monty and Rommel: Parallel Lives. Overlook Press. Maps; ill.; notes; bib.; chronology; index. 640p. ISBN: 978-1-5902-0725-4. $35.00. February, 2012.
Throughout military history, there are lists of good commanders and bad commanders; those that knew their craft and those that didn’t. Among these lists is the list of World War II combat leaders and two of the best known and most studied, are Field Marshals Bernard Law Montgomery of England and Erwin Rommel of Germany.
Bringing two major personalities together in a comparative biography can have its pitfalls. Some turn out to be nothing more than a list of coincidences with very little depth or actual comparisons. That is not the case with Monty and Rommel. Carrick-Adams, himself a thirty-year veteran of the British Army, a historian and battlefield guide proves to be in complete control of the material, providing analysis and great depth of detail to his two subjects. This material is copious but so well presented as to be quite digestible.
The commonalities with these two soldiers are somewhat astonishing. Both came from the same type of family background, neither of which were military; both has similar experiences in the First World War (frontline duty and serious wounds); and both had divisional commands at the beginning of World War II. Even their personalities were similar. They shared an interest in their soldiers’ welfare and both could be extremely difficult to deal with.
It is a rare occasion when a book successfully transcends one or more genres. Here we have a comparative historical biography that also serves as a first rate military history. The author also interweaves links with modern military doctrine, making Monty and Rommel a must have book for the professional as well as the interested reader.
Throughout military history, there are lists of good commanders and bad commanders; those that knew their craft and those that didn’t. Among these lists is the list of World War II combat leaders and two of the best known and most studied, are Field Marshals Bernard Law Montgomery of England and Erwin Rommel of Germany.
Bringing two major personalities together in a comparative biography can have its pitfalls. Some turn out to be nothing more than a list of coincidences with very little depth or actual comparisons. That is not the case with Monty and Rommel. Carrick-Adams, himself a thirty-year veteran of the British Army, a historian and battlefield guide proves to be in complete control of the material, providing analysis and great depth of detail to his two subjects. This material is copious but so well presented as to be quite digestible.
The commonalities with these two soldiers are somewhat astonishing. Both came from the same type of family background, neither of which were military; both has similar experiences in the First World War (frontline duty and serious wounds); and both had divisional commands at the beginning of World War II. Even their personalities were similar. They shared an interest in their soldiers’ welfare and both could be extremely difficult to deal with.
It is a rare occasion when a book successfully transcends one or more genres. Here we have a comparative historical biography that also serves as a first rate military history. The author also interweaves links with modern military doctrine, making Monty and Rommel a must have book for the professional as well as the interested reader.
German History
Kelly, Patrick J. Tirpitz and the Imperial German Navy. Indiana University Press. Ill.; maps; appendix; notes; bib.; index. 592p. ISBN: 978-0-2533-5593-5. $45.00 April, 2011.
Anyone with an interest in German history, especially its navy during the Second Reich, could do no worse than to start here, with the first major biography in English of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. This career naval officer was responsible for the making of the Imperial German Navy of 1914, rivaling Great Britain in the race to control the high seas – the first great arms race of the twentieth century.
Kelly begins with a short family history, then launches into Tirpitz’s professional career, describing his various postings and initial taste of combat during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. His assignment to the Torpedo Arm in the late 1870’s placed him on the fast career track. With good timing and fortune, Tirpitz came to the attention of and impressed several senior officers. Two in particular would play important parts in his rise to high rank and power; Chief of the Admiralty Count Leo von Caprivi and Albrecht von Stosch. By the 1890’s, Tirpitz was Chief of Staff of the Naval High Command and had added politics to his growing resume. He would remain at this post until 1916, when, unsuited for an active command after so many years behind a desk, he fell out of favor and resigned. He had completed his life’s work of providing Germany with a modern fleet, unfortunately, to no avail.
Although this is a scholarly biography, it is in everyway quite readable. Backed by solid research, using untapped and newly available documents and family letters, Kelly has produced a clear picture of one of the major causes of World War I.
Anyone with an interest in German history, especially its navy during the Second Reich, could do no worse than to start here, with the first major biography in English of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. This career naval officer was responsible for the making of the Imperial German Navy of 1914, rivaling Great Britain in the race to control the high seas – the first great arms race of the twentieth century.
Kelly begins with a short family history, then launches into Tirpitz’s professional career, describing his various postings and initial taste of combat during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. His assignment to the Torpedo Arm in the late 1870’s placed him on the fast career track. With good timing and fortune, Tirpitz came to the attention of and impressed several senior officers. Two in particular would play important parts in his rise to high rank and power; Chief of the Admiralty Count Leo von Caprivi and Albrecht von Stosch. By the 1890’s, Tirpitz was Chief of Staff of the Naval High Command and had added politics to his growing resume. He would remain at this post until 1916, when, unsuited for an active command after so many years behind a desk, he fell out of favor and resigned. He had completed his life’s work of providing Germany with a modern fleet, unfortunately, to no avail.
Although this is a scholarly biography, it is in everyway quite readable. Backed by solid research, using untapped and newly available documents and family letters, Kelly has produced a clear picture of one of the major causes of World War I.
Vietnamese War
McKenna, Thomas P. Kontum: The Battle to Save South Vietnam. University Press of Kentucky. Maps; ill.; notes; bib.; index. 376p. ISBN: 978-0-8131-3398-0. $34.95 September, 2011.
After almost two decades of involvement in Vietnam, the United States had tired of the war it didn’t know how to win and was in the process of withdrawing its combat troops in early 1972, when the war drastically changed. North Vietnam decided to finally escalate the conflict from a guerrilla war to a conventional one. During the last two weeks in May of that year, three NVA Divisions invaded the Central Highlands with the objective of taking the city of Kontum and destroying the single South Vietnamese division there along with their American advisors.
One of those advisors was the author, who, as a lieutenant-colonel, took part in the Battle of Kontum. A North Vietnamese victory here would cut South Vietnam in half and result in its ultimate defeat. A victory for the South would renew the hope of an independent South Vietnam after the U.S. presence was gone for good.
There has been more than one book written on the Easter Offensive of 1972 but none have focused on the battle of Kontum. McKenna combines solid research and first-person interviews with his own experiences there to produce an informative book that should serve as a “how not to” for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kontum was a victory for the South Vietnamese, especially the 23rd Division, who occupied Kontum and never gave it up. This was a victory against constant artillery, rocket and mortar fire as well as repeated NVA assaults supported by numerous armor assets.
A prime example of the will to win.
After almost two decades of involvement in Vietnam, the United States had tired of the war it didn’t know how to win and was in the process of withdrawing its combat troops in early 1972, when the war drastically changed. North Vietnam decided to finally escalate the conflict from a guerrilla war to a conventional one. During the last two weeks in May of that year, three NVA Divisions invaded the Central Highlands with the objective of taking the city of Kontum and destroying the single South Vietnamese division there along with their American advisors.
One of those advisors was the author, who, as a lieutenant-colonel, took part in the Battle of Kontum. A North Vietnamese victory here would cut South Vietnam in half and result in its ultimate defeat. A victory for the South would renew the hope of an independent South Vietnam after the U.S. presence was gone for good.
There has been more than one book written on the Easter Offensive of 1972 but none have focused on the battle of Kontum. McKenna combines solid research and first-person interviews with his own experiences there to produce an informative book that should serve as a “how not to” for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kontum was a victory for the South Vietnamese, especially the 23rd Division, who occupied Kontum and never gave it up. This was a victory against constant artillery, rocket and mortar fire as well as repeated NVA assaults supported by numerous armor assets.
A prime example of the will to win.
World War II in the Pacific
Carlson, Elliot. Joe Rochefort’s War: The Odyssey of the Code Breaker Who Outwitted Yamamoto at Midway. United States Naval Institute Press. Maps; ill.; notes; glossary; appendices; bib.; index. 624p. ISBN: 978-1-6125-1060-1. $36.95 October, 2011.
Most readers of the history of the Second World War in the Pacific are quite familiar with its timeline and most of its subject areas, with the possible exception of naval intelligence and code breaking. That there was a Pacific Theater of Operations equivalent to ULTRA in the European Theater is not so well known outside of specialist circles.
Jos Rochefort’s War is the first biography of the officer responsible for making victory possible for U.S. forces at Midway in June, 1942. Commander Joe Rochefort, a maverick officer, stubborn, tactless and a “mustang” (former enlisted man) to boot, was in charge of Station Hypo, the navy’s secret cryptanalysis group at Pearl Harbor. He led a team of code breakers, as brilliant as he was (and just as crazy), who were successful in being able to read the Japanese Navy’s principle operational code (JN-25).
Carlson’s book is just as much a history of United States Navy code breaking as it is the life story of Rochefort. Born in 1900, he enlisted in the Navy in 1918; he gained his commission through examination in late 1922. Selected for training in advanced cryptanalysis, he reported for duty in Washington, D.C. in 1925 and was soon the head of the Navy’s code breaking desk. His career during the 1930’s reminds one of an adventure-filled novel and as the chief aide to the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Fleet, he was certainly able to have “fun” until his return to cryptanalysis in mid-1941.
Rochefort’s success at Midway should have seen him to the heights of his career but naval politics proved his undoing. Shown to be the idiots they were, his “superiors” has him demoted and transferred to floating dry-dock construction, which he was so successful at, that he made his way back into code breaking in 1944.
This is an excellent read and study of the class-ridden, political World War II United States Navy.
Most readers of the history of the Second World War in the Pacific are quite familiar with its timeline and most of its subject areas, with the possible exception of naval intelligence and code breaking. That there was a Pacific Theater of Operations equivalent to ULTRA in the European Theater is not so well known outside of specialist circles.
Jos Rochefort’s War is the first biography of the officer responsible for making victory possible for U.S. forces at Midway in June, 1942. Commander Joe Rochefort, a maverick officer, stubborn, tactless and a “mustang” (former enlisted man) to boot, was in charge of Station Hypo, the navy’s secret cryptanalysis group at Pearl Harbor. He led a team of code breakers, as brilliant as he was (and just as crazy), who were successful in being able to read the Japanese Navy’s principle operational code (JN-25).
Carlson’s book is just as much a history of United States Navy code breaking as it is the life story of Rochefort. Born in 1900, he enlisted in the Navy in 1918; he gained his commission through examination in late 1922. Selected for training in advanced cryptanalysis, he reported for duty in Washington, D.C. in 1925 and was soon the head of the Navy’s code breaking desk. His career during the 1930’s reminds one of an adventure-filled novel and as the chief aide to the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Fleet, he was certainly able to have “fun” until his return to cryptanalysis in mid-1941.
Rochefort’s success at Midway should have seen him to the heights of his career but naval politics proved his undoing. Shown to be the idiots they were, his “superiors” has him demoted and transferred to floating dry-dock construction, which he was so successful at, that he made his way back into code breaking in 1944.
This is an excellent read and study of the class-ridden, political World War II United States Navy.
World War II
Clark, Lloyd. The Battle of the Tanks: Kursk, 1943. Atlantic Monthly Press. 496p. ISBN: 978-0-8021-1908-7. $30.00 November, 2011.
Two million men, six thousand tanks, thirty-five thousand artillery pieces and over five thousand aircraft got together in early July, 1943 in an attempt to annihilate each other. The Russian steppe would be a big enough space for these men to convene, and the battle of Kursk (the nearest Russian town) has gone down in the history books as the greatest land battle in history. Just imagine the noise.
Lloyd Clark, one of Great Britain’s leading military historians has taken on Kursk and presents an informative overview of the events leading up to the campaign, beginning with the rise to power of the two respective dictators following the Armistice in 1918, through the first years of the war in the Eats, from Barbarossa in 1941 to Kharkov in 1943 and the buildup to Kursk. After having digested all of that does one get to the battle of the tanks.
Yet the story is well told; the level of research is evident; archival sources and participant interviews are blended in with professional analysis of the campaign. The perspective of military and civilian participants and eyewitnesses make this book well worth the read.
Two million men, six thousand tanks, thirty-five thousand artillery pieces and over five thousand aircraft got together in early July, 1943 in an attempt to annihilate each other. The Russian steppe would be a big enough space for these men to convene, and the battle of Kursk (the nearest Russian town) has gone down in the history books as the greatest land battle in history. Just imagine the noise.
Lloyd Clark, one of Great Britain’s leading military historians has taken on Kursk and presents an informative overview of the events leading up to the campaign, beginning with the rise to power of the two respective dictators following the Armistice in 1918, through the first years of the war in the Eats, from Barbarossa in 1941 to Kharkov in 1943 and the buildup to Kursk. After having digested all of that does one get to the battle of the tanks.
Yet the story is well told; the level of research is evident; archival sources and participant interviews are blended in with professional analysis of the campaign. The perspective of military and civilian participants and eyewitnesses make this book well worth the read.
World War II
King, David. Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris. Crown. 432p. ISBN: 978-0-3014-5289-1. $26.00 September, 2011.
We don’t often hear of too many serial killers who really existed, referring in this case to the “historical” rather than “recent”, so it is surprising to come upon Dr. Marcel Petiot, a heartless killer who plied his gristly trade in World War II Paris, France. Petiot tortured, killed, dismembered and burned his victims in a building that he owned located in the middle of the city. The police were finally called (by the neighbors), after the stench of burning bodies grew too strong to ignore. What the police discovered there became front page news.
Enter Police Commissaire Georges-Victor Massu, a dedicated homicide cop (to put it in modern parlance), who would lead the investigation into the murders and the search for Dr. Petiot, who conveniently disappeared after observing the initial discoveries. It wasn’t until well after the liberation of Paris by Allied forces that he was recognized and arrested.
Petiot, born in 1897, was diagnosed with mental illness in 1914. Nevertheless, he volunteered and served in the French Army in 1916 and was gassed and wounded that year. He learned the medical profession in an accelerated course for veterans in 1921 and began a career in medicine and politics shortly thereafter. His dual careers were quite checkered (he was crazy, remember?), and his string of murders were successfully hidden amid the chaos of Nazi controlled Paris.
Petiot was charged with twenty-six murders – his total number of victims was estimated at between one hundred and one hundred and fifty. He was convicted and beheaded.
Mr. King has given us a well-researched and well-written account of a formerly unknown sociopath.
We don’t often hear of too many serial killers who really existed, referring in this case to the “historical” rather than “recent”, so it is surprising to come upon Dr. Marcel Petiot, a heartless killer who plied his gristly trade in World War II Paris, France. Petiot tortured, killed, dismembered and burned his victims in a building that he owned located in the middle of the city. The police were finally called (by the neighbors), after the stench of burning bodies grew too strong to ignore. What the police discovered there became front page news.
Enter Police Commissaire Georges-Victor Massu, a dedicated homicide cop (to put it in modern parlance), who would lead the investigation into the murders and the search for Dr. Petiot, who conveniently disappeared after observing the initial discoveries. It wasn’t until well after the liberation of Paris by Allied forces that he was recognized and arrested.
Petiot, born in 1897, was diagnosed with mental illness in 1914. Nevertheless, he volunteered and served in the French Army in 1916 and was gassed and wounded that year. He learned the medical profession in an accelerated course for veterans in 1921 and began a career in medicine and politics shortly thereafter. His dual careers were quite checkered (he was crazy, remember?), and his string of murders were successfully hidden amid the chaos of Nazi controlled Paris.
Petiot was charged with twenty-six murders – his total number of victims was estimated at between one hundred and one hundred and fifty. He was convicted and beheaded.
Mr. King has given us a well-researched and well-written account of a formerly unknown sociopath.
War of 1812
Hickey, Donald R. & Connie D. Clark The Rocket’s Red Glare: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812. Johns Hopkins University Press. Ill.; chronology; notes; bib.; index. 264p. ISBN: 978-1-4214-0155-3. $39.95 October, 2011
Profusely illustrated with portraits, maps, contemporary drawings, newspaper woodcuts and a center section in full color, The Rocket’s Red Glare gives us a chronological account of the “late war with Britain”, beginning in 1793 and ending with the Battle of New Orleans in early 1815. a final chapter on the legacies of the war places events in their proper context on a global level. It also discusses the common legacies that have come down to us such as the nickname of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), and the origins of The Star-Spangled Banner and its evolution into the country’s national anthem.
Each chapter is subdivided into themes and events occurring within the time frame of the chapter, making for easy reference on any given subject concerning the conflict.
Well narrated and researched, this coffee table-sized book will be a welcome addition to the celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Profusely illustrated with portraits, maps, contemporary drawings, newspaper woodcuts and a center section in full color, The Rocket’s Red Glare gives us a chronological account of the “late war with Britain”, beginning in 1793 and ending with the Battle of New Orleans in early 1815. a final chapter on the legacies of the war places events in their proper context on a global level. It also discusses the common legacies that have come down to us such as the nickname of the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), and the origins of The Star-Spangled Banner and its evolution into the country’s national anthem.
Each chapter is subdivided into themes and events occurring within the time frame of the chapter, making for easy reference on any given subject concerning the conflict.
Well narrated and researched, this coffee table-sized book will be a welcome addition to the celebration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
Theodore Roosevelt
Marschall, Rick. Bully! The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt: Illustrated With More Than 250 Vintage Political Cartoons. Regnery. Ill.; bib.; notes; index. 440p. ISBN: 978-1-5969-8154-6. $32.00 October, 2011.
I have read many books about Theodore Roosevelt, a man who, among many, many other things, was a caricaturist’s dream come true. The man’s image, vitality and mannerisms were vastly different from anyone else they had seen in the political arena, not to mention the Oval Office itself. They cried out for cartooning and those men who practiced the cartoonists’ trade in those days did not hesitate to start sketching. Bully! Brings together in one book vintage political cartoons, many that haven’t been seen for decades, if ever, by TR specialists and the general reader.
There are hundreds of them scattered throughout the text, plus a full-color cartoon portfolio at the end of each chapter but the first. The text itself is arranged chronologically, each chapter entitled with the beginning and ending years covered within that chapter. This makes foe easy access to a specific aspect of Roosevelt’s life and invites the reader to return to whichever section for another perusal. Issues that faced TR, such as government corruption, conservation, foreign affairs, labor and unionism, women’s rights and Wall Street greed are still relevant today. The reader will see how a real leader dealt with those same issues that we face today.
This book is not just for Roosevelt admirers but for anyone with an interest in history, art and the beginning of the American Century. It is the life story of a fantastic character, well and warmly told.
I have read many books about Theodore Roosevelt, a man who, among many, many other things, was a caricaturist’s dream come true. The man’s image, vitality and mannerisms were vastly different from anyone else they had seen in the political arena, not to mention the Oval Office itself. They cried out for cartooning and those men who practiced the cartoonists’ trade in those days did not hesitate to start sketching. Bully! Brings together in one book vintage political cartoons, many that haven’t been seen for decades, if ever, by TR specialists and the general reader.
There are hundreds of them scattered throughout the text, plus a full-color cartoon portfolio at the end of each chapter but the first. The text itself is arranged chronologically, each chapter entitled with the beginning and ending years covered within that chapter. This makes foe easy access to a specific aspect of Roosevelt’s life and invites the reader to return to whichever section for another perusal. Issues that faced TR, such as government corruption, conservation, foreign affairs, labor and unionism, women’s rights and Wall Street greed are still relevant today. The reader will see how a real leader dealt with those same issues that we face today.
This book is not just for Roosevelt admirers but for anyone with an interest in history, art and the beginning of the American Century. It is the life story of a fantastic character, well and warmly told.
Firearms History
Barrett, Paul M. Glock: The Rise of America’s Gun. Crown. 304p. ISBN: 978-0-3077-1993-5. $26.00 January, 2012.
Whether one is a gun fighter or not, one should always be on the look out for books that are relevant and informative. As the United States and, to a lesser extent other countries outside of China, has an ever-growing population of gun owners, legal or otherwise, a book about the most popular handgun in the world should be both. And Glock fills the bill as a relevant and informative book about an unknown Austrian knife and bayonet maker, Gaston Glock, whose other job was managing an automobile radiator factory just outside of Vienna.
Glock knew next to nothing about firearms and begged a chance to compete for a contract to supply the Austrian Army with a new sidearm. The Austrian defense minister agreed and Glock was off and running. Having never made a gun before, he was free from preconceptions, bias and prejudices in pistol manufacturing and came up with the Glock 17, his 17th invention. The frame of this nine millimeter handgun was made of industrial plastic, making it lighter and practically indestructible (but not invisible to x-ray machines), more than the conventional all-steel guns used by everybody else. In early November, 1982, Glock was told that his pistol had won the contract, besting other makers such as Sig Sauer, Beretta, Steyr and Heckler & Koch. Now, all that Glock had to do was sell it.
Continuing to be in the right place at the right time, Glock met Karl Walter, an Austrian expatriate who sold firearms out of his motor home while traveling in the United States. Walter just happened to be on a return visit to Austria, where he saw one of Glock’s ugly pistols in a gun shop. Meeting with Glock, Walter proposed marketing the gun in America.
Shrewd marketing, including Gold Club strippers and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, convinced law enforcement agencies across the country that this pistol would be their weapon of choice, discarding their service revolvers and catching to equal the armament of their opponents.
This book pulls the lid off of a somewhat secretive company (what arms manufacturer isn’t) to tell a very interesting story of a well known handgun and the role it plays in everyday life around the globe.
Whether one is a gun fighter or not, one should always be on the look out for books that are relevant and informative. As the United States and, to a lesser extent other countries outside of China, has an ever-growing population of gun owners, legal or otherwise, a book about the most popular handgun in the world should be both. And Glock fills the bill as a relevant and informative book about an unknown Austrian knife and bayonet maker, Gaston Glock, whose other job was managing an automobile radiator factory just outside of Vienna.
Glock knew next to nothing about firearms and begged a chance to compete for a contract to supply the Austrian Army with a new sidearm. The Austrian defense minister agreed and Glock was off and running. Having never made a gun before, he was free from preconceptions, bias and prejudices in pistol manufacturing and came up with the Glock 17, his 17th invention. The frame of this nine millimeter handgun was made of industrial plastic, making it lighter and practically indestructible (but not invisible to x-ray machines), more than the conventional all-steel guns used by everybody else. In early November, 1982, Glock was told that his pistol had won the contract, besting other makers such as Sig Sauer, Beretta, Steyr and Heckler & Koch. Now, all that Glock had to do was sell it.
Continuing to be in the right place at the right time, Glock met Karl Walter, an Austrian expatriate who sold firearms out of his motor home while traveling in the United States. Walter just happened to be on a return visit to Austria, where he saw one of Glock’s ugly pistols in a gun shop. Meeting with Glock, Walter proposed marketing the gun in America.
Shrewd marketing, including Gold Club strippers and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, convinced law enforcement agencies across the country that this pistol would be their weapon of choice, discarding their service revolvers and catching to equal the armament of their opponents.
This book pulls the lid off of a somewhat secretive company (what arms manufacturer isn’t) to tell a very interesting story of a well known handgun and the role it plays in everyday life around the globe.
War of 1812
Daughan, George C. 1812: The Navy’s War Basic Books. Ill.; maps; notes; glossary; bib.; index. 528p. ISBN: 978-0-4650-2046-1. $32.50 October, 2011.
In a compelling continuation to his award-winning If By Sea: The Forging of the American Navy – From the Revolution to the War of 1812, author Daughan takes up the story of the War of 1812, focusing on the tiny, supposedly ineffective twenty ship American Navy. He begins with the badly run chase of HMS Belvidera by Commodore John Rogers in June, 1812 and ends with the capture of HMS Penguin by USS Hornet in March, 1815. In between these dates are perhaps the best written descriptions of naval combat – ship-to-ship encounters, boarding parties and frigate maneuvers and a “whiff of grape”. Not neglected and expertly interwoven into the narrative are the land battles and inland naval engagements on the Great Lakes as well as the larger picture; 1812 saw the invasion of Russia by the French emperor Napoleon and the subsequent disastrous campaign resulting in so many deaths. Also told here are the politics and diplomacy of the war years in America, Great Britain and Europe, which places the American conflict in its proper perspective on the world stage.
Twenty ships versus one thousand – the end result was surprising with the tiny U.S. Navy pummeling the largest navy on the planet.
Well told.
In a compelling continuation to his award-winning If By Sea: The Forging of the American Navy – From the Revolution to the War of 1812, author Daughan takes up the story of the War of 1812, focusing on the tiny, supposedly ineffective twenty ship American Navy. He begins with the badly run chase of HMS Belvidera by Commodore John Rogers in June, 1812 and ends with the capture of HMS Penguin by USS Hornet in March, 1815. In between these dates are perhaps the best written descriptions of naval combat – ship-to-ship encounters, boarding parties and frigate maneuvers and a “whiff of grape”. Not neglected and expertly interwoven into the narrative are the land battles and inland naval engagements on the Great Lakes as well as the larger picture; 1812 saw the invasion of Russia by the French emperor Napoleon and the subsequent disastrous campaign resulting in so many deaths. Also told here are the politics and diplomacy of the war years in America, Great Britain and Europe, which places the American conflict in its proper perspective on the world stage.
Twenty ships versus one thousand – the end result was surprising with the tiny U.S. Navy pummeling the largest navy on the planet.
Well told.
Spanish Civil War
Smith, Richard K. and R. Cargill Hall. Five Down, No Glory: Frank G. Tinker, Mercenary Ace in the Spanish Civil War. U.S. Naval Institute Press. Ill.; appendices; notes; index. 400p. ISBN: 978-1-6125-1054-5. $36.95. October, 2011.
The Spanish Civil War, which took place between 1936 and 1939, saw a number of countries and groups supporting one side or the other for various reasons. Some fought for political reasons, some for training and testing and some fought for money. This book relates the adventure novel life of an American soldier of fortune, Frank Tinker, an ex-naval aviator who flew for the Spanish government – under contract.
Tinker’s life reads like a 1930’s adventure story. He was a boy from Arkansas; a teenage sailor in the United States Navy; gained admission to and graduated from the naval academy at Annapolis; earned his wings as a combat aviator; resigned his commission in lieu of a court martial; flew for the Spanish under the command of a Soviet pilot; had eight aerial victories, including two brand new Me109’s; hobnobbed off duty with the likes of Ernest Hemingway and company; terminated his contract after seven months to return to the U.S. to write a book and make public appearances; and, in July, 1939, died in a Little Rock hotel under very suspicious circumstances.
The authors tell the story in clear prose with detailed descriptions of the air battles – tactics and technical information on the airplanes involved, especially the Soviet I-19 fighter, described as “the world’s first modern fighter plane.”
This is a must read book, well worth reading.
World War I in the Air
Revell, Alex. Fall of Eagles: Airmen of World War I. Pen and Sword Books. Ill.; bib.; index. 208p. ISBN: 978-1-8488-4527-5. $39.95. October, 2011.
Other reviews and reviewers notwithstanding, my copy of this book arrived with the proper subtitle. So get over it and send the book back for refund.
Fall of Eagles is a compilation of last flights and fights of various airmen from both sides of the line. Divided into seventeen chapters, the famous and the not do famous are discussed here but their stories are mainly told in their own words or the words of their contemporaries. Richthofen, Immelmann, Boelcke, Voss, Rhys Davids, McCudden and Barker are here as refreshers. There are inclusions here which would be new information to all but the serious Great War aviation specialist.
For example, Richthofen’s last victory, Rhodesian Lieutenant D.G. Lewis; Ronald Adam, a member of 73 Squadron for all of six days in 1918; Larry Bowen, from Traverse City, Michigan, whose last Royal Air Force flight ended gallantly in the destruction of an ammunition train; Hungarian ace Josef Kiss; and, American ace Alan Winslow.
Told in a straightforward narrative, mixed with quotes from letters, diaries and official reports, this book is a welcome and useful addition to World War I aviation literature.
Other reviews and reviewers notwithstanding, my copy of this book arrived with the proper subtitle. So get over it and send the book back for refund.
Fall of Eagles is a compilation of last flights and fights of various airmen from both sides of the line. Divided into seventeen chapters, the famous and the not do famous are discussed here but their stories are mainly told in their own words or the words of their contemporaries. Richthofen, Immelmann, Boelcke, Voss, Rhys Davids, McCudden and Barker are here as refreshers. There are inclusions here which would be new information to all but the serious Great War aviation specialist.
For example, Richthofen’s last victory, Rhodesian Lieutenant D.G. Lewis; Ronald Adam, a member of 73 Squadron for all of six days in 1918; Larry Bowen, from Traverse City, Michigan, whose last Royal Air Force flight ended gallantly in the destruction of an ammunition train; Hungarian ace Josef Kiss; and, American ace Alan Winslow.
Told in a straightforward narrative, mixed with quotes from letters, diaries and official reports, this book is a welcome and useful addition to World War I aviation literature.
World War II
Blair, Bobby C. and John Peter DeCioccio. Victory at Peleliu: The 81st Infantry Division’s Pacific Campaign. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; maps; notes; bib.; index. 320p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4154-1. $34.95. April, 2011.
We are al aware of the island-hopping campaign executed by the Allies in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. We also know that this strategy was carried out by the United States Marine Corps (assisted by the U.S. Navy), until victory was obtained. What we are not so aware of the U.S. Army’s role in this theater, with the possible exception of the reconquest of the Phillippines by army troops under the command of Douglas MacArthur and company. In Victory at Peleliu, we have a detailed account of the U.S. Army’s (specifically the 81st Infantry Division), battle to destroy Japanese troops on two quite small islands in the Palaus group, Anguar and Peleliu.
In a campaign that should not have been fought at all (the landings were opposed by Admiral William Halsey and Marine General Holland Smith, and once in American hands, the islands played no important role in the war), the 1st Marine Division was to capture Peleliu in four days. After a week of heavy casualties and a stalled offensive, the “Wildcats” of the 81st were called in, at first as support, and after the marines were evacuated, the infantry secured the island. It took two months and over 1,500 marine and army casualties. In fact, without the Army assistance, the marines would not have succeeded on Peleliu.
The book explains how by this time, September, 1944, the Japanese had changed their tactics, from defending at the beaches and wasteful banzai charges, to multiple, interlocking defenses using tunnels and fortified terrain. The Army, in their assault on Anguar, adapted to it and eliminated all Japanese opposition with little casualties to themselves. The Marines on Peleliu failed to adapt. The lessons learned here were put to good use subsequently on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Using division records and interviews with surviving veterans, the authors successfully challenge the long held view that the 81st merely mopped up after the Marines and place the “Wildcats” efforts in their proper place.
We are al aware of the island-hopping campaign executed by the Allies in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. We also know that this strategy was carried out by the United States Marine Corps (assisted by the U.S. Navy), until victory was obtained. What we are not so aware of the U.S. Army’s role in this theater, with the possible exception of the reconquest of the Phillippines by army troops under the command of Douglas MacArthur and company. In Victory at Peleliu, we have a detailed account of the U.S. Army’s (specifically the 81st Infantry Division), battle to destroy Japanese troops on two quite small islands in the Palaus group, Anguar and Peleliu.
In a campaign that should not have been fought at all (the landings were opposed by Admiral William Halsey and Marine General Holland Smith, and once in American hands, the islands played no important role in the war), the 1st Marine Division was to capture Peleliu in four days. After a week of heavy casualties and a stalled offensive, the “Wildcats” of the 81st were called in, at first as support, and after the marines were evacuated, the infantry secured the island. It took two months and over 1,500 marine and army casualties. In fact, without the Army assistance, the marines would not have succeeded on Peleliu.
The book explains how by this time, September, 1944, the Japanese had changed their tactics, from defending at the beaches and wasteful banzai charges, to multiple, interlocking defenses using tunnels and fortified terrain. The Army, in their assault on Anguar, adapted to it and eliminated all Japanese opposition with little casualties to themselves. The Marines on Peleliu failed to adapt. The lessons learned here were put to good use subsequently on Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Using division records and interviews with surviving veterans, the authors successfully challenge the long held view that the 81st merely mopped up after the Marines and place the “Wildcats” efforts in their proper place.
Football History
Roberts, Randy. A Team for America: The Army-Navy Game That Rallied a Nation. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 288p. ISBN: 978-0-5475-1106-1. $26.00 November, 2011.
Gridiron traditions and collegiate football rivalries abound across these United States. One of the oldest that occurs late in the season is the Army-Navy game, which, admittedly, was a coast-to-coast phenomenon when these two schools fielded powerhouse teams and not so much one now. But there have been many storied clashes in the past between these two academies and Randy Roberts has brought one of the best to print with this book.
A Team for America is not just another football book but the story of a war weary country desperate for an end to the war and a return to some sort of normalcy. It was the third year of the global struggle and the home front were living with shortages, the constant worry over those who were serving overseas and rationing. Within that context, Roberts describes the 1944 college football season, played under the shadow of the war. That Army team, led by two future Heisman Trophy winners, had former teammates who were already in combat, where they themselves would soon be as well. The controversy about college sports being played at all during this time was solved in the interest in keeping morale high.
As the season wound down, Army found itself undefeated and ranked number one, facing number two Navy. As a reporter said at the time, there was never a sports event that received the attention of so many Americans in so many places around the world. Around the world, the war stopped so soldiers and sailors could listen to the broadcast of the game (provided one had a radio).
Roberts uses many interviews with surviving players, coaches and the military to make this much more than a statistical recounting of a game with the national championship (and so much more), at stake. This is an excellent read and an informative addition to the literature of football and U.S. history.
Gridiron traditions and collegiate football rivalries abound across these United States. One of the oldest that occurs late in the season is the Army-Navy game, which, admittedly, was a coast-to-coast phenomenon when these two schools fielded powerhouse teams and not so much one now. But there have been many storied clashes in the past between these two academies and Randy Roberts has brought one of the best to print with this book.
A Team for America is not just another football book but the story of a war weary country desperate for an end to the war and a return to some sort of normalcy. It was the third year of the global struggle and the home front were living with shortages, the constant worry over those who were serving overseas and rationing. Within that context, Roberts describes the 1944 college football season, played under the shadow of the war. That Army team, led by two future Heisman Trophy winners, had former teammates who were already in combat, where they themselves would soon be as well. The controversy about college sports being played at all during this time was solved in the interest in keeping morale high.
As the season wound down, Army found itself undefeated and ranked number one, facing number two Navy. As a reporter said at the time, there was never a sports event that received the attention of so many Americans in so many places around the world. Around the world, the war stopped so soldiers and sailors could listen to the broadcast of the game (provided one had a radio).
Roberts uses many interviews with surviving players, coaches and the military to make this much more than a statistical recounting of a game with the national championship (and so much more), at stake. This is an excellent read and an informative addition to the literature of football and U.S. history.
Theodore Roosevelt
Di Silvestro, Roger L. Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands: A Young Politician’s Quest for Recovery in the American West. Walker & Co. ill.; notes; index. 368p. ISBN: 978-0-8027-1721-4. $27.00 March, 2011.
So much has been written (and probably much more to be written), about our twenty-sixth president, Theodore Roosevelt, that it seems the man’s life has been played out. Happily, such is not the case and Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands is a prime example of a focused biography enlightening a full life.
Di Silvestro focuses on Roosevelt in his twenties, a time for him of grief and heartache, having lost both his mother and his first wife to death on then same day, Valentines, in 1884. As has been recounted in many excellent biographies, Roosevelt fled to the Dakotas, leaving behind everything – luxury, status, political seat, even his newborn daughter, Alice. This was a critical turning point in his life and, consequently, his career.
As the author’s scholarship shows, this temporary relocation gave Roosevelt an opportunity to regain his health, both physical and mental. The three years he spent working his ranch, with all of the experiences that went along with life in the Badlands gave Roosevelt the basis of many of his future beliefs and actions – for example, his grit, courage, sense of justice and definition of right and wrong, all of which can be seen in his life and career.
The book is a fine example of well-researched, well-written, focused biography. It is a necessary addition to the literature about this great American.
So much has been written (and probably much more to be written), about our twenty-sixth president, Theodore Roosevelt, that it seems the man’s life has been played out. Happily, such is not the case and Theodore Roosevelt in the Badlands is a prime example of a focused biography enlightening a full life.
Di Silvestro focuses on Roosevelt in his twenties, a time for him of grief and heartache, having lost both his mother and his first wife to death on then same day, Valentines, in 1884. As has been recounted in many excellent biographies, Roosevelt fled to the Dakotas, leaving behind everything – luxury, status, political seat, even his newborn daughter, Alice. This was a critical turning point in his life and, consequently, his career.
As the author’s scholarship shows, this temporary relocation gave Roosevelt an opportunity to regain his health, both physical and mental. The three years he spent working his ranch, with all of the experiences that went along with life in the Badlands gave Roosevelt the basis of many of his future beliefs and actions – for example, his grit, courage, sense of justice and definition of right and wrong, all of which can be seen in his life and career.
The book is a fine example of well-researched, well-written, focused biography. It is a necessary addition to the literature about this great American.
The War of 1812
Yanik, Anthony J. The Fall and Recapture of Detroit in the War of 1812. Wayne State University Press. Ill.; appendices; notes; index. 228p. ISBN: 978-0-8143-3598-7. $24.95 September, 2011.
To those in the know at the time, the conquest of Canada in 1812 would simply be “a mere matter of marching”. So it was planned to invade our northern neighbors at three places: Niagara, Montreal and Detroit, the last being a strategic launching point for such a campaign. The surrender of the place, army, arms and all, just two months after the declaration of war, came as a complete shock to those in the know and everyone else in the country. The reason was quickly found and General William Hull, the commander at Detroit, was court martialed and sentenced to death – to date the only commanding general to be so sentenced in U.S. military history. Was Hull, a Revolutionary War combat veteran and current territorial governor of Michigan, a traitor? Or was he militarily incompetent? Or was the entire Northwestern Army officered by imbeciles? Not much beyond Hull’s own actions has ever been up for discussion among historians; if the subject comes up at all.
Anthony Yanik has written a captivating account of the events leading up to the surrender of Detroit, William Henry Harrison’s subsequent campaign to recapture it and the trial for cowardice of William Hull. He begins by focusing on the political causes of the not so popular war and frontier life in Detroit prior to the war; continuing to Hull’s appointment as brigadier general and the tremendous effort expended in just getting the army through Ohio to Michigan without roads to march on. Yanik spares no comment over the personality clashes, ineptitude and the comedy of tragic errors that was the War of 1812. There is a valid argument here that Hull was wrongly tried and Yanik aptly points to a number of reasons for the disastrous campaign in and around the Great Lakes.
Anyone with an interest in the War of 1812 and Michigan will want to read this book.
To those in the know at the time, the conquest of Canada in 1812 would simply be “a mere matter of marching”. So it was planned to invade our northern neighbors at three places: Niagara, Montreal and Detroit, the last being a strategic launching point for such a campaign. The surrender of the place, army, arms and all, just two months after the declaration of war, came as a complete shock to those in the know and everyone else in the country. The reason was quickly found and General William Hull, the commander at Detroit, was court martialed and sentenced to death – to date the only commanding general to be so sentenced in U.S. military history. Was Hull, a Revolutionary War combat veteran and current territorial governor of Michigan, a traitor? Or was he militarily incompetent? Or was the entire Northwestern Army officered by imbeciles? Not much beyond Hull’s own actions has ever been up for discussion among historians; if the subject comes up at all.
Anthony Yanik has written a captivating account of the events leading up to the surrender of Detroit, William Henry Harrison’s subsequent campaign to recapture it and the trial for cowardice of William Hull. He begins by focusing on the political causes of the not so popular war and frontier life in Detroit prior to the war; continuing to Hull’s appointment as brigadier general and the tremendous effort expended in just getting the army through Ohio to Michigan without roads to march on. Yanik spares no comment over the personality clashes, ineptitude and the comedy of tragic errors that was the War of 1812. There is a valid argument here that Hull was wrongly tried and Yanik aptly points to a number of reasons for the disastrous campaign in and around the Great Lakes.
Anyone with an interest in the War of 1812 and Michigan will want to read this book.
World War II
Fisher-Alaniz, Karen. Breaking the Code: A Father’s Secret, a Daughter’s Journey, and the Question That Changed Everything. Sourcebooks. 336p. tp. ISBN: 978-1-4022-6112-1. $14.99 November, 2011.
Breaking the Code is more than a World War II memoir – much more. It is the story of the relationship between a father and daughter, a relationship that changed significantly when Murray Fisher reached out to his daughter Karen on his 81st birthday, handing her his two notebooks full of letters that he wrote home form the Pacific Theater and the U.S. Navy. It is also the story of US efforts to break the code the Japanese used in their radio traffic. It was a top-secret code and the code breaking teams were constantly monitored by the FBI and told that talking to anyone about their job would be punishable by imprisonment and/or death by firing squad, for impressionable young men far away form home for most likely the first time, this last was enough of a threat to keep them quiet forever. Finally, this is the story of a veteran coming to grips with his past and the quirky game that fate plays with all of us.
Every veteran has to go through a period of “readjustment” from military to civilian life. In peacetime, it can be a difficult process; in wartime, it is pure hell and a hell that will raise its ugly head time and time again, regardless of when, where and how old you are.
Breaking the Code reveals the story of an eighty-one year old vet who finally comes to grips with his devils. Told in a simple narrative, it shouts out that post traumatic stress disorder affects the majority of the population – who are our veterans.
Breaking the Code is more than a World War II memoir – much more. It is the story of the relationship between a father and daughter, a relationship that changed significantly when Murray Fisher reached out to his daughter Karen on his 81st birthday, handing her his two notebooks full of letters that he wrote home form the Pacific Theater and the U.S. Navy. It is also the story of US efforts to break the code the Japanese used in their radio traffic. It was a top-secret code and the code breaking teams were constantly monitored by the FBI and told that talking to anyone about their job would be punishable by imprisonment and/or death by firing squad, for impressionable young men far away form home for most likely the first time, this last was enough of a threat to keep them quiet forever. Finally, this is the story of a veteran coming to grips with his past and the quirky game that fate plays with all of us.
Every veteran has to go through a period of “readjustment” from military to civilian life. In peacetime, it can be a difficult process; in wartime, it is pure hell and a hell that will raise its ugly head time and time again, regardless of when, where and how old you are.
Breaking the Code reveals the story of an eighty-one year old vet who finally comes to grips with his devils. Told in a simple narrative, it shouts out that post traumatic stress disorder affects the majority of the population – who are our veterans.
War of 1812
Brown, Gordon S. The Captain Who Burned His Ships: Captain Thomas Tingey, USN, 1750-1829. United States Naval Institute Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 214p. ISBN: 978-1-6125-1044-6. $28.95 September, 2011.
As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 is almost upon us, the new literature of that forgotten conflict will begin to crowd the bookshelves. The exploits of the United States Navy, especially, will be the subject of a number of wonderful titles.
The Captain Who Burned His Ships is one of those titles but one that takes a different course. Thomas Tingey started his naval career as an officer in the Royal Navy of Great Britain. After a short stint of service, he became a successful merchant captain, sailing out of U.S. ports to various parts of the globe, including the Far East. The Quasi-War with France found him back in naval service as a ship’s captain; at the personal request of the secretary of the Navy, he became the first commandant of the Washington Naval Yard. That was in 1801 and he remained there until his death in 1829. During that time, the United States Navy developed into a permanent, valuable addition to the country’s defenses and the Washington Navy Yard became the principle facility of the Navy.
Brown’s book is more than a biography of a naval administrator who fought his best battles ashore. It is also the story of the growth and development of the Navy Yard and of the young nation’s new capitol. Tingey raised his family there, was a part of Washington society and made important contributions to it. In 1814, he was forced to burn his creation to the ground to prevent its capture and use by the invading British. It is a testament to his skill and reputation that the Yard was rebuilt under his leadership.
This book is an important (and quite readable) addition to the literature of the Navy, the War of 1812 and the history of the District of Columbia.
As the bicentennial of the War of 1812 is almost upon us, the new literature of that forgotten conflict will begin to crowd the bookshelves. The exploits of the United States Navy, especially, will be the subject of a number of wonderful titles.
The Captain Who Burned His Ships is one of those titles but one that takes a different course. Thomas Tingey started his naval career as an officer in the Royal Navy of Great Britain. After a short stint of service, he became a successful merchant captain, sailing out of U.S. ports to various parts of the globe, including the Far East. The Quasi-War with France found him back in naval service as a ship’s captain; at the personal request of the secretary of the Navy, he became the first commandant of the Washington Naval Yard. That was in 1801 and he remained there until his death in 1829. During that time, the United States Navy developed into a permanent, valuable addition to the country’s defenses and the Washington Navy Yard became the principle facility of the Navy.
Brown’s book is more than a biography of a naval administrator who fought his best battles ashore. It is also the story of the growth and development of the Navy Yard and of the young nation’s new capitol. Tingey raised his family there, was a part of Washington society and made important contributions to it. In 1814, he was forced to burn his creation to the ground to prevent its capture and use by the invading British. It is a testament to his skill and reputation that the Yard was rebuilt under his leadership.
This book is an important (and quite readable) addition to the literature of the Navy, the War of 1812 and the history of the District of Columbia.
Theodore Roosevelt
Jenkinson, Clay S. A Free and Hardy Life: Theodore Roosevelt’s Sojourn in the American West. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; 176p ISBN: 978-0-9825-5978-9. $45.00 July, 2011.
Much is made (and rightly so), of Theodore Roosevelt’s experiences in the American West, beginning in 1883 and ending in 1887. It pretty much defined him as an adult and continued foremost in his psyche as he pursued the strenuous life. In A Free and Hardy Life, Clay Jenkinson offers us seventy stories of Roosevelt’s life, many of them set in the West, accompanied by over one hundred photographs, many of them never before published. All of the stories are accompanied by an appropriate Roosevelt quotation.
Arranged chronologically, the stories touch on all aspects of Roosevelt’s life, including Mount Rushmore, the Bull Moose campaign, African safari and his trip on the River of Doubt in the South American Amazon. The books’ emphasis is on his life in the West, where he remade himself and, as President, his conservation efforts, where he remade the country.
This is a delightful addition to every Roosevelt bookshelf.
Much is made (and rightly so), of Theodore Roosevelt’s experiences in the American West, beginning in 1883 and ending in 1887. It pretty much defined him as an adult and continued foremost in his psyche as he pursued the strenuous life. In A Free and Hardy Life, Clay Jenkinson offers us seventy stories of Roosevelt’s life, many of them set in the West, accompanied by over one hundred photographs, many of them never before published. All of the stories are accompanied by an appropriate Roosevelt quotation.
Arranged chronologically, the stories touch on all aspects of Roosevelt’s life, including Mount Rushmore, the Bull Moose campaign, African safari and his trip on the River of Doubt in the South American Amazon. The books’ emphasis is on his life in the West, where he remade himself and, as President, his conservation efforts, where he remade the country.
This is a delightful addition to every Roosevelt bookshelf.
Pearl Harbor
Zimm, Alan D. Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions. Casemate. Ill.; appendices; bib.; notes; index. 480p. ISBN:978-1-6120-0010-7. $32.95. May, 2011.
One of the events occurring in United States history that will continue to spark interest, debate and a steady stream of publications is certainly the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
The latest entry, Attack on Pearl Harbor, is a detailed critique of the Japanese attack, complete with charts, diagrams and acronyms galore. Perhaps more suited to the serious student than the general reader, Zimm does present an interesting analysis of the strategy and tactics involved. Instead of “the most daring and brilliant naval operations of all time”, Zimm demonstrates that the Japanese carrier strike force did not plan the attack very well, nor did they train effectively for it. The success of the attack was more the result of American bungling and an initial complacency than any specific skills of Japanese pilots and aircrew. If the Americans had responded competently to several tactical and strategic warnings, both the Pacific Fleet and the Army would have been at General Quarters in plenty of time to counter the threat and, quite possibly, making the raid a complete failure. This failure to react is what is the most glaring of facts surrounding the scenario of Pearl Harbor. It still resonates today as shockingly inexcusable.
If the general reader can make his (or her) way past the jargon, acronyms and foreign language terms which abound throughout the text, there is an interesting new “look” at this opening gambit in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
French History
Blanchard, Jean-Vincent. Eminence: Cardinal Richelieu and the Rise of France. Walker & Co. ill.; map; chronology; notes; bib.; index. 320p. ISBN:978-0-8027-1704-7. $30.00 September, 2011.
For those of us who can never get enough of The Three Musketeers and must delve into the stories behind the story, then Eminence is a must read. Always depicted as the arch-villain in fiction and on the big screen, Blanchard’s book will prompt the reader to reconsider Richelieu and his role in uniting France and making it a power on the European continent.
The story begins in 1617, with a Parisian mob mutilating a corpse and roasting the victim’s heart over a nice hot bed of charcoal. Thus was the fate of the Queen Mother’s despised principle advisor, Concino Concini. His friends buried him after death but the mob dug him up and paraded the body through the streets of Paris, nibbling and snacking on him as they went. Armand-jean du Plessis, not yet entitled “de Richelieu”, was a bishop and also an advisor to Louis XIII’s mother; he had to move quickly to ensure that he wasn’t the mob’s next meal. Louis, a moody sixteen-year-old introvert, realized that he needed the soon to be cardinal and resented that fact. It was in this tricky position that Richelieu would plan to build a nation and play an important role in world history as both a war maker and diplomat. Richelieu was much more than a ruthless warrior-priest who had to deal with the dysfunctional Bourbon dynasty. He was highly organized, technologically advanced, elegant and refined. He developed a postal system, fee structure and money – transmission system; his engineering skills helped to subdue the port city of La Rochelle as well as staging elaborate festivals and plays in his own private theater.
Written in an easy flowing narrative (not easy to accomplish with so much intrigue and Bourbon double-dealing), this is an entertaining work that enables French history to live again.
WWI Marine Corps History
Mortensen, Mark. George W. Hamilton, USMC: America’s Greatest World War I Hero. McFarland. Ill.; appendices; notes; bib.; index. 314p. ISBN: 978-0-7864-6321-3. $45.00 June, 2011.
The United States Marine Corps emerged from the First World War with a reputation as a badass fighting force – it was the Germans who first called them “Devil Dogs” – and that reputation (well deserved) has grown since into one as an elite fighting force with its own unique code of honor and group of outstanding heroes. One of the best of these and one that most of us have never heard of is the subject of this book
George W. Hamilton was the son of a successful newspaper correspondent (a member of the Congressional Press Gallery in Washington, D.C. and a founding member of the National Capitol Press Club), who grew up and went to school in the nation’s capitol, seeing the leaders and heroes of the day practically on a daily basis. Successfully testing for a USMC officer’s commission, he was appointed a second lieutenant on August 30, 1913. Becoming quite proficient with the rifle, Hamilton was selected to participate on the revered Marine Corps Rifle Team, which shot in competition almost worldwide.
When the United States entered World War I in April, 1917, Hamilton was one of many Marine officers determined to get into the fight in Europe. He found a billet as a company commander in the Fifth Regiment, an outfit that would hit the ground running when it arrived overseas. Hamilton would lead Marines into their first fight and be the last Marine in action when the war ended. He survived it all, amazingly, and was highly decorated – although recommended twice, he never received the Congressional Medal of Honor – which was probably due to AEF Headquarters politics. Returning to the States, Major Hamilton turned to Marine aviation and in 1922 was tragically killed in an air accident.
This heroes’ story is told, rather objectively, in an easy to follow chronology of his life. The battle scenes are especially well written and, all told, is an excellent biography. It is a must for every WWI and USMC history bookshelf.
The United States Marine Corps emerged from the First World War with a reputation as a badass fighting force – it was the Germans who first called them “Devil Dogs” – and that reputation (well deserved) has grown since into one as an elite fighting force with its own unique code of honor and group of outstanding heroes. One of the best of these and one that most of us have never heard of is the subject of this book
George W. Hamilton was the son of a successful newspaper correspondent (a member of the Congressional Press Gallery in Washington, D.C. and a founding member of the National Capitol Press Club), who grew up and went to school in the nation’s capitol, seeing the leaders and heroes of the day practically on a daily basis. Successfully testing for a USMC officer’s commission, he was appointed a second lieutenant on August 30, 1913. Becoming quite proficient with the rifle, Hamilton was selected to participate on the revered Marine Corps Rifle Team, which shot in competition almost worldwide.
When the United States entered World War I in April, 1917, Hamilton was one of many Marine officers determined to get into the fight in Europe. He found a billet as a company commander in the Fifth Regiment, an outfit that would hit the ground running when it arrived overseas. Hamilton would lead Marines into their first fight and be the last Marine in action when the war ended. He survived it all, amazingly, and was highly decorated – although recommended twice, he never received the Congressional Medal of Honor – which was probably due to AEF Headquarters politics. Returning to the States, Major Hamilton turned to Marine aviation and in 1922 was tragically killed in an air accident.
This heroes’ story is told, rather objectively, in an easy to follow chronology of his life. The battle scenes are especially well written and, all told, is an excellent biography. It is a must for every WWI and USMC history bookshelf.
Football History
Miller, John J. The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football. Harper. Ill.; appendix; notes; index. 272p. ISBN: 978-0-0617-4450-1. $25.99 April, 2011
Imagine a world without football. As difficult as that concept is to wrap one’s head around today, it was almost a sure thing during the early years of the twentieth century. Some states considered banning the sport altogether – including, of all places, Georgia, and many colleges were in support of football’s demise. Some football coaches, a lot of college alumni and President Theodore Roosevelt supported the game. But changes would have to be made.
The Big Scrum tells the story of this crisis point in the history of football – here we are referring to the collegiate version. By the turn of the century, the game had evolved into a brutal, extremely violent and dangerous game that more resembled rugby than football. There was no common agreement on the basic rules, hardly any equipment and young men were being terribly injured and killed with alarming frequency (concussions were a more than common occurrence – sound familiar?). With the rise of the Progressives, this heathen sport would have to be banned. In 1905, Roosevelt called a meeting with the coaches from Harvard, Yale and Princeton and strongly suggested they take action to perfect the game that he was a long time fan of. The result, which occurred over the next several years, was the creation of what would soon after be the National Collegiate Athletic Association and equipment and rule changes that would lead to the game fans know today.
Miller gives us an interesting look into a little known event and the major players in it: Charles Eliot, president of Harvard, Coaches Walter Camp and Bill Reid and, of course, the man whose caliber of leadership has been sorely lacking for so long, Theodore Roosevelt.
Imagine a world without football. As difficult as that concept is to wrap one’s head around today, it was almost a sure thing during the early years of the twentieth century. Some states considered banning the sport altogether – including, of all places, Georgia, and many colleges were in support of football’s demise. Some football coaches, a lot of college alumni and President Theodore Roosevelt supported the game. But changes would have to be made.
The Big Scrum tells the story of this crisis point in the history of football – here we are referring to the collegiate version. By the turn of the century, the game had evolved into a brutal, extremely violent and dangerous game that more resembled rugby than football. There was no common agreement on the basic rules, hardly any equipment and young men were being terribly injured and killed with alarming frequency (concussions were a more than common occurrence – sound familiar?). With the rise of the Progressives, this heathen sport would have to be banned. In 1905, Roosevelt called a meeting with the coaches from Harvard, Yale and Princeton and strongly suggested they take action to perfect the game that he was a long time fan of. The result, which occurred over the next several years, was the creation of what would soon after be the National Collegiate Athletic Association and equipment and rule changes that would lead to the game fans know today.
Miller gives us an interesting look into a little known event and the major players in it: Charles Eliot, president of Harvard, Coaches Walter Camp and Bill Reid and, of course, the man whose caliber of leadership has been sorely lacking for so long, Theodore Roosevelt.
United States History
Doenecke, Justus D. Nothing Less Than War: A New history of America’s Entry into World War I. University Press of Kentucky. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 432p. ISBN: 978-0-8131-3002-6 April, 2011
Woodrow Wilson was elected to a second term as president in 1916 with a lot of “he kept us out of war” slogans, yet a little over one year later, the U.S. Congress declared war against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria and Turkey). What caused this turnaround? As students, we were given the bare facts surrounding America’s efforts during World War I; the Zimmerman Telegram, the Lusitania sinking and “Over There” we go.
In Nothing Less Than War, we are given a detailed picture of America prior to 1917 that seems to be somewhat of a foreign place to the general reader. America was a country whose people debated everything, especially going to war (or not), which was not as easily done than it seems to be now, and getting involved in the European conflict in 1914, or even 1917, was not a sure thing. The country was isolationist for the most part; the 1914 German invasion of Belgium horrified most people but no one saw “that” happening “here”. President Wilson and most Americans favored the Allies but wanted to remain neutral. As the war progressed, it became increasingly clear that its effects would cross the Atlantic Ocean and threaten everything Americans cherished. The country would voluntarily become involved but the decision to do that would not come easily.
As he has done for America’s entry into the Second World War, Professor Doenecke has produced what should become the standard on the United States’ entry into World War I, transforming her from a great continental power into a greater world power. This is a highly readable account filled with fascinating portraits of the luminaries of the day.
Woodrow Wilson was elected to a second term as president in 1916 with a lot of “he kept us out of war” slogans, yet a little over one year later, the U.S. Congress declared war against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria and Turkey). What caused this turnaround? As students, we were given the bare facts surrounding America’s efforts during World War I; the Zimmerman Telegram, the Lusitania sinking and “Over There” we go.
In Nothing Less Than War, we are given a detailed picture of America prior to 1917 that seems to be somewhat of a foreign place to the general reader. America was a country whose people debated everything, especially going to war (or not), which was not as easily done than it seems to be now, and getting involved in the European conflict in 1914, or even 1917, was not a sure thing. The country was isolationist for the most part; the 1914 German invasion of Belgium horrified most people but no one saw “that” happening “here”. President Wilson and most Americans favored the Allies but wanted to remain neutral. As the war progressed, it became increasingly clear that its effects would cross the Atlantic Ocean and threaten everything Americans cherished. The country would voluntarily become involved but the decision to do that would not come easily.
As he has done for America’s entry into the Second World War, Professor Doenecke has produced what should become the standard on the United States’ entry into World War I, transforming her from a great continental power into a greater world power. This is a highly readable account filled with fascinating portraits of the luminaries of the day.
Baseball History
Nemec, David. Major League Baseball Profiles, 1871-1900. 2 volumes. University of Nebraska Press. Ill.; bib.; index. 1264p. ISBN: 978-0-8032-3024-8 (vol1). ISBN: 978-0-8032-3532-8 (vol.2). $39.95 each tp September, 2011.
This is not just a tremendous compilation of statistics, season standings or player lists but a wonderful collection of biographical sketches of the men who played the game. Volume 1, entitled The Ballplayers Who Built the Game is divided into seven chapters by position (pitchers, catchers, first, second, third basemen, shortstops and outfielders), and profiles key position players, giving detailed and colorful information on that player’s role in the game, including achievements, the start and finish of his career, good seasons and bad and, most importantly, personal information not found anywhere else.
Volume 2, entitled The Hall of Famers and Memorable Personalities Who Shaped the Game does the same for those enshrined at Cooperstown, along with two dozen (or so) who should be there with them. This volume also chronicles the crooks, nuts and victims who also made the national game so colorful (at least from this distance), along with managers, umpires and team owners who helped structure and define the game.
This massive two volume set is a must have for not only students and researchers of the game but all those with an interest in the history of nineteenth century baseball and America.
This is not just a tremendous compilation of statistics, season standings or player lists but a wonderful collection of biographical sketches of the men who played the game. Volume 1, entitled The Ballplayers Who Built the Game is divided into seven chapters by position (pitchers, catchers, first, second, third basemen, shortstops and outfielders), and profiles key position players, giving detailed and colorful information on that player’s role in the game, including achievements, the start and finish of his career, good seasons and bad and, most importantly, personal information not found anywhere else.
Volume 2, entitled The Hall of Famers and Memorable Personalities Who Shaped the Game does the same for those enshrined at Cooperstown, along with two dozen (or so) who should be there with them. This volume also chronicles the crooks, nuts and victims who also made the national game so colorful (at least from this distance), along with managers, umpires and team owners who helped structure and define the game.
This massive two volume set is a must have for not only students and researchers of the game but all those with an interest in the history of nineteenth century baseball and America.
Napoleonic History
Moon, Joshua. Wellington’s Two-Front War: The Peninsular Campaigns, at Home and Abroad, 1808-1814. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; map; appendices; notes; bib.; index. 300p. ISBN:978-0-8061-4157-2. $34.95 April, 2011.
Great Britain’s seven year campaign against the French in Spain and Portugal (the Peninsula), has gotten considerable attention from both scholars, soldiers and scribblers of historical fiction for the past two hundred years. Yet no one (excluding the latter class of writers), until now, has focused on the battles that Lord Wellington fought with his own superiors, the Whig Party and even his own brother, Richard, who harbored his own political ambitions. In addition to these roadblocks were the economic problems facing England. By 1811, the cost of prosecuting the war had jumped to over £10 million; at the same time, revolts in South America were creating a world wide shortage of precious metals, specifically gold and silver. To hamper further Britain’s access to precious metals, France had, in early 1810, occupied and controlled Spanish silver mines in the southern portion of the peninsula. More demands on Britain’s gold reserves occurred in 1812, with the onset of war with the United States and Napoleon’s invasion of Russia.
This second front would prove to be almost as difficult to win as the one against the French. Wellington, from a Northern Irish landowning family, was an easy target for certain newspapers and his victorious campaigns in India were viewed by the British high command as a minor achievement.
This is a very interesting and informative look at the effects on strategy of home policies, bureaucracy and press scrutiny; war in a faraway place always under a microscope, especially today.
Great Britain’s seven year campaign against the French in Spain and Portugal (the Peninsula), has gotten considerable attention from both scholars, soldiers and scribblers of historical fiction for the past two hundred years. Yet no one (excluding the latter class of writers), until now, has focused on the battles that Lord Wellington fought with his own superiors, the Whig Party and even his own brother, Richard, who harbored his own political ambitions. In addition to these roadblocks were the economic problems facing England. By 1811, the cost of prosecuting the war had jumped to over £10 million; at the same time, revolts in South America were creating a world wide shortage of precious metals, specifically gold and silver. To hamper further Britain’s access to precious metals, France had, in early 1810, occupied and controlled Spanish silver mines in the southern portion of the peninsula. More demands on Britain’s gold reserves occurred in 1812, with the onset of war with the United States and Napoleon’s invasion of Russia.
This second front would prove to be almost as difficult to win as the one against the French. Wellington, from a Northern Irish landowning family, was an easy target for certain newspapers and his victorious campaigns in India were viewed by the British high command as a minor achievement.
This is a very interesting and informative look at the effects on strategy of home policies, bureaucracy and press scrutiny; war in a faraway place always under a microscope, especially today.
Baseball History
Stout, Glenn. Fenway 1912: The Birth of a Ballpark, a Championship Season, and Fenway’s Remarkable First Year. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 416p. ISBN: 978-0-5471-9562-9. $26.00 October, 2011
With Tiger Stadium now a cherished memory, Fenway Park remains as the oldest baseball stadium in the Major Leagues (Wrigley Field being two years younger), and next year will celebrate its centennial. Fenway 1912 is the incredible story of the birth of this iconic ballpark without all of the pomp and circumstance.
Incredible research enable Stout to give us the details surrounding Fenway Park, from the biography of the architect, James E. McLaughlin and the builder Charles Logue, to the colorful characters that made up the Boston Red Sox and the city of Boston itself. Stout gives us a detailed construction history, complete with the schedule of the construction, the methods used and the impact it all had on the 1912 season and, by extension, the park that fans sit in today.
Fenway 1912 is also the story of that inaugural baseball season there which saw the Boston Red Sox team, divided by the prejudices of the day, fight their way to the American League pennant and victory over the New York Giants in the World Series.
This book is the biography of a ballpark combined with the stories of a colorful cast of thousands. It stands alone as the new standard of stadium histories.
With Tiger Stadium now a cherished memory, Fenway Park remains as the oldest baseball stadium in the Major Leagues (Wrigley Field being two years younger), and next year will celebrate its centennial. Fenway 1912 is the incredible story of the birth of this iconic ballpark without all of the pomp and circumstance.
Incredible research enable Stout to give us the details surrounding Fenway Park, from the biography of the architect, James E. McLaughlin and the builder Charles Logue, to the colorful characters that made up the Boston Red Sox and the city of Boston itself. Stout gives us a detailed construction history, complete with the schedule of the construction, the methods used and the impact it all had on the 1912 season and, by extension, the park that fans sit in today.
Fenway 1912 is also the story of that inaugural baseball season there which saw the Boston Red Sox team, divided by the prejudices of the day, fight their way to the American League pennant and victory over the New York Giants in the World Series.
This book is the biography of a ballpark combined with the stories of a colorful cast of thousands. It stands alone as the new standard of stadium histories.
World War II
Ulbrich, David J. Preparing for Victory: Thomas Holcomb and the Making of the Modern Marine Corps, 1936-1943. U.S. Naval Institute Press. Ill.; maps; charts; notes; bib.; index. 304p. ISBN: 978-1-59114-903-3. $35.95 April, 2011.
We are all familiar with the United States Marine Corps successful role in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. What is not so well-known is the story of how the sea soldiers progressed form a shrunken group of naval police during the Great Depression, into a full-fledged fighting force of nearly a half a million men and women on VJ-Day.
Preparing for Victory is the only full length biography of General Thomas Holcomb, seventeenth commandant of the Marine Corps, whose skills as a leader, manager, planner and publicist enabled him to guide the Corps through the lean pre-war period and the demanding, bloody war years to 1943. A career Marine, Holcomb was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1900 and briefly saw sea duty before being assigned to the Legation in China, where he spent the bulk of his time prior to World War I. Shipping to France as part of the Sixth Regiment in January, 1918, Holcomb’s initiation into combat came at Belleau Wood, where his leadership skills saw him become one of the most highly decorated Marines in the conflict. His hard work in training his Marines saw them as a tough, well-organized, esprit-filled team.
After demobilization in mid-1919, Holcomb remained as one of only 962 Marine officers in 1920. His war record enabled him to serve in key staff and command posts and in 1928, he was promoted to colonel. As international tensions escalated across the globe, the Marine Corps found themselves completely undermanned with just over 17,000 men in uniform, serving a country unable and unwilling to fight another world war. At this low point, Holcomb became commandant in December, 1936. He would prove to be the right man in the right place.
Holcomb’s accomplishments rank right up there with other, more well-known American commanders, such as Admiral Chester Nimitz and General George C. Marshall. But, as history is oftentimes fickle, his role has become obscure. Perhaps his greatest achievement is the Marine Corps that we have today.
Thanks to author Ulbrich, Thomas Holcomb has been restored to his place in the pantheon of American Heroes.
We are all familiar with the United States Marine Corps successful role in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. What is not so well-known is the story of how the sea soldiers progressed form a shrunken group of naval police during the Great Depression, into a full-fledged fighting force of nearly a half a million men and women on VJ-Day.
Preparing for Victory is the only full length biography of General Thomas Holcomb, seventeenth commandant of the Marine Corps, whose skills as a leader, manager, planner and publicist enabled him to guide the Corps through the lean pre-war period and the demanding, bloody war years to 1943. A career Marine, Holcomb was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1900 and briefly saw sea duty before being assigned to the Legation in China, where he spent the bulk of his time prior to World War I. Shipping to France as part of the Sixth Regiment in January, 1918, Holcomb’s initiation into combat came at Belleau Wood, where his leadership skills saw him become one of the most highly decorated Marines in the conflict. His hard work in training his Marines saw them as a tough, well-organized, esprit-filled team.
After demobilization in mid-1919, Holcomb remained as one of only 962 Marine officers in 1920. His war record enabled him to serve in key staff and command posts and in 1928, he was promoted to colonel. As international tensions escalated across the globe, the Marine Corps found themselves completely undermanned with just over 17,000 men in uniform, serving a country unable and unwilling to fight another world war. At this low point, Holcomb became commandant in December, 1936. He would prove to be the right man in the right place.
Holcomb’s accomplishments rank right up there with other, more well-known American commanders, such as Admiral Chester Nimitz and General George C. Marshall. But, as history is oftentimes fickle, his role has become obscure. Perhaps his greatest achievement is the Marine Corps that we have today.
Thanks to author Ulbrich, Thomas Holcomb has been restored to his place in the pantheon of American Heroes.
World War I
Shay, Michael E. Revered Commander, Maligned General: The Life of Clarence Ransom Edwards, 1859-1931. University of Missouri Press. Ill.; notes; maps; bib.; index. 296p. ISBN:978-0-8262-1922-0. $45.00 April, 2011.
One of the most overlooked wars of the twentieth century is the First World War, as it is, at least for Americans, sandwiched between the Civil War and the Second World War. Granted, United States’ participation in the Great War amounted to some seventeen months, from June, 1917 to November, 1918. it was, however, an event-filled year and a half, whereby the United States armed forces transitioned from guarding their own frontiers to participation on the world stage. The professional officers behind this transition are largely unknown to all but the serious student or specialist.
Major General Clarence Edwards was one of these career officers who took an active role in this transition; in Edwards’ case, it was the culmination of a very active career, beginning with his graduation from West Point in 1883. After sixteen years on and off the US frontier, he missed the war in Cuba but saw very active combat duty in the Philippines as Adjutant-General under General Henry Lawton, an active commander who was killed in action in the islands. Edwards’ next post, in 1900, was to the Bureau of Insular Affairs, where he would serve as chief for the next twelve years. This bureau oversaw United States possessions such as Guam, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines Islands. As a bureau chief, Edwards was in an almost independent command, hobnobbing with presidents, politicians and general officers, all in the course of a business day. This duty conditioned him to be less than the ideal subordinate, especially in France in 1917-1918, where he would serve under the mercurial General John J. Pershing, an officer he had previously served with and did not get along with. Hence his maligned reputation during World War I.
Author Shay puts the record straight in this first full length biography of the Commanding Officer of the 26th Yankee Division, known affectionately as “Daddy” to the troops under his command.
One of the most overlooked wars of the twentieth century is the First World War, as it is, at least for Americans, sandwiched between the Civil War and the Second World War. Granted, United States’ participation in the Great War amounted to some seventeen months, from June, 1917 to November, 1918. it was, however, an event-filled year and a half, whereby the United States armed forces transitioned from guarding their own frontiers to participation on the world stage. The professional officers behind this transition are largely unknown to all but the serious student or specialist.
Major General Clarence Edwards was one of these career officers who took an active role in this transition; in Edwards’ case, it was the culmination of a very active career, beginning with his graduation from West Point in 1883. After sixteen years on and off the US frontier, he missed the war in Cuba but saw very active combat duty in the Philippines as Adjutant-General under General Henry Lawton, an active commander who was killed in action in the islands. Edwards’ next post, in 1900, was to the Bureau of Insular Affairs, where he would serve as chief for the next twelve years. This bureau oversaw United States possessions such as Guam, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines Islands. As a bureau chief, Edwards was in an almost independent command, hobnobbing with presidents, politicians and general officers, all in the course of a business day. This duty conditioned him to be less than the ideal subordinate, especially in France in 1917-1918, where he would serve under the mercurial General John J. Pershing, an officer he had previously served with and did not get along with. Hence his maligned reputation during World War I.
Author Shay puts the record straight in this first full length biography of the Commanding Officer of the 26th Yankee Division, known affectionately as “Daddy” to the troops under his command.
World War II
Dorr, Robert F. Mission to Berlin: The American Airmen Who Struck the Heart of Hitler’s Reich. Zenith Press. Ill.; notes; appendices; bib.; index. 336p. ISBN:978-0-7603-3898-8. $28.00 May, 2011.
This is the story of one mission in the massive air campaign fought by the United States against Nazi Germany. This particular engagement took place on February 3, 1945 and consisted of over one thousand aircraft and fifteen thousand airmen on a daylight raid to Berlin, the heart of Nazi Germany.
As the basis for his story, Dorr uses a minute-by-minute account of the raid from the pre-dawn wake up calls to the early evening return to airfields in England. Using a mix of minute detail and the veterans own words, the reader gets to know the men involved, along with how each performed his duties, enabling each individual piece to make up the whole machine that was the U.S. Army air Corps. Added to this is Dorr’s telling of how Allied and enemy weapons were developed and how they performed over the course of the war.
Those of us who grew up on stories of the last “Greatest Generation” in their fight against the Axis forces in World War II will find Mission to Berlin an essential addition to their collections.
This is the story of one mission in the massive air campaign fought by the United States against Nazi Germany. This particular engagement took place on February 3, 1945 and consisted of over one thousand aircraft and fifteen thousand airmen on a daylight raid to Berlin, the heart of Nazi Germany.
As the basis for his story, Dorr uses a minute-by-minute account of the raid from the pre-dawn wake up calls to the early evening return to airfields in England. Using a mix of minute detail and the veterans own words, the reader gets to know the men involved, along with how each performed his duties, enabling each individual piece to make up the whole machine that was the U.S. Army air Corps. Added to this is Dorr’s telling of how Allied and enemy weapons were developed and how they performed over the course of the war.
Those of us who grew up on stories of the last “Greatest Generation” in their fight against the Axis forces in World War II will find Mission to Berlin an essential addition to their collections.
American History
Berger, Molly W. Hotel Dreams: Luxury, Technology and Urban Ambition in America, 1829-1929. Johns Hopkins University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 328p. ISBN: 978-0-8018-9987-4. $60.00 March, 2011.
Most people, at one point in their lives, have spent the night in rented lodgings, be it hotel, motel or cabin. Those who have been fortunate to have spent time in the larger, older hotels (almost always found in larger cities), will remember the size, style, glamour and opulence of the place.
Molly Berger takes us back to the beginnings of the hotel in American history and its impact on life and society. Beginning in the 1820’s, she focuses on four hotels: the Tremont House, Boston, 1829; the Continental Hotel, Philadelphia, 1860; the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, 1875; and, the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, 1927. Each gets a chapter devoted to their design, construction, marketing and how these buildings became cultural symbols that shaped each of their respective cityscapes. Interspersed are chapters defining the development of the commercial luxury hotel; their emergence as distinctly American; their proliferation from the 1830’s to the Civil War; their resurgence as an American palace; and, finally, the new modern hotel (up to 1929).
This book is not just the story of buildings but also the story of life unfolding within those buildings and how they shaped ideas about class, gender and race. Very much a part of this story is the public debate each generated concerning urban development, economic power and the ideals of a democratic society. As the “luxury hotel” is still with us, much of these ideas and debates are relevant today.
A very informative and entertaining read.
Most people, at one point in their lives, have spent the night in rented lodgings, be it hotel, motel or cabin. Those who have been fortunate to have spent time in the larger, older hotels (almost always found in larger cities), will remember the size, style, glamour and opulence of the place.
Molly Berger takes us back to the beginnings of the hotel in American history and its impact on life and society. Beginning in the 1820’s, she focuses on four hotels: the Tremont House, Boston, 1829; the Continental Hotel, Philadelphia, 1860; the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, 1875; and, the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, 1927. Each gets a chapter devoted to their design, construction, marketing and how these buildings became cultural symbols that shaped each of their respective cityscapes. Interspersed are chapters defining the development of the commercial luxury hotel; their emergence as distinctly American; their proliferation from the 1830’s to the Civil War; their resurgence as an American palace; and, finally, the new modern hotel (up to 1929).
This book is not just the story of buildings but also the story of life unfolding within those buildings and how they shaped ideas about class, gender and race. Very much a part of this story is the public debate each generated concerning urban development, economic power and the ideals of a democratic society. As the “luxury hotel” is still with us, much of these ideas and debates are relevant today.
A very informative and entertaining read.
Celebrity Biography
Bosworth, Patricia. Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 608p. ISBN: 978-0-5471-5257-8. $30.00 August, 2011.
Here is a celebrity biography that is told through an insiders’ viewpoint – and what a viewpoint, that of a friend who studied with Ms. Fonda at the Actor’s Studio, way back when. That the book presents such an unsparing portrait of this particular Fonda, does enormous credit to both ladies. The candid cooperation of friends, husbands, lovers – male and female and fellow actors adds tremendously to the intimacy of this life story.
Jane Fonda –loved her in Barbarella, hated her in Hanoi. You have to read this to believe it. If you keep your idols on a pedestal, you might want to skip this one.
Here is a celebrity biography that is told through an insiders’ viewpoint – and what a viewpoint, that of a friend who studied with Ms. Fonda at the Actor’s Studio, way back when. That the book presents such an unsparing portrait of this particular Fonda, does enormous credit to both ladies. The candid cooperation of friends, husbands, lovers – male and female and fellow actors adds tremendously to the intimacy of this life story.
Jane Fonda –loved her in Barbarella, hated her in Hanoi. You have to read this to believe it. If you keep your idols on a pedestal, you might want to skip this one.
Vietnam
Sorley, Lewis. Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ill.; maps; notes; glossary; bib.; index. 416p. ISBN: 978-0-5475-1826-8. $30 October, 2011.
When those of us of certain generations think about the war in Vietnam, the name Westmoreland inevitably comes to mind. As commander-in-chief in Vietnam, his name has become synonymous with the debacle that was Vietnam. Therefore, in order to understand the latter, one must attempt to understand the former. Looking past the smoke and mirrors that surround the subject can be daunting; even though almost forty years have past since the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Lewis Sorley has written an eye-opening biography of the man primarily responsible for pursuing the faulty strategy of attritional warfare for far too long a period of time, prolonging the war, to the utter destruction of the South Vietnamese, not for one moment ignoring the price paid by the soldiers, sailors and marines of this country.
Westmoreland, a man awed by his own magnificence, looked and acted as the “beau ideal” of the professional army officer; eagle scout; graduate of West Point; veteran of World War II and Korea; much admired by his superiors but not so much by his subordinates. In reality, he may have been little more than in the right place at the right time with the ability to blow his own horn with subtlety. He was President John Kennedy’s choice to command in Vietnam; after his assassination, President Lyndon Johnson chose to honor the appointment. If the former had lived, Westmoreland’s command might not have lasted as long; the tragic incompetence of the latter left him there far too long, clearly at a level far beyond his limited abilities and flawed psyche.
Sorley, West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran, has written what should become the definitive biography of Westmoreland and a sobering account of the high command of the Vietnam War.
When those of us of certain generations think about the war in Vietnam, the name Westmoreland inevitably comes to mind. As commander-in-chief in Vietnam, his name has become synonymous with the debacle that was Vietnam. Therefore, in order to understand the latter, one must attempt to understand the former. Looking past the smoke and mirrors that surround the subject can be daunting; even though almost forty years have past since the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Lewis Sorley has written an eye-opening biography of the man primarily responsible for pursuing the faulty strategy of attritional warfare for far too long a period of time, prolonging the war, to the utter destruction of the South Vietnamese, not for one moment ignoring the price paid by the soldiers, sailors and marines of this country.
Westmoreland, a man awed by his own magnificence, looked and acted as the “beau ideal” of the professional army officer; eagle scout; graduate of West Point; veteran of World War II and Korea; much admired by his superiors but not so much by his subordinates. In reality, he may have been little more than in the right place at the right time with the ability to blow his own horn with subtlety. He was President John Kennedy’s choice to command in Vietnam; after his assassination, President Lyndon Johnson chose to honor the appointment. If the former had lived, Westmoreland’s command might not have lasted as long; the tragic incompetence of the latter left him there far too long, clearly at a level far beyond his limited abilities and flawed psyche.
Sorley, West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran, has written what should become the definitive biography of Westmoreland and a sobering account of the high command of the Vietnam War.
Aviation History
Bak, Richard. The Big Jump: Lindbergh and the Great Atlantic Air Race. Wiley. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 352p. ISBN: 978-0-471- 47752- 5 $27.95 August, 2011.
The year was 1919. The war to end all wars had extracted its terrible price in blood and treasure. One part of that conflict to be romanticized was the new war in the air, the aces and their exploits the subject of magazines and dime novels everywhere. Interest in aviation did not stop with the Armistice and the next decades saw what would become the Golden Age of Aviation.
This “golden age” is perhaps best exemplified in the great race to be the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, either New York to Paris or vice versa, preferably non-stop. The trans-Atlantic air race of 1927 is the subject of Richard Bak’s latest offering, The Big Jump and it brings to life the era and the characters that made it so colorful and adventurous – and deadly. This story is not just about Charles Lindbergh, the unknown aviator who rightly claimed the $25,000 Orteig Prize in 1927 for his non-stop, solo flight but about the other aviators more well-known at the time than him. Charles Nungesser, Rene Fonck, Igor Sikorsky and Richard Byrd are a few among those that attempted to conquer the Atlantic and in so doing, time and space as well. Some paid with their lives, all won their share of glory.
This is a well-written, you are there narrative of the air ace that captured the world’s attention and was the epitome of the Roaring Twenties.
The year was 1919. The war to end all wars had extracted its terrible price in blood and treasure. One part of that conflict to be romanticized was the new war in the air, the aces and their exploits the subject of magazines and dime novels everywhere. Interest in aviation did not stop with the Armistice and the next decades saw what would become the Golden Age of Aviation.
This “golden age” is perhaps best exemplified in the great race to be the first to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, either New York to Paris or vice versa, preferably non-stop. The trans-Atlantic air race of 1927 is the subject of Richard Bak’s latest offering, The Big Jump and it brings to life the era and the characters that made it so colorful and adventurous – and deadly. This story is not just about Charles Lindbergh, the unknown aviator who rightly claimed the $25,000 Orteig Prize in 1927 for his non-stop, solo flight but about the other aviators more well-known at the time than him. Charles Nungesser, Rene Fonck, Igor Sikorsky and Richard Byrd are a few among those that attempted to conquer the Atlantic and in so doing, time and space as well. Some paid with their lives, all won their share of glory.
This is a well-written, you are there narrative of the air ace that captured the world’s attention and was the epitome of the Roaring Twenties.
American Civil War
The Gentlemen and the Roughs: Violence, Honor and Manhood in the Union Army. By Lorien Foote. New York. New York University Press. 2010. ISBN: 978-0-8147-2790-4. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Pp x, 237. $39.00
Gender studies is one of the newer aspects of Civil War research and, as The Gentlemen and the Roughs proves, is a new field that expands our knowledge of the Civil War and its participants. This book takes a gendered look at the Union Army by examining the overlooked conflict between educated and refined officers and the frequently uneducated and crude men under their command, as well as the conflict between Union officers from vastly different cultural backgrounds.
Lorien Foote begins by defining the Union Army as northern society in miniature, reflecting its culture and values and imbued with its strengths and weaknesses. It appeared cohesive enough to withstand the upcoming years of conflict with the Confederates but was actually rent with internal divisions: class, personality, ideology and regional differences all took away from the main goal of putting down the Southern rebellion. Foote states that these internal battles were fought against a backdrop of manhood. She defines what constituted a gentleman and how those “gentlemen” promoted that definition. These men were convinced that their behavior was the correct one and were fearful that their life in the army would change or distort it. They took steps to make sure that this would not happen and strove to lead by example and by force to emulate gentlemanly behavior. Personal discipline certainly had a place in army life, as well as in civilian and these gentlemen transferred these definitions of morality from one to the other. They would encourage or force their men to meet their standards using the full range of military regulations and then some.
In camp, officers cracked down on all aspects of military life: personal hygiene, vice, discipline and religion were but some of the areas in which the officers hoped to change the roughs into effective soldiers. To make their point, officers used the wide latitude offered by the Articles of War to punish soldiers for military offenses as well as behavioral offenses. Short of formal courts-martial, officers used direct violence, various forms of physical punishment and sometimes summarily shooting offenders to maintain order.
These gentlemanly traits transferred to the battlefield and combat as well. Truly refined officers, true gentlemen, fought in their own particular way, separate from the violent roughs. They showed restraint and were not given in to violence, rage and bloodlust, typical attributes of the roughs. Gentlemen also expected their peers to display the same “coolness” under fire. Not only were gentlemen brave, they were also unmoved by the events around them. Become excited or even energetic and this was a sign of loss of composure and self-control – the officer who did this was said to have become “unmanned”. Repercussions followed.
One result of valuing personal honor so highly was the inability to suffer insults to that honor. One could not permit a slight from another officer to go unresolved. This slight could follow them back into civilian life. Consequently, an absurd practice normally associated honor-obsessed Southerners, became a means to settle disputes between Northern officers. Author Foote uncovers many occurrences of dueling in the Union army which actually contradicts their education and logic and is more of an impulse of a rough rather than a gentleman.
Lastly, Foote examines how enlisted men viewed their officers, gentlemen or otherwise. Some privates considered themselves gentlemen (and many of the upper class served as enlisted men), found the officers disregarding their status due to their rank and in turn denigrated these officers, especially those who were excessively disciplinary but couldn't be found anywhere on the battlefield. Foote uses examples of soldiers challenging these officers to take off their shoulder straps and fight them man-to-man, indicating that the insignia, not the man,m made them superior.
Foote's use of primary sources is extensive; her use or regimental order books and courts-martial records to understand individual leadership styles within specific units is extremely useful to the understanding of perceptions of manhood during the Civil War.
Gender studies is one of the newer aspects of Civil War research and, as The Gentlemen and the Roughs proves, is a new field that expands our knowledge of the Civil War and its participants. This book takes a gendered look at the Union Army by examining the overlooked conflict between educated and refined officers and the frequently uneducated and crude men under their command, as well as the conflict between Union officers from vastly different cultural backgrounds.
Lorien Foote begins by defining the Union Army as northern society in miniature, reflecting its culture and values and imbued with its strengths and weaknesses. It appeared cohesive enough to withstand the upcoming years of conflict with the Confederates but was actually rent with internal divisions: class, personality, ideology and regional differences all took away from the main goal of putting down the Southern rebellion. Foote states that these internal battles were fought against a backdrop of manhood. She defines what constituted a gentleman and how those “gentlemen” promoted that definition. These men were convinced that their behavior was the correct one and were fearful that their life in the army would change or distort it. They took steps to make sure that this would not happen and strove to lead by example and by force to emulate gentlemanly behavior. Personal discipline certainly had a place in army life, as well as in civilian and these gentlemen transferred these definitions of morality from one to the other. They would encourage or force their men to meet their standards using the full range of military regulations and then some.
In camp, officers cracked down on all aspects of military life: personal hygiene, vice, discipline and religion were but some of the areas in which the officers hoped to change the roughs into effective soldiers. To make their point, officers used the wide latitude offered by the Articles of War to punish soldiers for military offenses as well as behavioral offenses. Short of formal courts-martial, officers used direct violence, various forms of physical punishment and sometimes summarily shooting offenders to maintain order.
These gentlemanly traits transferred to the battlefield and combat as well. Truly refined officers, true gentlemen, fought in their own particular way, separate from the violent roughs. They showed restraint and were not given in to violence, rage and bloodlust, typical attributes of the roughs. Gentlemen also expected their peers to display the same “coolness” under fire. Not only were gentlemen brave, they were also unmoved by the events around them. Become excited or even energetic and this was a sign of loss of composure and self-control – the officer who did this was said to have become “unmanned”. Repercussions followed.
One result of valuing personal honor so highly was the inability to suffer insults to that honor. One could not permit a slight from another officer to go unresolved. This slight could follow them back into civilian life. Consequently, an absurd practice normally associated honor-obsessed Southerners, became a means to settle disputes between Northern officers. Author Foote uncovers many occurrences of dueling in the Union army which actually contradicts their education and logic and is more of an impulse of a rough rather than a gentleman.
Lastly, Foote examines how enlisted men viewed their officers, gentlemen or otherwise. Some privates considered themselves gentlemen (and many of the upper class served as enlisted men), found the officers disregarding their status due to their rank and in turn denigrated these officers, especially those who were excessively disciplinary but couldn't be found anywhere on the battlefield. Foote uses examples of soldiers challenging these officers to take off their shoulder straps and fight them man-to-man, indicating that the insignia, not the man,m made them superior.
Foote's use of primary sources is extensive; her use or regimental order books and courts-martial records to understand individual leadership styles within specific units is extremely useful to the understanding of perceptions of manhood during the Civil War.
American Revolution
Schaeper, Thomas J. Edward Bancroft: Scientist, Author, Spy. Yale University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 352p. ISBN: 978-0-300-11842-1. $35.00 March, 2011.
For those who are conversant with the American Revolution and its participants, the name Edward Bancroft will be familiar; for those who are not as well read in the time period, the above mentioned luminary and his secret activities will come as somewhat of a surprise, if not a shock, as most know Benedict Arnold as the most famous, if not the only American spy caught during the conflict.
Bancroft was born in Massachusetts in 1745 and moved to England in the late 1760's to pursue a career as a scientist, researcher and man of letters. In recognition of his work in natural history, he was unanimously elected to the Royal Society in 1773. As a rising star, Bancroft associated with to others of like stature and became close to Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and John Adams, to name just three.
As the crisis with Great Britain grew, Bancroft was determined to fight for the preservation of the British Empire while at the same time defending American rights. When push came to shove, he sided with the mother country and while still believing in those principles, began his career as a secret agent. His success as an agent can be attested to by the fact that he was known at the time as a staunch American patriot; it wasn't until the late nineteenth century, when the British diplomatic archives were opened, that his secret life as a British agent was revealed. It is perhaps fortunate for America and French interests that his information could not or would not be aced upon throughout the course of the war.
Thomas Schaeper has crafted an excellent spy story analyzing both Bancroft's correspondence and diplomatic records, leaving it to the reader to decide if Edward Bancroft was a British patriot or an American traitor
For those who are conversant with the American Revolution and its participants, the name Edward Bancroft will be familiar; for those who are not as well read in the time period, the above mentioned luminary and his secret activities will come as somewhat of a surprise, if not a shock, as most know Benedict Arnold as the most famous, if not the only American spy caught during the conflict.
Bancroft was born in Massachusetts in 1745 and moved to England in the late 1760's to pursue a career as a scientist, researcher and man of letters. In recognition of his work in natural history, he was unanimously elected to the Royal Society in 1773. As a rising star, Bancroft associated with to others of like stature and became close to Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and John Adams, to name just three.
As the crisis with Great Britain grew, Bancroft was determined to fight for the preservation of the British Empire while at the same time defending American rights. When push came to shove, he sided with the mother country and while still believing in those principles, began his career as a secret agent. His success as an agent can be attested to by the fact that he was known at the time as a staunch American patriot; it wasn't until the late nineteenth century, when the British diplomatic archives were opened, that his secret life as a British agent was revealed. It is perhaps fortunate for America and French interests that his information could not or would not be aced upon throughout the course of the war.
Thomas Schaeper has crafted an excellent spy story analyzing both Bancroft's correspondence and diplomatic records, leaving it to the reader to decide if Edward Bancroft was a British patriot or an American traitor
German Military History
Palmer, Michael A. The German Wars: A Concise History, 1859-1945. Zenith Press. Ill.; bib.; index. 256p. ISBN: 978-0-7603-3780-2. $29.00 November, 2010.
Almost two centuries of warfare involving the Germans covered in less than three hundred pages? Definitely concise and perhaps not very deep in any one spot; never judge a book by its cover is the old adage and this book is a good example. Concise, yes, but lacking in quality analysis – definitely not.
Author Palmer looks at the political, economic, social and military developments across the European continent and the United States, always keeping Germany as the central player in the story. He begins with the Wars of German Unification against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870-71), covers the interwar period, including the Balkan Wars and, finally, the two World Wars. He discusses the national strategies of each combatant, the warfare and analyzes the lessons each learned (or nopt) at the end of each chapter. His treatment of the major personalities throughout the book is very even-handed, with no ranting about the Hohenzollerns or Hitler either. His thesis that Prussia's success lad it to assume (incorrectly), its supremacy at warfare is thought provoking.
Great reading for the casual history buff as well as armchair strategists and military historians of all stripe
Almost two centuries of warfare involving the Germans covered in less than three hundred pages? Definitely concise and perhaps not very deep in any one spot; never judge a book by its cover is the old adage and this book is a good example. Concise, yes, but lacking in quality analysis – definitely not.
Author Palmer looks at the political, economic, social and military developments across the European continent and the United States, always keeping Germany as the central player in the story. He begins with the Wars of German Unification against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870-71), covers the interwar period, including the Balkan Wars and, finally, the two World Wars. He discusses the national strategies of each combatant, the warfare and analyzes the lessons each learned (or nopt) at the end of each chapter. His treatment of the major personalities throughout the book is very even-handed, with no ranting about the Hohenzollerns or Hitler either. His thesis that Prussia's success lad it to assume (incorrectly), its supremacy at warfare is thought provoking.
Great reading for the casual history buff as well as armchair strategists and military historians of all stripe
American League Baseball
Whalen, Thomas J. When the Red Sox Ruled: Baseball's First Dynasty, 1912-1918. Ivan R. Dee. Ill.; bib.; index. 240p. ISBN: 978-1-56663-745-9. $24.95 April, 2011.
One can argue baseball's first dynasty 'till the cows come home but Thomas Whalen has made a case for the Deadball Era Boston Red Sox who, between 1912 and 1918 won four World Series (1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918) and finished second twice in between. They soundly defeated four different National League teams during their run and for almost the last decade of the era were baseball's number one team.
Whalen begins by retelling Boston's baseball history from 1871, quickly setting the stage for the 1912 season and the heart of the book. He presents the material in a pleasant, rolling narrative, with very few statistics and no play by play but with plenty of behind the scenes snippets which makes for an enjoyable read.
One can argue baseball's first dynasty 'till the cows come home but Thomas Whalen has made a case for the Deadball Era Boston Red Sox who, between 1912 and 1918 won four World Series (1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918) and finished second twice in between. They soundly defeated four different National League teams during their run and for almost the last decade of the era were baseball's number one team.
Whalen begins by retelling Boston's baseball history from 1871, quickly setting the stage for the 1912 season and the heart of the book. He presents the material in a pleasant, rolling narrative, with very few statistics and no play by play but with plenty of behind the scenes snippets which makes for an enjoyable read.
World War II in the Pacific
Jersey, Stanley Coleman. Hell's Islands: The Untold Story of Guadalcanal. Texas A & M University Press. Ill.; maps; appendices; bib.; notes; index. 536p. ISBN: 978-1-5854-4616-1. $35.00 December, 2007.
The author, a veteran of World War II in the South Pacific, has spent forty years researching the Guadalcanal campaign and has produced what should become the standard reference work on the subject. There have been other books written about Guadalcanal; this is the first one to include sources from Australia, Japan and, of course, the United States. Jersey interviewed over two hundred veterans of this campaign, both Japanese and Allied.
The book begins with the Australian defense of the southern Solomon Islands, the Japanese invasion on Tulagi and the subsequent evacuation by the Allies. The stage thus set, Jersey describes the Japanese strategy for taking the island and their construction of an airbase before turning to the campaign itself. His emphasis is on the combat on Guadalcanal during the period of August to December, 1942 but he also covers the operations on the other Solomon Islands, such as Tulagi, Guvutu, Tanamboko and Florida and includes the situation of construction crews along with all combatants.
For some, this book may be overly detailed; discerning readers can skim; for others, it will serve as the master reference work. All in all, through the use of first person accounts from both sides, it is a major contribution to the literature.
The author, a veteran of World War II in the South Pacific, has spent forty years researching the Guadalcanal campaign and has produced what should become the standard reference work on the subject. There have been other books written about Guadalcanal; this is the first one to include sources from Australia, Japan and, of course, the United States. Jersey interviewed over two hundred veterans of this campaign, both Japanese and Allied.
The book begins with the Australian defense of the southern Solomon Islands, the Japanese invasion on Tulagi and the subsequent evacuation by the Allies. The stage thus set, Jersey describes the Japanese strategy for taking the island and their construction of an airbase before turning to the campaign itself. His emphasis is on the combat on Guadalcanal during the period of August to December, 1942 but he also covers the operations on the other Solomon Islands, such as Tulagi, Guvutu, Tanamboko and Florida and includes the situation of construction crews along with all combatants.
For some, this book may be overly detailed; discerning readers can skim; for others, it will serve as the master reference work. All in all, through the use of first person accounts from both sides, it is a major contribution to the literature.
Presidential History
Algeo, Matthew. The President is a Sick Man: Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth. Chicago Review Press. Ill.; bib.; index. 272p. ISBN: 978-1-5697-6350-6. $24.95 May, 2011.
Here is the story of the “Honest Presidents'” not so honest side (surprise) and the plan to cover up his major cancer surgery, which occurred on a yacht in the middle of Long Island Sound during his second term as president.
On July 1, 1893, President Grover Cleveland disappeared and was not heard from for five days. Aboard a friend's yacht, he underwent major surgery on his mouth to remove a cancerous tumor. Of course, some of the country's leading surgeons performed the surgery and a leading dentist who was a practiced practitioner of the use of anesthetics was also on hand. The fact that the operation was successfully performed “at sea” lends an incredible air to the scheme, not to mention the fact that the patient survived and recovered extremely quickly. As the country was in the middle of a major financial crisis at the time, secrecy was paramount. Any indication that the president was unable to lead the country would most likely have caused an even greater panic. So, it was covered up.
Enter one of the country's leading journalists of the day, E.J. Edwards. He exposed the secret operation, Cleveland denied it ever happened and the public believed the man who ran for office with the slogan “Tell the Truth”. Edwards was discredited, called “a disgrace to journalism” by a colleague and suffered his smeared reputation for a number of years until the lead doctor, W.W. Keen, wrote the definitive medical story himself. Edwards was vindicated. But even after this disclosure, nobody really believed the event actually happened.
Matthew Algeo has written a remarkable book detailing this one of a kind happening and little known part of presidential history. He does digress, yet even his digressions are informative and easily digested.
This is a real page turner, full of political intrigue and investigative journalism during the Gilded Age.
Here is the story of the “Honest Presidents'” not so honest side (surprise) and the plan to cover up his major cancer surgery, which occurred on a yacht in the middle of Long Island Sound during his second term as president.
On July 1, 1893, President Grover Cleveland disappeared and was not heard from for five days. Aboard a friend's yacht, he underwent major surgery on his mouth to remove a cancerous tumor. Of course, some of the country's leading surgeons performed the surgery and a leading dentist who was a practiced practitioner of the use of anesthetics was also on hand. The fact that the operation was successfully performed “at sea” lends an incredible air to the scheme, not to mention the fact that the patient survived and recovered extremely quickly. As the country was in the middle of a major financial crisis at the time, secrecy was paramount. Any indication that the president was unable to lead the country would most likely have caused an even greater panic. So, it was covered up.
Enter one of the country's leading journalists of the day, E.J. Edwards. He exposed the secret operation, Cleveland denied it ever happened and the public believed the man who ran for office with the slogan “Tell the Truth”. Edwards was discredited, called “a disgrace to journalism” by a colleague and suffered his smeared reputation for a number of years until the lead doctor, W.W. Keen, wrote the definitive medical story himself. Edwards was vindicated. But even after this disclosure, nobody really believed the event actually happened.
Matthew Algeo has written a remarkable book detailing this one of a kind happening and little known part of presidential history. He does digress, yet even his digressions are informative and easily digested.
This is a real page turner, full of political intrigue and investigative journalism during the Gilded Age.
Michigan's Civil War
Dempsey, Jack. Michigan and the Civil War: A Great and Bloody Sacrifice. The History Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 192p. ISBN: 978-1-60949-173-4. tp. $21.99 February, 2011.
Trying to stuff the State of Michigan's contribution to the Union victory in the American Civil War into less than two hundred pages is certainly a daunting, almost impossible task. The author is bound to, of necessity, leave something out, not go into enough depth somewhere else and the end product will not please everybody (when does it?). Mr. Dempsey has made a fair attempt at recounting the Wolverine State's participation in the War Between the States. There are fourteen chapters that follow a thematic scheme: Women of War, War on Water, Special Forces and The Fighting 102nd to name a few, that focus on specifics – women who served with the men as men; the States' six hundred men who served in the United States Navy; and, elite units such as the sharpshooters and colored troops.
Michigan's contributions started at Fort Sumter and ended a year or so after Appomattox Court House and the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. This is a good starting point and should encourage readers to look deeper into the subject.
Trying to stuff the State of Michigan's contribution to the Union victory in the American Civil War into less than two hundred pages is certainly a daunting, almost impossible task. The author is bound to, of necessity, leave something out, not go into enough depth somewhere else and the end product will not please everybody (when does it?). Mr. Dempsey has made a fair attempt at recounting the Wolverine State's participation in the War Between the States. There are fourteen chapters that follow a thematic scheme: Women of War, War on Water, Special Forces and The Fighting 102nd to name a few, that focus on specifics – women who served with the men as men; the States' six hundred men who served in the United States Navy; and, elite units such as the sharpshooters and colored troops.
Michigan's contributions started at Fort Sumter and ended a year or so after Appomattox Court House and the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. This is a good starting point and should encourage readers to look deeper into the subject.
Organized Crime
Balsamo, William and John Balsamo. Young Al Capone: The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1879-1925. Skyhorse Publishing. Ill.; index. 290p. ISBN: 978-1-61608-085-3. $24.95 March, 2011
Everybody knows the story of Al Capone, the gangster king of Chicago, through the old television series or the newer movie of the same title The Untouchables, which means they know he ruled underworld Chicago, orchestrated the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, fought Eliot Ness and went to jail for income tax evasion. But Capone didn't suddenly appear one day in the Windy City as the boss. He served an apprenticeship, learned his craft, so to speak, in New York City and, until now, that story has not been told in any detail.
Young Al Capone details his early life in Brooklyn, being mentored by John Torrio and Frankie Yale, how he got the famous facial scars and the reason he left New York for Chicago. These are just a few of the revelations in this book but what makes it a fascinating read is the dialect used by the authors. Asserting that it is not necessarily what was said, it most assuredly places the reader in the Navy Yard section of Brooklyn during the time period. These authors just may be the preeminent Capone historians, or experts. This is definitely the indside story.
Everybody knows the story of Al Capone, the gangster king of Chicago, through the old television series or the newer movie of the same title The Untouchables, which means they know he ruled underworld Chicago, orchestrated the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, fought Eliot Ness and went to jail for income tax evasion. But Capone didn't suddenly appear one day in the Windy City as the boss. He served an apprenticeship, learned his craft, so to speak, in New York City and, until now, that story has not been told in any detail.
Young Al Capone details his early life in Brooklyn, being mentored by John Torrio and Frankie Yale, how he got the famous facial scars and the reason he left New York for Chicago. These are just a few of the revelations in this book but what makes it a fascinating read is the dialect used by the authors. Asserting that it is not necessarily what was said, it most assuredly places the reader in the Navy Yard section of Brooklyn during the time period. These authors just may be the preeminent Capone historians, or experts. This is definitely the indside story.
Mountain Men
Barbour, Barton H. Jedediah Smith: No Ordinary Mountain Man. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; maps; notes; bib.; index. 304p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4196-1. tp. $ 19.95 April, 2011.
The mere mention of the name “mountain man” conjures up images of a motley collection of hardy individuals who gave up the complacent mores of society for a life alone as a fur trader/trapper/explorer in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Names like Jim Bridger and John Colter are familiar to generations of Walt Disney fans (as well as Western buffs). To a somewhat lesser extent is the life and career of Jedediah Smith, the subject of this book.
Smith was born in 1799 in New York. In 1819, the family moved to Pennsylvania and then to Ohio seven years later. Well educated for the time period, Smith was given a copy of Lewis and Clark's journal and this was said to have inspired the wanderlust in Smith.
The details of his early life, the history of the fur trade is discussed here as well as Smith's contributions to the exploration of the West. He traveled extensively in unknown territory, more than any other mountain man, traversing the central Rockies, down to Arizona, across the Mojave Desert and, finally, into California. He also came back from California across the Great Basin.
Barbour delves deep into Smith's journals (which Smith intended to publish before his tragic death), in order to bring out the man without the myth. But Smith is a complex man and such is added to the difficulty of doing so.
All in all, a well-written book for those with a taste for adventure during the Early National Period of our history, Western history and the fur trade.
The mere mention of the name “mountain man” conjures up images of a motley collection of hardy individuals who gave up the complacent mores of society for a life alone as a fur trader/trapper/explorer in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Names like Jim Bridger and John Colter are familiar to generations of Walt Disney fans (as well as Western buffs). To a somewhat lesser extent is the life and career of Jedediah Smith, the subject of this book.
Smith was born in 1799 in New York. In 1819, the family moved to Pennsylvania and then to Ohio seven years later. Well educated for the time period, Smith was given a copy of Lewis and Clark's journal and this was said to have inspired the wanderlust in Smith.
The details of his early life, the history of the fur trade is discussed here as well as Smith's contributions to the exploration of the West. He traveled extensively in unknown territory, more than any other mountain man, traversing the central Rockies, down to Arizona, across the Mojave Desert and, finally, into California. He also came back from California across the Great Basin.
Barbour delves deep into Smith's journals (which Smith intended to publish before his tragic death), in order to bring out the man without the myth. But Smith is a complex man and such is added to the difficulty of doing so.
All in all, a well-written book for those with a taste for adventure during the Early National Period of our history, Western history and the fur trade.
Indian Wars
Van de Logt, Mark. War Party in Blue: Pawnee Scouts in the U.S. Army. Forward by Walter R. Echo-Hawk. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; maps; notes; bib.; index. 368p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4139-8. $34.95 September, 2010.
The United States Army's campaign against the Plains Indians would not have been as successful as it ultimately was without the active assistance of members of various tribes acting as scouts for the boys in blue. No tribe provided this assistance any better than the Pawnee, the focus of this thorough study.
The “Pawnee Scout Battalion” was attached to the United States Army from 1864 to 1877, which coincided with the height of the Plains Indian Wars. From the Great Plains to the American Southwest, they led long reconnaissance patrols deep into hostile country, led attacks on enemy camps, chased down recalcitrant bands of renegades and even rescued their army employers from disaster on the battlefield.
Unlike other histories of this unit, this one focuses on the scouts themselves, bringing to light the service of such men as Frank White, John Box and Ta ra da ka wa. Loght begins the book with a chapter titled Pawnee Military Culture in the Mid-1800's which does an excellent job of defining the importance of warfare to the Pawnee. Seemingly indispensable to Pawnee male life and identity, warfare defined one's masculinity, helped one attain status and prestige and provided social order and discipline. Pawnee spirituality went hand in hand with this military culture, giving it ritual and significance.
This martial tradition made them successful warriors in campaign after campaign. They viewed their role as an extension of their own conflict against the tribes they thought to be a greater threat to themselves than the white power that employed them. They went at it with a vigor.
This is an essential book that unveils a long neglected episode of American Indian history. A must for everyone interested in American military history and the history of the American West.
The United States Army's campaign against the Plains Indians would not have been as successful as it ultimately was without the active assistance of members of various tribes acting as scouts for the boys in blue. No tribe provided this assistance any better than the Pawnee, the focus of this thorough study.
The “Pawnee Scout Battalion” was attached to the United States Army from 1864 to 1877, which coincided with the height of the Plains Indian Wars. From the Great Plains to the American Southwest, they led long reconnaissance patrols deep into hostile country, led attacks on enemy camps, chased down recalcitrant bands of renegades and even rescued their army employers from disaster on the battlefield.
Unlike other histories of this unit, this one focuses on the scouts themselves, bringing to light the service of such men as Frank White, John Box and Ta ra da ka wa. Loght begins the book with a chapter titled Pawnee Military Culture in the Mid-1800's which does an excellent job of defining the importance of warfare to the Pawnee. Seemingly indispensable to Pawnee male life and identity, warfare defined one's masculinity, helped one attain status and prestige and provided social order and discipline. Pawnee spirituality went hand in hand with this military culture, giving it ritual and significance.
This martial tradition made them successful warriors in campaign after campaign. They viewed their role as an extension of their own conflict against the tribes they thought to be a greater threat to themselves than the white power that employed them. They went at it with a vigor.
This is an essential book that unveils a long neglected episode of American Indian history. A must for everyone interested in American military history and the history of the American West.
Early National Period
Owens, Robert M. Mr. Jefferson's Hammer: William Henry Harrison and the Origins of American Indian Policy. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; maps; notes; bib.; index. 311p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4198-0. tp. $19.95 January, 2011.
When people talk at all about our historical presidents, it is inevitable that the name William Henry Harrison comes up, followed immediately thereafter by the length of his presidency and untimely death. (Never go out in the rain without an overcoat). Although there is next to nothing in his presidency, there is everything in his governorship of the Indiana Territory, which is the focus of this well-written, deeply researched book.
Author Owens explores Harrison's life between the years 1800 and 1815, when Harrison “retired” to his Ohio farm after the close of the War of 1812. He places the man in the context of his Virginia birth and upbringing, his enlistment in the United States Army and his rapid rise as territorial governor of the Indiana Territory (modern-day Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota) and the world of early American Indian affairs and the national politics of the time period.
This is a well-balanced, colorful story told with a clarity seldom seen in this subject area that will appeal to students of the time period and general readers alike.
When people talk at all about our historical presidents, it is inevitable that the name William Henry Harrison comes up, followed immediately thereafter by the length of his presidency and untimely death. (Never go out in the rain without an overcoat). Although there is next to nothing in his presidency, there is everything in his governorship of the Indiana Territory, which is the focus of this well-written, deeply researched book.
Author Owens explores Harrison's life between the years 1800 and 1815, when Harrison “retired” to his Ohio farm after the close of the War of 1812. He places the man in the context of his Virginia birth and upbringing, his enlistment in the United States Army and his rapid rise as territorial governor of the Indiana Territory (modern-day Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota) and the world of early American Indian affairs and the national politics of the time period.
This is a well-balanced, colorful story told with a clarity seldom seen in this subject area that will appeal to students of the time period and general readers alike.
Indian Wars in the West
Victor, Frances Fuller. Our Centennial Indian War and the Life of General Custer. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; maps; index. 208p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4173-2. $29.95 March, 2011.
Initially published in the spring of 1877, this is the first book ever published on the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Reprinted here in a handy little hardcover, it is once again available to students of the battle, General George Armstrong Custer and the history of the Indian Wars in the American West.
Frances Fuller Victor (1826-1902), born in New York and raised in Ohio and Pennsylvania, was a historical novelist, first published in 1848. she moved to Oregon with her second husband, Henry C. Victor in 1864 and her writing shifted from fiction to regional histories. Known for her scrupulous research, she was successful in both genres. After her husband died, she accepted a ten year contract offered by noted historian Hubert H. Bancroft. She was required to turn over her extensive collections and research and unfortunately, her contributions to the monumental The History of the West were not credited to her.
Our Centennial Indian War should be read as a contemporaneous account of the campaign and is important in that respect as there was no time for much conjecture, opinion and second guessing in a work published less than a year after the disastrous Big Horn battle. It is much to her credit that she obtained and used Indian perspectives on the battle. Victor also made use of other first-person accounts and government documents.
This is a must for all Custer students.
Initially published in the spring of 1877, this is the first book ever published on the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Reprinted here in a handy little hardcover, it is once again available to students of the battle, General George Armstrong Custer and the history of the Indian Wars in the American West.
Frances Fuller Victor (1826-1902), born in New York and raised in Ohio and Pennsylvania, was a historical novelist, first published in 1848. she moved to Oregon with her second husband, Henry C. Victor in 1864 and her writing shifted from fiction to regional histories. Known for her scrupulous research, she was successful in both genres. After her husband died, she accepted a ten year contract offered by noted historian Hubert H. Bancroft. She was required to turn over her extensive collections and research and unfortunately, her contributions to the monumental The History of the West were not credited to her.
Our Centennial Indian War should be read as a contemporaneous account of the campaign and is important in that respect as there was no time for much conjecture, opinion and second guessing in a work published less than a year after the disastrous Big Horn battle. It is much to her credit that she obtained and used Indian perspectives on the battle. Victor also made use of other first-person accounts and government documents.
This is a must for all Custer students.
South American History
Harvey, Robert. Bolivar: The Liberator of Latin America. Skyhorse Publishing. Ill.; bib.; maps; index. 432p. ISBN: 978-1-61608-316-8. $26.95 June, 2011.
Simon Bolivar, the “Great Liberator”, someone whose name you might recognize or remember from history class but not quite remember what exactly it was he did for or to South America. That blank spot has been admirably filled in by Robert Harvey in this biography suitable reader.
Bolivar would be on a par with our own George Washington as a military leader for independence or liberation. He was responsible for liberating Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama from the clutches of Spanish imperialism, beginning in 1812 and ending in 1825, largely without any or little foreign help. It is after liberation that Bolivar and Washington part company, so ot speak. Washington, offered what amounted to a dictatorship, politely declined and retired to private life. Bolivar, by 1828, declared himself a dictator; assassination attempts soon followed and he was finally hounded from office and died waiting to go into exile in December, 1830, at the age of 47.
Although there are no footnotes, which is unusual for a book of this type, there is an extensi9ve bibliography of sources used. Mr. Harvey is certainly no stranger to the area or time period, having published previously on the Napoleonic era.
Simon Bolivar, the “Great Liberator”, someone whose name you might recognize or remember from history class but not quite remember what exactly it was he did for or to South America. That blank spot has been admirably filled in by Robert Harvey in this biography suitable reader.
Bolivar would be on a par with our own George Washington as a military leader for independence or liberation. He was responsible for liberating Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama from the clutches of Spanish imperialism, beginning in 1812 and ending in 1825, largely without any or little foreign help. It is after liberation that Bolivar and Washington part company, so ot speak. Washington, offered what amounted to a dictatorship, politely declined and retired to private life. Bolivar, by 1828, declared himself a dictator; assassination attempts soon followed and he was finally hounded from office and died waiting to go into exile in December, 1830, at the age of 47.
Although there are no footnotes, which is unusual for a book of this type, there is an extensi9ve bibliography of sources used. Mr. Harvey is certainly no stranger to the area or time period, having published previously on the Napoleonic era.
World War II
Lunde, Henrik O. Finland's War of Choice: The Troubled German-Finnish Coalition in World War II. Casemate. Ill.; notes; maps; appendices; bib.; index. 432p. ISBN: 978-1-935149-48-4. $32.95 February, 2011.
It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows and none were more so than the alliance between Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944. An alliance between a democracy and a dictatorship is definitely odd but after Finland's drubbing by the Russians in the Winter War of 1939-1940, Germany may have been the only country willing to help. Why the Nazis committed good troops to this frozen theater remains to be seen as well.
This book is the first in English to tackle this part of World War II in Europe and does so with a fair amount of success given the difficulty of the Finnish language (for those who don't speak it) and the isolation of the theater from the rest of the conflict.
The book begins with a run-up of Finnish history from 1917, when it was separated from the Soviet Union until 1940, after it was soundly beaten by the Russians in the Winter War. It then examines motives for the coalition, which would primarily be the common enemy – Russia. From Finland's point of view, it looked as though Germany would win the war (in 1941) and would help regain territory lost to the Russians. Germany was willing to help provided the Finns helped capture the northern port of Murmansk and assist in the attack on Leningrad. Both sides were dreaming the impossible dream.
As the Germans lost in Russia, the Finns could do nothing to thwart the Soviet counteroffensive in 1944 and lost all that they had won. They settled on a separate armistice and the fact that they had inflicted 830,000 casualties on the Soviets.
Henrik Lunde, a Vietnam veteran and Special Operations colonel after that, had written a moving campaign history that recounts all sides of this most northern part of the Eastern Front.
It is said that politics makes strange bedfellows and none were more so than the alliance between Finland and Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1944. An alliance between a democracy and a dictatorship is definitely odd but after Finland's drubbing by the Russians in the Winter War of 1939-1940, Germany may have been the only country willing to help. Why the Nazis committed good troops to this frozen theater remains to be seen as well.
This book is the first in English to tackle this part of World War II in Europe and does so with a fair amount of success given the difficulty of the Finnish language (for those who don't speak it) and the isolation of the theater from the rest of the conflict.
The book begins with a run-up of Finnish history from 1917, when it was separated from the Soviet Union until 1940, after it was soundly beaten by the Russians in the Winter War. It then examines motives for the coalition, which would primarily be the common enemy – Russia. From Finland's point of view, it looked as though Germany would win the war (in 1941) and would help regain territory lost to the Russians. Germany was willing to help provided the Finns helped capture the northern port of Murmansk and assist in the attack on Leningrad. Both sides were dreaming the impossible dream.
As the Germans lost in Russia, the Finns could do nothing to thwart the Soviet counteroffensive in 1944 and lost all that they had won. They settled on a separate armistice and the fact that they had inflicted 830,000 casualties on the Soviets.
Henrik Lunde, a Vietnam veteran and Special Operations colonel after that, had written a moving campaign history that recounts all sides of this most northern part of the Eastern Front.
World War I
Hochschild, Adam. To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 408p. ISBN: 978-0-6187-5828-9. $28.00 May, 2011.
This is a new history of the First World War written by an American and focused on the British involvement in the conflict. It begins with the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary, of Queen Victoria's reign and proceeds to the second Boer War of 1899 in South Africa, discussing its heroes, pacifists and those opposing the war and its atrocities. Here we are introduced to some of the characters who will figure in the later story, especially Sir John French and his sister, who are on opposite sides of the imperialism issue. We also meet army general Douglas Haig, Rudyard Kipling, diplomat Sir Alfred Milner and Bertrand Russell, among others who will all figure prominently in the larger story of the Great War.
Hochschild presents a fascinating picture of World War I as an insane bloodbath by no means supported by all of the people from every country on the globe. Alternating scenes from both sides presents the futility of those opposing the war and the futility of trying to survive combat as a soldier, coupled with the criminal stupidity of politicians and generals, it is a picture of humanity both sad and patriotic.
The author has the rare gift of being able to present history as though it is historical fiction. Certainly the research is here; the prose is compelling enough to keep the pages turning; and, the characters, whose lives Hochschild so eloquently brings to life.
If you have to read a book about World War I, make it this one.
This is a new history of the First World War written by an American and focused on the British involvement in the conflict. It begins with the Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary, of Queen Victoria's reign and proceeds to the second Boer War of 1899 in South Africa, discussing its heroes, pacifists and those opposing the war and its atrocities. Here we are introduced to some of the characters who will figure in the later story, especially Sir John French and his sister, who are on opposite sides of the imperialism issue. We also meet army general Douglas Haig, Rudyard Kipling, diplomat Sir Alfred Milner and Bertrand Russell, among others who will all figure prominently in the larger story of the Great War.
Hochschild presents a fascinating picture of World War I as an insane bloodbath by no means supported by all of the people from every country on the globe. Alternating scenes from both sides presents the futility of those opposing the war and the futility of trying to survive combat as a soldier, coupled with the criminal stupidity of politicians and generals, it is a picture of humanity both sad and patriotic.
The author has the rare gift of being able to present history as though it is historical fiction. Certainly the research is here; the prose is compelling enough to keep the pages turning; and, the characters, whose lives Hochschild so eloquently brings to life.
If you have to read a book about World War I, make it this one.
American Civil War
Bertera, Martin N. and Kim Crawford. The 4th Michigan Infantry in the Civil War. Michigan State University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; roster; index. 425p. ISBN: 978-0-8701-3973-4 $44.95 October, 2010.
As we commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, we will see many books focused on all aspects of the conflict. None more so than unit histories, which recount the wartime services of organizations from both sides. They will vary in strength; some will be good, others not so much. Some will stand above the rest. This book is one which will set the benchmark for quality Civil War history. Even more so as it honors the service of a regiment from a state whose contributions to the Union victory have been largely discounted or ignored completely.
Bertera and Crawford have gone above and beyond in first, assembling what must have been an enormous amount of original sources and, second putting it all together in an extremely readable format. Diaries, letters, memoirs, contemporary newspaper accounts, letters written by soldiers to their hometown papers, official reports from all unit levels as well as some Confederate accounts have all been used extensively to keep the reader informed and headed in the right direction.
There are numerous stories that make up the larger story of the 4th Michigan Infantry; stories that start with the regiments' organization in mid-1861 and continue throughout the war. Some are humorous, others are not; all recount the daily lives of the troops, their beliefs, likes and dislikes. They are definitely not happy at various times during the war, none more so than at the end of the war when, instead of being discharged, they were sent to serve in Texas, during what certainly was an interminably long extra year.
This down-to-earth, non-romantic book of men at war belongs on every serious bookshelf.
As we commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, we will see many books focused on all aspects of the conflict. None more so than unit histories, which recount the wartime services of organizations from both sides. They will vary in strength; some will be good, others not so much. Some will stand above the rest. This book is one which will set the benchmark for quality Civil War history. Even more so as it honors the service of a regiment from a state whose contributions to the Union victory have been largely discounted or ignored completely.
Bertera and Crawford have gone above and beyond in first, assembling what must have been an enormous amount of original sources and, second putting it all together in an extremely readable format. Diaries, letters, memoirs, contemporary newspaper accounts, letters written by soldiers to their hometown papers, official reports from all unit levels as well as some Confederate accounts have all been used extensively to keep the reader informed and headed in the right direction.
There are numerous stories that make up the larger story of the 4th Michigan Infantry; stories that start with the regiments' organization in mid-1861 and continue throughout the war. Some are humorous, others are not; all recount the daily lives of the troops, their beliefs, likes and dislikes. They are definitely not happy at various times during the war, none more so than at the end of the war when, instead of being discharged, they were sent to serve in Texas, during what certainly was an interminably long extra year.
This down-to-earth, non-romantic book of men at war belongs on every serious bookshelf.
World War II
Schiffrin, Andre. Dr. Seuss & Co. Go To War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of America's Leading Comic Artists. The New Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; chronology. 288p. tp. ISBN: 978-1-59558-545-5. $21.95 January, 2011.
Dr. Seuss & Co. Go To War represents democracy in action during World War II, featuring the comic art not only of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), but of some well-known associates such as Saul Steinberg, Al Hirschfeld, Arthur Szyk, Carl Rose and Mischa Richter, to name a few. Theses artists, and others, fought the fight against fascism from the home front and no one was exempt from being a target, especially American isolationists, pacifists and those who ran big business.
The book begins with events leading up to the war with the first cartoons from April of 1941, proceeds to the home front, the beginning of the war and so forth to the Allied victory in 1945.
there are over 300 cartoons in this compilation, all of them politically correct for the time period, interspersed with enough narrative to set the background. Information about the artists is included in the introduction and there is a chronological list of the editorial cartoons at the end of the book.
All of them appeared in the publication PM. This is a useful reference illustrating the propaganda effect on the home front.
Dr. Seuss & Co. Go To War represents democracy in action during World War II, featuring the comic art not only of Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss), but of some well-known associates such as Saul Steinberg, Al Hirschfeld, Arthur Szyk, Carl Rose and Mischa Richter, to name a few. Theses artists, and others, fought the fight against fascism from the home front and no one was exempt from being a target, especially American isolationists, pacifists and those who ran big business.
The book begins with events leading up to the war with the first cartoons from April of 1941, proceeds to the home front, the beginning of the war and so forth to the Allied victory in 1945.
there are over 300 cartoons in this compilation, all of them politically correct for the time period, interspersed with enough narrative to set the background. Information about the artists is included in the introduction and there is a chronological list of the editorial cartoons at the end of the book.
All of them appeared in the publication PM. This is a useful reference illustrating the propaganda effect on the home front.
Polish History and Custom
Zeranski, Laura and Peter. Classic Polish Recipes. Pelican Publishing. Ill.; index. 96p. ISBN: 978-1-5898-0961-1. $16.95 May, 2011
Of the many memories that make up a childhood “growing up ethnic”, are those of the holidays when the whole family got together to celebrate; the cooking that went on for what seemed like days, filling the house with the enticing aromas of foods made especially for the moment and the tables literally groaning with food enough to feed an army.
This book brought back those memories and a desire to make the dishes so long untasted. Easy to follow recipes and colorful photographs of each dish are accompanied by interesting narrative on Polish holiday customs, folklore and history. Organized from appetizers to desserts, this book will make you hungry and desiring to try the dishes for yourself.
There is much to experience in only 96 pages – enough to keep you warm and happy throughout the year. Smaczne!!
Of the many memories that make up a childhood “growing up ethnic”, are those of the holidays when the whole family got together to celebrate; the cooking that went on for what seemed like days, filling the house with the enticing aromas of foods made especially for the moment and the tables literally groaning with food enough to feed an army.
This book brought back those memories and a desire to make the dishes so long untasted. Easy to follow recipes and colorful photographs of each dish are accompanied by interesting narrative on Polish holiday customs, folklore and history. Organized from appetizers to desserts, this book will make you hungry and desiring to try the dishes for yourself.
There is much to experience in only 96 pages – enough to keep you warm and happy throughout the year. Smaczne!!
Photographic History
Cook, J. Don Shooting From the Hip: Photographs and Essays. Foreword by James Garner. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill. 144p. ISBN:978-0-8061-4180-0. $29.95 May, 2011.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the hands of an artist, a picture can also evoke a thousand emotions. J. Don Cook is just such an artist. A native Oklahoman, brought up as hardscrabble as the subjects in his photographs, Cook is naturally drawn to the poor and the poverty that is their daily existence. These photographs reveal a side of the American Dream that most of us fail to believe exists – that not all dreams come true. For the most part, they are not pretty; their stark reality will definitely move you and haunt you in your dreams. A reality check for each of us.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the hands of an artist, a picture can also evoke a thousand emotions. J. Don Cook is just such an artist. A native Oklahoman, brought up as hardscrabble as the subjects in his photographs, Cook is naturally drawn to the poor and the poverty that is their daily existence. These photographs reveal a side of the American Dream that most of us fail to believe exists – that not all dreams come true. For the most part, they are not pretty; their stark reality will definitely move you and haunt you in your dreams. A reality check for each of us.
Literary History
Brown, Ellen F. and John Wiley, Jr. Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind: A Bestsellers' Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood. Taylor Trade Publishing. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 438p. ISBN: 978-1-58979-567-9. $26.95 February, 2011
Gone With the Wind – an iconic book and film; an item that crosses every reading and viewing list at least once; there are those who have read the book and seen the movie and there are many more of those who have seen the movie only and repeatedly; and who among us can't spout at least one line of dialog upon request? Truly, this is a novel written for the ages.
Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the publication of this marvelous book comes a volume that is a biography of the novel; in itself somewhat interesting but of this particular book definitely something to dive into. You will not be disappointed.
Readers generally do not concern themselves with a book's story. That is, the trials and tribulations of a book from rough draft to published form. And in most cases, it is not so much an issue, unless you are somehow close to or related to the author. A novel of this caliber is a horse of a different color (as they say). There is an engaging story behind the scenes, so to speak, of an unknown writer who during the Great Depression, pens one of the greatest novels of all time. How she did it, dealt with the sudden fame and fortune and managed the book as a literary property makes for entertaining and informative reading.
This book is well researched and well written by two people who definitely love the craft as well as Gone With the Wind itself. It provides a fascinating glimpse into Margaret Mitchell who died, tragically early and whose immediate family protected the book from all comers.
This is not just a book for Gone With the Wind aficionados but anyone interested in writing and publishing books.
Gone With the Wind – an iconic book and film; an item that crosses every reading and viewing list at least once; there are those who have read the book and seen the movie and there are many more of those who have seen the movie only and repeatedly; and who among us can't spout at least one line of dialog upon request? Truly, this is a novel written for the ages.
Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the publication of this marvelous book comes a volume that is a biography of the novel; in itself somewhat interesting but of this particular book definitely something to dive into. You will not be disappointed.
Readers generally do not concern themselves with a book's story. That is, the trials and tribulations of a book from rough draft to published form. And in most cases, it is not so much an issue, unless you are somehow close to or related to the author. A novel of this caliber is a horse of a different color (as they say). There is an engaging story behind the scenes, so to speak, of an unknown writer who during the Great Depression, pens one of the greatest novels of all time. How she did it, dealt with the sudden fame and fortune and managed the book as a literary property makes for entertaining and informative reading.
This book is well researched and well written by two people who definitely love the craft as well as Gone With the Wind itself. It provides a fascinating glimpse into Margaret Mitchell who died, tragically early and whose immediate family protected the book from all comers.
This is not just a book for Gone With the Wind aficionados but anyone interested in writing and publishing books.
Sports Biography
Buford, Kate Native American Son: The Life and Sporting Legend of Jim Thorpe Knopf. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 496p. ISBN: 978-0-375-41324-7. $35.00 October, 2010.
There are many heroic, tragic life stories that are a vital part of American history, yet there are none that exemplify these two elements more than the life of Jim Thorpe. A Native American, Thorpe was the first major international celebrity athlete and despite all that has happened to him, continues to ranked in the top ranks of “Greatest Athlete” lists. His name is synonymous with physical strength and endurance, courage and excellence. Unfortunately, as with too many other major sports stars, his life was not without its major tragedies and scandals.
Jim Thorpe's list of accomplishments would fill these pages by themselves. He first came to public attention as a football player at the Carlisle Indian School, coached by the legendary “Pop” Warner, leading his team to victories over many of the major collegiate football powerhouses of the time. In the 1912 Olympics, he won the gold medal in the decathlon and pentathlon and is the only Olympian to have done so. He helped create what would become the National Football League and played professional baseball for the New York Giants. Playing some semi-pro ball would cost him his Olympic glory, as he was stripped of his gold medals because of it.
On the other side of Thorpe, he struggled with alcoholism, suffered the loss of his first child and was divorced three times. He was a soft touch and was always in need of money. Thorpe became an advocate for Native American rights, pursued a Hollywood career and, being somewhat of a recluse, suffered with the celebrity status and scrutiny for the rest of his life.
Kate Buford has done a remarkable job in bringing all facets of this complicated man to life. If a biography can be a page turner, then this is one. If anyone cares about history, sports, Native Americans or the human condition, this is a must read.
There are many heroic, tragic life stories that are a vital part of American history, yet there are none that exemplify these two elements more than the life of Jim Thorpe. A Native American, Thorpe was the first major international celebrity athlete and despite all that has happened to him, continues to ranked in the top ranks of “Greatest Athlete” lists. His name is synonymous with physical strength and endurance, courage and excellence. Unfortunately, as with too many other major sports stars, his life was not without its major tragedies and scandals.
Jim Thorpe's list of accomplishments would fill these pages by themselves. He first came to public attention as a football player at the Carlisle Indian School, coached by the legendary “Pop” Warner, leading his team to victories over many of the major collegiate football powerhouses of the time. In the 1912 Olympics, he won the gold medal in the decathlon and pentathlon and is the only Olympian to have done so. He helped create what would become the National Football League and played professional baseball for the New York Giants. Playing some semi-pro ball would cost him his Olympic glory, as he was stripped of his gold medals because of it.
On the other side of Thorpe, he struggled with alcoholism, suffered the loss of his first child and was divorced three times. He was a soft touch and was always in need of money. Thorpe became an advocate for Native American rights, pursued a Hollywood career and, being somewhat of a recluse, suffered with the celebrity status and scrutiny for the rest of his life.
Kate Buford has done a remarkable job in bringing all facets of this complicated man to life. If a biography can be a page turner, then this is one. If anyone cares about history, sports, Native Americans or the human condition, this is a must read.
Medieval France
Adams, Tracy The Life and Afterlife of Isabeau of Bavaria. Johns Hopkins University Press. Notes; bib.; appendix; map; index. 368p. ISBN: 978-0-8018-9025-5. $55.00 August, 2010.
Women in history can certainly be a subject worth pursuing, if not as standard fare, At least from time to time. Women at or near the “power”, especially those with a reputation always add a bit of spice to historical study.
All of the elements of a good story are here: Isabeau (the name alone conjures medieval heroines), the Queen consort of France; her husband, the mad King Charles VI of France; feuding, power-hungry factions all anxious to rule; and rumors of treachery and adultery.
Isabeau of Bavaria was born around 1370 to Stephen III of Bavaria – Ingolstadt and his wife, Taddea Visconti. The child's legitimacy to rule came from both sides of the family whose family lines descended nobly in Sicily, Hungary, Milan, as well as Bavaria. Chosen as a bride in 1385, Isabeau served as Queen Consort until 1422, when Charles VI died that October. Her husband's frequent bouts of mental illness, now believed to have been schizophrenia, put her in an unusually powerful role in government. The fact that France was torn apart by feuding families lends even more credence to her capabilities as ruler. It was after her death, with France going through even more turmoil, that her reputation suffered, going from respected and revered, to being reviled as a traitor and adulteress. And for those who study the period, it has been the latter reputation that has been repeated enough to become historical truth.
This is where the author steps in and shows in a very convincing manner that Isabeau's evil reputation is a myth for which there is no substantial historical evidence. The rumors began as a consequence of the political power struggle between the Armagnacs and Burgundians for control of France.
This is a fascinating reassessment of medieval French history.
Women in history can certainly be a subject worth pursuing, if not as standard fare, At least from time to time. Women at or near the “power”, especially those with a reputation always add a bit of spice to historical study.
All of the elements of a good story are here: Isabeau (the name alone conjures medieval heroines), the Queen consort of France; her husband, the mad King Charles VI of France; feuding, power-hungry factions all anxious to rule; and rumors of treachery and adultery.
Isabeau of Bavaria was born around 1370 to Stephen III of Bavaria – Ingolstadt and his wife, Taddea Visconti. The child's legitimacy to rule came from both sides of the family whose family lines descended nobly in Sicily, Hungary, Milan, as well as Bavaria. Chosen as a bride in 1385, Isabeau served as Queen Consort until 1422, when Charles VI died that October. Her husband's frequent bouts of mental illness, now believed to have been schizophrenia, put her in an unusually powerful role in government. The fact that France was torn apart by feuding families lends even more credence to her capabilities as ruler. It was after her death, with France going through even more turmoil, that her reputation suffered, going from respected and revered, to being reviled as a traitor and adulteress. And for those who study the period, it has been the latter reputation that has been repeated enough to become historical truth.
This is where the author steps in and shows in a very convincing manner that Isabeau's evil reputation is a myth for which there is no substantial historical evidence. The rumors began as a consequence of the political power struggle between the Armagnacs and Burgundians for control of France.
This is a fascinating reassessment of medieval French history.
American History
Sharfstein, Daniel J. The Invisible Line: Three American Families and the Secret Journey from Black to White. The Penguin Press. Ill.; notes; index. 416p. ISBN: 978-1-59420-282-7. $27.95 February, 2011.
Perhaps the most enduring issue in this country is the issue of race. “Race” is never very far from anyone's eyes, ears and lips; and everyone is secure in their own specific idea and definition of it. One of our enduring myths is the fact that black and white are separate and meaningful racial categories, although from time to time there will be a story concerning the mixing of the races, usually among the more prominent families. One takes comfort from the fact that it can't happen in my family.
If that is your rationale, then this book will definitely set you back and make you think. It is the story of three families who move across the color line from black to white and back again. It covers two hundred years of U.S. history, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights movement.
Three families: the Gibsons, Spencers and the Walls struggle to be accepted as equals in their respective communities, their skin tone and ancestral birthplace being of lesser importance. That is one of the glaring facts in this book; the farther back one looks, the more balanced the reaction of communities to families from different “races.”
The Gibsons were wealthy landowners in the South Carolina backcountry who became white in the 1760's and rose to prominence in the Southern elite, ultimately to the U.S. Senate. The Spencers were farmers from eastern Kentucky and joined an isolated Appalachian community in the 1840's, where they straddled the line between black and white for nearly one hundred years. Finally, the Walls were a part of the rising black middle class in 1870's Washington, D.C., only to give it all up to become white as the century turned.
Superbly researched and narrated, this book will continue to turn heads as we struggle to define ourselves.
Perhaps the most enduring issue in this country is the issue of race. “Race” is never very far from anyone's eyes, ears and lips; and everyone is secure in their own specific idea and definition of it. One of our enduring myths is the fact that black and white are separate and meaningful racial categories, although from time to time there will be a story concerning the mixing of the races, usually among the more prominent families. One takes comfort from the fact that it can't happen in my family.
If that is your rationale, then this book will definitely set you back and make you think. It is the story of three families who move across the color line from black to white and back again. It covers two hundred years of U.S. history, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil Rights movement.
Three families: the Gibsons, Spencers and the Walls struggle to be accepted as equals in their respective communities, their skin tone and ancestral birthplace being of lesser importance. That is one of the glaring facts in this book; the farther back one looks, the more balanced the reaction of communities to families from different “races.”
The Gibsons were wealthy landowners in the South Carolina backcountry who became white in the 1760's and rose to prominence in the Southern elite, ultimately to the U.S. Senate. The Spencers were farmers from eastern Kentucky and joined an isolated Appalachian community in the 1840's, where they straddled the line between black and white for nearly one hundred years. Finally, the Walls were a part of the rising black middle class in 1870's Washington, D.C., only to give it all up to become white as the century turned.
Superbly researched and narrated, this book will continue to turn heads as we struggle to define ourselves.
Mexican War
Reilly, Tom. War With Mexico! America's Reporters Cover the Battlefront. Edited by Manley Witten. University Press of Kansas. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 336p. ISBN: 978-0-7006-1740-1. $39.95 November, 2010.
Journalists embedded with U.S. troops attacking on foreign soil; uncensored news from the front reaches citizens before official Washington; news reports with a political or social slant, glorifying events to a red, white and blue hue. Sound familiar? Is it Vietnam, Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan? Nope. It is Mexico in 1846.
This book chronicles the story of the Mexican War through the eyes of America's war correspondents. There were at least thirteen full time reporters covering the campaign from the first battles in northern Mexico under General Zachary Taylor to the surrender of Mexico City under General Winfield Scott. Of these, one was a woman, Jane McManus Storms of the New York Sun, who covered the siege of Veracruz in 1847 from the Mexican perspective. Eleven of the men reported for one of the New Orleans newspapers and six of these worked for the New Orleans Picayune alone, New Orleans being closest to the theater of operations. What is particularly amazing is how quickly news reports made their way from the field to press and then to the rest of the country. How it got out at all, much less faster than through official channels sometimes boggles the mind.
The book not only details the story of war reporting but also discusses the rise of commercial journalism, the penny press, and that relationship with the battlefield reporters. One of the results of this relationship is the fact that the press begins to have a definite impact on national politics and opinions. The story told here really hits home as the authors give ample space to the reporters themselves and the reader thence has his own boots on the ground.
Journalists embedded with U.S. troops attacking on foreign soil; uncensored news from the front reaches citizens before official Washington; news reports with a political or social slant, glorifying events to a red, white and blue hue. Sound familiar? Is it Vietnam, Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan? Nope. It is Mexico in 1846.
This book chronicles the story of the Mexican War through the eyes of America's war correspondents. There were at least thirteen full time reporters covering the campaign from the first battles in northern Mexico under General Zachary Taylor to the surrender of Mexico City under General Winfield Scott. Of these, one was a woman, Jane McManus Storms of the New York Sun, who covered the siege of Veracruz in 1847 from the Mexican perspective. Eleven of the men reported for one of the New Orleans newspapers and six of these worked for the New Orleans Picayune alone, New Orleans being closest to the theater of operations. What is particularly amazing is how quickly news reports made their way from the field to press and then to the rest of the country. How it got out at all, much less faster than through official channels sometimes boggles the mind.
The book not only details the story of war reporting but also discusses the rise of commercial journalism, the penny press, and that relationship with the battlefield reporters. One of the results of this relationship is the fact that the press begins to have a definite impact on national politics and opinions. The story told here really hits home as the authors give ample space to the reporters themselves and the reader thence has his own boots on the ground.
Wild West
Bendell, Don. Strongheart: A Promise Kept...In Blood. Berkley. 215p. ISBN: 978-0-425-23108-1. $5.99 September, 2010.
I'm told that the Western is making a comeback as a viable genre and if Strongheart is any indication of how true that is, then I'd say the western is back with a bang.
Don Bendell, whose last foray into the genre occurred ten years ago, has picked up where he left off with an action packed page-turner that will leave you wanting more. Joshua Strongheart, half Sioux, half white, is the quintessential western hero with the exception of his birthright which places him at odds with his world. A man of principles, he has a task to complete and there are certainly obstacles to overcome.
If there is an heir to L'Amour, Bendell is a strong contender. Well done!!
I'm told that the Western is making a comeback as a viable genre and if Strongheart is any indication of how true that is, then I'd say the western is back with a bang.
Don Bendell, whose last foray into the genre occurred ten years ago, has picked up where he left off with an action packed page-turner that will leave you wanting more. Joshua Strongheart, half Sioux, half white, is the quintessential western hero with the exception of his birthright which places him at odds with his world. A man of principles, he has a task to complete and there are certainly obstacles to overcome.
If there is an heir to L'Amour, Bendell is a strong contender. Well done!!
Wild West
Lewis, Frank W. The Gold Rush, 1847-1849. Book 7. Western Tales Publishing. 494p. ISBN: 978-1-4363-1141-0. tp. $23.95 April, 2010.
The continuing saga of Caleb Landers and company takes place in old California during the early days of the Gold Rush. The story begins with Landers sailing a ship load of goods around the Horn to Alto California for resale to needy settlers. At this time, California belonged to Mexico. The war between the United States and Mexico began in 1846 and the territory really wasn't governed by either side with any semblance of organization which, of course, left it wide open to those with an eye towards making a fortune through land speculation and outright ownership. Caleb purchases a large plot of land and becomes the law in the land. By 1849, with the war over, word gets out of the gold to be found practically picked right off the ground, and the greatest gold rush in history is on. Over 100,000 people from all over the world will get to California one way or another, to get in on the action. Let the fun begin.
This book is peopled with characters of all stripe – hucksters, shucksters, con men (and women), gamblers, pistoleers of both genders prostitutes and settlers of varying degrees of naivete. For those who like their westerns steamy and full of action of all sorts, this book is for you.
The continuing saga of Caleb Landers and company takes place in old California during the early days of the Gold Rush. The story begins with Landers sailing a ship load of goods around the Horn to Alto California for resale to needy settlers. At this time, California belonged to Mexico. The war between the United States and Mexico began in 1846 and the territory really wasn't governed by either side with any semblance of organization which, of course, left it wide open to those with an eye towards making a fortune through land speculation and outright ownership. Caleb purchases a large plot of land and becomes the law in the land. By 1849, with the war over, word gets out of the gold to be found practically picked right off the ground, and the greatest gold rush in history is on. Over 100,000 people from all over the world will get to California one way or another, to get in on the action. Let the fun begin.
This book is peopled with characters of all stripe – hucksters, shucksters, con men (and women), gamblers, pistoleers of both genders prostitutes and settlers of varying degrees of naivete. For those who like their westerns steamy and full of action of all sorts, this book is for you.
Mexican War
Dishman, Christopher D. A Perfect Gibraltar: The Battle for Monterrey, Mexico, 1846. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 344p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4140-4. $34.95 October, 2010
The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 saw a number of firsts for the army of the United States. To name just two, other than the fact that this was our first war fought on foreign soil, the first use of mobile or “flying” artillery and the first amphibious landing of troops in an assault. There are others and this book, in taking the Battle of Monterrey as its subject, ultimately discusses the first instance of urban warfare.
The early stages of the war saw General Zachary Taylor and his army operating in northern Mexico and, in just his third major engagement, he assaulted the heavily fortified city of Monterrey. It was the next logical step in his campaign plan and it differed from his first two battles, Palo Alto and Resaca; they were out in the open, minor engagements in which the Americans were bloodied and victorious within hours of the opening maneuvers. Monterrey would last three bloody, exhausting days, the first of which would begin to claim lives – 14% of the American force by the third day. Quite a few of the men of later, greater prominence first “saw the elephant” at Monterrey, including Ulysses Grant, George Thomas and Jefferson Davis.
Author Dishman utilizes both Mexican and American sources in presenting this finely detailed, highly readable account of a forgotten battle which occurred during a largely forgotten war.
For those looking for the evolution of house to house fighting, this is the beginning. You will see much of Fallujah here at Monterrey.
The Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 saw a number of firsts for the army of the United States. To name just two, other than the fact that this was our first war fought on foreign soil, the first use of mobile or “flying” artillery and the first amphibious landing of troops in an assault. There are others and this book, in taking the Battle of Monterrey as its subject, ultimately discusses the first instance of urban warfare.
The early stages of the war saw General Zachary Taylor and his army operating in northern Mexico and, in just his third major engagement, he assaulted the heavily fortified city of Monterrey. It was the next logical step in his campaign plan and it differed from his first two battles, Palo Alto and Resaca; they were out in the open, minor engagements in which the Americans were bloodied and victorious within hours of the opening maneuvers. Monterrey would last three bloody, exhausting days, the first of which would begin to claim lives – 14% of the American force by the third day. Quite a few of the men of later, greater prominence first “saw the elephant” at Monterrey, including Ulysses Grant, George Thomas and Jefferson Davis.
Author Dishman utilizes both Mexican and American sources in presenting this finely detailed, highly readable account of a forgotten battle which occurred during a largely forgotten war.
For those looking for the evolution of house to house fighting, this is the beginning. You will see much of Fallujah here at Monterrey.
World War I
Summerall, Charles Pelot. The Way of Duty, Honor, Country: The Memoir of General Charles Pelot Summerall. Edited and Annotated by Timothy K. Nenninger. University of Kentucky Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 313p. ISBN: 978-0-8131-2618-0. $35.00 October, 2010.
This memoir, which has resided in an archives since the 1950's, now gratefully sees the light of day and enhances the literature concerning both United States and world history from the 1890's to the early 1950's. Charles Summerall was a witness to most of the major events that took place during that time period. A graduate of West Point, he entered the army before the last battles with the Plains Indians, fought Filipino insurgents in 1899 and the Boxers in China in 1900. His World War I service consisted of brigade, division and corp commands, where he was highly successful and just as highly decorated.
In 1926, he was appointed as chief of staff of the army, where he fought his battles over the army budget. As Congress cut back in peace time, the army was nearly broke and troop strength dropped to all time lows. It was a losing battle. Summerall realized this and relinquished his duties as chief of staff and accepted a new role as president of the Citadel. A small southern school then, by the time of his retirement in 1953, it had become a national institution.
This is a fascinating account of a life that saw the U.S. Army's transition from a frontier constabulary to a powerful armed force on the world stage. Ably edited and annotated by Timothy Nenninger, it is the story of a poor farm boy who rose to the greatest heights of his profession.
This memoir, which has resided in an archives since the 1950's, now gratefully sees the light of day and enhances the literature concerning both United States and world history from the 1890's to the early 1950's. Charles Summerall was a witness to most of the major events that took place during that time period. A graduate of West Point, he entered the army before the last battles with the Plains Indians, fought Filipino insurgents in 1899 and the Boxers in China in 1900. His World War I service consisted of brigade, division and corp commands, where he was highly successful and just as highly decorated.
In 1926, he was appointed as chief of staff of the army, where he fought his battles over the army budget. As Congress cut back in peace time, the army was nearly broke and troop strength dropped to all time lows. It was a losing battle. Summerall realized this and relinquished his duties as chief of staff and accepted a new role as president of the Citadel. A small southern school then, by the time of his retirement in 1953, it had become a national institution.
This is a fascinating account of a life that saw the U.S. Army's transition from a frontier constabulary to a powerful armed force on the world stage. Ably edited and annotated by Timothy Nenninger, it is the story of a poor farm boy who rose to the greatest heights of his profession.
Baseball
Weintraub, Robert. The House That Ruth Built:A New Stadium, the First Yankees Championship and the Redemption of 1923. Little, Brown and Company. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 432p. ISBN: 978-0-316-08607-3. $26.99 April, 2011.
Growing up in Detroit does not foster a great love of the New York Yankees. However, when great writing meets a great story, one just puts aside ones' prejudices and enjoys the ride. Such is the case with this book, the story of not only the 1923 baseball season but the engaging story of the rise of the Yankees and the battle of Broadway between the Yanks and the New York Giants, led by the colorful John Joseph McGraw. Up until their first championship, the Yankees were just that other team in New York. When it came to baseball, the only team worth talking about was the Giants. Babe Ruth and company would soon change all that.
Thankfully, this is much more than a game by game account of a season. It recounts the deeper story of all the characters and personalities that inhabited Gotham and baseball during the Roaring Twenties. Not to mention the story of the building of the first Yankee Stadium by the two feuding owners, Ruppert and Cap Huston.
Even if you are not a Yankees fan, this book is great period history and belongs on every bookshelf.
Growing up in Detroit does not foster a great love of the New York Yankees. However, when great writing meets a great story, one just puts aside ones' prejudices and enjoys the ride. Such is the case with this book, the story of not only the 1923 baseball season but the engaging story of the rise of the Yankees and the battle of Broadway between the Yanks and the New York Giants, led by the colorful John Joseph McGraw. Up until their first championship, the Yankees were just that other team in New York. When it came to baseball, the only team worth talking about was the Giants. Babe Ruth and company would soon change all that.
Thankfully, this is much more than a game by game account of a season. It recounts the deeper story of all the characters and personalities that inhabited Gotham and baseball during the Roaring Twenties. Not to mention the story of the building of the first Yankee Stadium by the two feuding owners, Ruppert and Cap Huston.
Even if you are not a Yankees fan, this book is great period history and belongs on every bookshelf.
Baseball
Kaplan, Jim. The Greatest Game Ever Pitched: Juan Marichal, Warren Spahn and the Pitching Duel of the Century. Triumph Books. Ill.; appendix; notes; bib.; index. 256p. ISBN: 978-1-60078-341-8. $24.95 February, 2011.
Has there been a sport whose history is wider, deeper and richer than major league baseball? Probably not. For those who love the history of the game and for those fans who long for a simpler game to watch, this book is fir you. Rest assured this is not just a book about a ball game, although the game is the story within the story. It is a dual biography of an aging veteran pitcher and a pitching neophyte in only his third full season, one the dominant hurler of the 1950's, the other to be the dominant pitcher of the 1960's. It is the game played on July 2, 1963 that links the two Hall of Famers together forever. A sixteen-inning gem that started on the evening of July 2nd and finished just after midnight on July 3rd with a one-out walk-off home run by Willie Mays. The account of the game is “sprinkled” into the main narrative which makes for an enjoyable, expectant read. We learn a lot about both players; Spahn, among thew most decorated ballplayers of World War II and Marichal who survived near death experiences to become the first Hall of Famer from the Dominican Republic.
A wonderful read for every bookshelf.
Has there been a sport whose history is wider, deeper and richer than major league baseball? Probably not. For those who love the history of the game and for those fans who long for a simpler game to watch, this book is fir you. Rest assured this is not just a book about a ball game, although the game is the story within the story. It is a dual biography of an aging veteran pitcher and a pitching neophyte in only his third full season, one the dominant hurler of the 1950's, the other to be the dominant pitcher of the 1960's. It is the game played on July 2, 1963 that links the two Hall of Famers together forever. A sixteen-inning gem that started on the evening of July 2nd and finished just after midnight on July 3rd with a one-out walk-off home run by Willie Mays. The account of the game is “sprinkled” into the main narrative which makes for an enjoyable, expectant read. We learn a lot about both players; Spahn, among thew most decorated ballplayers of World War II and Marichal who survived near death experiences to become the first Hall of Famer from the Dominican Republic.
A wonderful read for every bookshelf.
Napoleonic Wars
Sked, Alan. Radetzky: Imperial Victor and Military Genius. I.B. Tauris. Ill.; notes; bib.; maps; index. 287p. ISBN: 978-1-84885-677-6. $40.00 January, 2011.
Field Marshal Count Josef Radetzky von Radetz would be totally forgotten today if not for Johann Strauss the Elders' tribute composed in his honor, the lively Radetzky March. If you don't listen to any of the Strauss', then Radetzky would be totally forgotten. Until now.
Alan Sked ably puts into play the first full-scale biography in English of the Austrian soldier who helped destroy Napoleon and preserve the Habsburg Empire. A career soldier who served actively for an incredible seventy-two years, he invented the strategy that defeated the Corsican in 1813-1814 and led to his first exile. Sked claims that Radetzky was the best soldier the Habsburgs ever produced and, with the exception of Napoleon, the foremost military commander of that century. The fact that he is less recognized than his contemporaries Napoleon and Wellington is probably due to the fact that he is Austrian and belonged to an empire that breathed its last in 1918.
After saving Europe and Austria in 1813, he disappeared from public view during the following years of peace. Resuming his duties as army chief of staff, he fought against general war weariness and ennui to put across his ideas for reforming the army until he was promoted to general of cavalry and effectively shelved as governor of a fortress by 1830.
In 1836 he became a field marshal. Still intent on creating the best army on the continent, Radetzky was continuously frustrated by the opposition, which made his next contribution to the security of country and continent all the more apparent. When the revolutions of 1848 erupted in northern Italy, Radetzky was able to defeat numerously superior insurgent armies with inventive strategy. Triumphant at the Battle of Novara on March 23, 1849, he also reconquered Venice after a year-long siege. All this when in his eighties.
A scholarly biography, very readable and greatly informative.
Field Marshal Count Josef Radetzky von Radetz would be totally forgotten today if not for Johann Strauss the Elders' tribute composed in his honor, the lively Radetzky March. If you don't listen to any of the Strauss', then Radetzky would be totally forgotten. Until now.
Alan Sked ably puts into play the first full-scale biography in English of the Austrian soldier who helped destroy Napoleon and preserve the Habsburg Empire. A career soldier who served actively for an incredible seventy-two years, he invented the strategy that defeated the Corsican in 1813-1814 and led to his first exile. Sked claims that Radetzky was the best soldier the Habsburgs ever produced and, with the exception of Napoleon, the foremost military commander of that century. The fact that he is less recognized than his contemporaries Napoleon and Wellington is probably due to the fact that he is Austrian and belonged to an empire that breathed its last in 1918.
After saving Europe and Austria in 1813, he disappeared from public view during the following years of peace. Resuming his duties as army chief of staff, he fought against general war weariness and ennui to put across his ideas for reforming the army until he was promoted to general of cavalry and effectively shelved as governor of a fortress by 1830.
In 1836 he became a field marshal. Still intent on creating the best army on the continent, Radetzky was continuously frustrated by the opposition, which made his next contribution to the security of country and continent all the more apparent. When the revolutions of 1848 erupted in northern Italy, Radetzky was able to defeat numerously superior insurgent armies with inventive strategy. Triumphant at the Battle of Novara on March 23, 1849, he also reconquered Venice after a year-long siege. All this when in his eighties.
A scholarly biography, very readable and greatly informative.
Sports Card Collecting
Laroche, Stephen and Jon Waldman. Got 'Em, Got 'Em, Need 'Em: A Fan's Guide to Collecting the Top 100 Sports Cards of All Time. ECW Press. Ill. 292p. ISBN: 978-1-55022-980-6. $16.95 April, 2011
It is amazing how as kids we always knew which cards we had and which we needed; through a prospective trade stack we went, quickly and efficiently flipping, chanting the mantra: got 'em, got 'em, need 'em – separating every need 'em from the stack as trade potential.
This book presents a quick look at the history of card collecting illustrated with the cards that make the hobby a hobby. Like all top “any number” lists, there is room for debate but this is just not another top card list book. The authors are Canadian and we therefore get a look at some Canadian issues such as O-Pee-Chee and some of my favorites, the early hockey issues from the years prior to 1920. These are rarely, if ever, seen anymore.
This book is, to say the least, colorful, with issues accurately reproduced; there are no values given (which is refreshing if just for the absence of pricing); there is a great mix of old and new cards and a good assortment from the different sports; and, there are sections on hobby innovations, sport card company blunders and discussions on inserts, special cards, etc.
Just to tease you with the list: number one is the 1952 TOPPS Mickey Mantle and number one hundred is the 1992 Classic Hockey Draft Picks Manon Rheaume. The “God Card” (as the authors call it), is on a list by itself – that is the T206 Honus Wagner.
All in all, this book should suit both the beginner and the expert collector.
It is amazing how as kids we always knew which cards we had and which we needed; through a prospective trade stack we went, quickly and efficiently flipping, chanting the mantra: got 'em, got 'em, need 'em – separating every need 'em from the stack as trade potential.
This book presents a quick look at the history of card collecting illustrated with the cards that make the hobby a hobby. Like all top “any number” lists, there is room for debate but this is just not another top card list book. The authors are Canadian and we therefore get a look at some Canadian issues such as O-Pee-Chee and some of my favorites, the early hockey issues from the years prior to 1920. These are rarely, if ever, seen anymore.
This book is, to say the least, colorful, with issues accurately reproduced; there are no values given (which is refreshing if just for the absence of pricing); there is a great mix of old and new cards and a good assortment from the different sports; and, there are sections on hobby innovations, sport card company blunders and discussions on inserts, special cards, etc.
Just to tease you with the list: number one is the 1952 TOPPS Mickey Mantle and number one hundred is the 1992 Classic Hockey Draft Picks Manon Rheaume. The “God Card” (as the authors call it), is on a list by itself – that is the T206 Honus Wagner.
All in all, this book should suit both the beginner and the expert collector.
World War II
Urwin, Gregory, J.W. Victory in Defeat: The Wake Island Defenders in Captivity. U.S. Naval Institute Press. Ill.; maps; notes; bib.; index. 512p. ISBN: 978-1-59114-899-9. $38.95 November, 2010.
Who better to chronicle the continuing story of the Wake Island Defenders than Dr. Gregory Urwin, who wrote the award-winning Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island.? As we all know, the Wake Island story did not end with the garrison's surrender on December 23, 1941. These men did not just drop off the radar, they spent the next three and a half years as prisoners of war; their fight for survival was just beginning. Their story would remain untold until the publication of this book.
Using all of the pertinent documents located in archives on both sides of the conflict, interviews with the POW's and their Japanese guards and having access to secret diaries kept by some of the prisoners, Dr. Urwin has provided us with a balanced look at the story. This was a group of prisoners who survived 42 months of captivity and emerged with one of the lowest death rates of American POW's in the Pacific theater. Urwin contends that the answer, in part, lies in the establishment of an internal support network by the Wake Islanders themselves. It kept their dignity intact and provided encouragement for those who faltered under the psychological and physical torture. And they were tortured, in all sorts of ways, including the water treatment. The book notes that the officer responsible for that particular war crime was sentenced to life imprisonment shortly after the wars' end.
Certainly a factor that increased the Wake Islanders percentage of survival was the fact that most of them spent the war at two camps located just outside of Shanghai, a place where the Japanese permitted the Red Cross to aid the prisoners. So they (the Japanese), were on their best behavior.
This is an outstanding story that belongs on every bookshelf.
Who better to chronicle the continuing story of the Wake Island Defenders than Dr. Gregory Urwin, who wrote the award-winning Facing Fearful Odds: The Siege of Wake Island.? As we all know, the Wake Island story did not end with the garrison's surrender on December 23, 1941. These men did not just drop off the radar, they spent the next three and a half years as prisoners of war; their fight for survival was just beginning. Their story would remain untold until the publication of this book.
Using all of the pertinent documents located in archives on both sides of the conflict, interviews with the POW's and their Japanese guards and having access to secret diaries kept by some of the prisoners, Dr. Urwin has provided us with a balanced look at the story. This was a group of prisoners who survived 42 months of captivity and emerged with one of the lowest death rates of American POW's in the Pacific theater. Urwin contends that the answer, in part, lies in the establishment of an internal support network by the Wake Islanders themselves. It kept their dignity intact and provided encouragement for those who faltered under the psychological and physical torture. And they were tortured, in all sorts of ways, including the water treatment. The book notes that the officer responsible for that particular war crime was sentenced to life imprisonment shortly after the wars' end.
Certainly a factor that increased the Wake Islanders percentage of survival was the fact that most of them spent the war at two camps located just outside of Shanghai, a place where the Japanese permitted the Red Cross to aid the prisoners. So they (the Japanese), were on their best behavior.
This is an outstanding story that belongs on every bookshelf.
Birth of Europe
Price, Simon and Peter Thonemann. The Birth of Classical Europe: A History From Troy to Augustine. Viking. Ill.; bib.; date chart; maps; index. 416p. ISBN: 978-0-670-02247-2. $35.00 February, 2011.
One tends to shy away from histories of ancient civilizations written by academic experts in the field as they tend to be too technical and a bit on the dry side; and to attempt to relate over two thousand years of history in just over three hundred pages is just not what we're used to. But Price and Thonemann, both having taught at Oxford University, have created a readable, somewhat controversial, reinterpretation of Western history rich in detail yet free from jargon.
The book begins with the myth of Europa, proceeds to the Aegean world discussing the Minoan, Mycenaeans and Trojans; Alexander the Great and Hellenism; and on to the Romans from the early Latin kingdom, the republic and the building of the empire. The book ends with the Later Roman Empire in Ad 425.
There are three themes emphasized in this book: memory, especially the Greeks' and Romans' memory of their own past; communal identity, as defined by the ancients; and the changing definitions of what is “Classical.” the authors frequently use sidebars to enliven the text with extremely interesting anecdotal information. There is a wealth of maps and charts that clarify the text and the illustrations include well chosen color plates that enhance the book. The bibliography defines selected titles in English and includes some historical fiction.
Although I approached this book with some trepidation, it turned out to be an informative and entertaining read.
One tends to shy away from histories of ancient civilizations written by academic experts in the field as they tend to be too technical and a bit on the dry side; and to attempt to relate over two thousand years of history in just over three hundred pages is just not what we're used to. But Price and Thonemann, both having taught at Oxford University, have created a readable, somewhat controversial, reinterpretation of Western history rich in detail yet free from jargon.
The book begins with the myth of Europa, proceeds to the Aegean world discussing the Minoan, Mycenaeans and Trojans; Alexander the Great and Hellenism; and on to the Romans from the early Latin kingdom, the republic and the building of the empire. The book ends with the Later Roman Empire in Ad 425.
There are three themes emphasized in this book: memory, especially the Greeks' and Romans' memory of their own past; communal identity, as defined by the ancients; and the changing definitions of what is “Classical.” the authors frequently use sidebars to enliven the text with extremely interesting anecdotal information. There is a wealth of maps and charts that clarify the text and the illustrations include well chosen color plates that enhance the book. The bibliography defines selected titles in English and includes some historical fiction.
Although I approached this book with some trepidation, it turned out to be an informative and entertaining read.
U.S. Presidents
Craughwell, Thomas J. and Edwin Kiester, Jr. The Buck Stops Here: The 28 Toughest Presidential Decisions and How They Changed History. Fair Winds Press. Ill.; bib.; index. 288p. ISBN: 978-1-59233-427-08. $19.99 May, 2010.
Here are accounts of twenty-eight presidential decisions, from George Washington through Richard Nixon, that definitely changed the course of the country at the time and reverberates down to the present day. Some of these decisions are well known, others less so and some would be so taken for granted that the importance of them escapes notice.
Among the selections are: the Louisiana Purchase, the Emancipation Proclamation, Social Security, Civil Rights and the Monroe Doctrine, which should be well known. Some of the others include: the Panama Canal, the Atlantic Charter, the Interstate Highway System and the space race. Of the twenty-eight, four each belong to each Roosevelt, three to Truman, three to Kennedy and two to Lyndon Johnson.
With each decision a separate chapter, there is easy access to any of them, making The Buck Stops Here a useful ready reference tool as well as an interesting romp through U.S. history.
Here are accounts of twenty-eight presidential decisions, from George Washington through Richard Nixon, that definitely changed the course of the country at the time and reverberates down to the present day. Some of these decisions are well known, others less so and some would be so taken for granted that the importance of them escapes notice.
Among the selections are: the Louisiana Purchase, the Emancipation Proclamation, Social Security, Civil Rights and the Monroe Doctrine, which should be well known. Some of the others include: the Panama Canal, the Atlantic Charter, the Interstate Highway System and the space race. Of the twenty-eight, four each belong to each Roosevelt, three to Truman, three to Kennedy and two to Lyndon Johnson.
With each decision a separate chapter, there is easy access to any of them, making The Buck Stops Here a useful ready reference tool as well as an interesting romp through U.S. history.
Lincoln
Hearn, Chester G. Lincoln, the Cabinet and the Generals. LSU Press. Notes; bib.; index. 357p. ISBN: 978-0-80713637-9. $39.95 April, 2010.
President Abraham Lincoln's problems with his generals are quite well known; his difficulties with his cabinet are a little less well known. Both issues have been addressed separately but never together.
This book represents the first attempt to illuminate Lincoln's very complex relationship with both groups. Lincoln the politician performed better than Lincoln the commander in chief, at least at the beginning of the conflict, until the commander in chief gained experience and caught up with the politician. This fact reveals Lincoln's strengths and weaknesses. His cabinet, made up of former Whigs and Democrats, never realized a spirit of cooperation and Lincoln always had trouble maintaining any kind of balance while trying to outmaneuver those he disagreed with.
Lincoln's generals were hardly any easier to deal with. Most of his top military commanders had definite political agendas of their own, while others were friends with various cabinet members who may or may not be in agreement with the president on nay given day. It all makes one wonder how anything got done at all, much less successfully.
Author Hearn tells his story in a straightforward manner, with narrative that puts the reader behind the scenes of Civil War Washington. This book should be on every Civil War bookshelf.
President Abraham Lincoln's problems with his generals are quite well known; his difficulties with his cabinet are a little less well known. Both issues have been addressed separately but never together.
This book represents the first attempt to illuminate Lincoln's very complex relationship with both groups. Lincoln the politician performed better than Lincoln the commander in chief, at least at the beginning of the conflict, until the commander in chief gained experience and caught up with the politician. This fact reveals Lincoln's strengths and weaknesses. His cabinet, made up of former Whigs and Democrats, never realized a spirit of cooperation and Lincoln always had trouble maintaining any kind of balance while trying to outmaneuver those he disagreed with.
Lincoln's generals were hardly any easier to deal with. Most of his top military commanders had definite political agendas of their own, while others were friends with various cabinet members who may or may not be in agreement with the president on nay given day. It all makes one wonder how anything got done at all, much less successfully.
Author Hearn tells his story in a straightforward manner, with narrative that puts the reader behind the scenes of Civil War Washington. This book should be on every Civil War bookshelf.
George Washington
Chernow, Ron. Washington: A Life. The Penguin Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 904p. ISBN: 978-1-59420-266-7. $40.00 October, 2010.
Another book on George Washington? And one with over 800 pages of text? Chernow's masterpiece renders the question moot. James Thomas Flexner's four-volume biography was published in the early 1970's and since then over sixty edited volumes of Washington's correspondence have been published; not to mention various other works by other authors focusing on specific aspects of his life and career. Chernow has used it all in researching this outstanding cradle to grave story of the founding father.
The book is divided into six distinct parts: The Frontiersman; The Planter; The General; The Statesman; Acting the Presidency, and, The Legend. For those of you who shy away from long stories, this division makes the book digestible as each deal with a specific aspect of Washington's life. If you tackle this one part by part, you will enjoy the rich details and superlative writing that makes Washington come back to life.
This is not the formal portrait or marble bust of the Washington we each know but the man that he was: dignified, charismatic, a gentleman of the highest caliber. These are characteristics that he would grow and develop as he “learned” his life. Along the way, Chernow debunks the myths that have become facts, such as the fictional tale of the cherry tree and the wooden teeth (which were actually ivory but cracked and discolored over time).
Read this book and your perception of Washington will surely change, along with your knowledge of the early history of this country.
Another book on George Washington? And one with over 800 pages of text? Chernow's masterpiece renders the question moot. James Thomas Flexner's four-volume biography was published in the early 1970's and since then over sixty edited volumes of Washington's correspondence have been published; not to mention various other works by other authors focusing on specific aspects of his life and career. Chernow has used it all in researching this outstanding cradle to grave story of the founding father.
The book is divided into six distinct parts: The Frontiersman; The Planter; The General; The Statesman; Acting the Presidency, and, The Legend. For those of you who shy away from long stories, this division makes the book digestible as each deal with a specific aspect of Washington's life. If you tackle this one part by part, you will enjoy the rich details and superlative writing that makes Washington come back to life.
This is not the formal portrait or marble bust of the Washington we each know but the man that he was: dignified, charismatic, a gentleman of the highest caliber. These are characteristics that he would grow and develop as he “learned” his life. Along the way, Chernow debunks the myths that have become facts, such as the fictional tale of the cherry tree and the wooden teeth (which were actually ivory but cracked and discolored over time).
Read this book and your perception of Washington will surely change, along with your knowledge of the early history of this country.
Vietnam
Livingston, James E., Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis. Noble Warrior: The Story of Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, USMC(Ret), Medal of Honor. Zenith Press. Ill.; appendices; bib.; notes; 272p. ISBN: 978-0-7603-3807-0. $28.00 August, 2010.
This is the autobiography of a gung-ho Marine who enlisted in the Corps in 1962 after receiving his draft notice. In his words, he “wanted to be with a very aggressive outfit.” He certainly got his wish. After completing the platoon leaders courses at Quantico, Virginia and graduation from Auburn University, he received his commission as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve; he did not intend to stay in past his first hitch. After a couple of cruises afloat he threatened to resign if not given a command. Volunteering for Vietnam, Livingston arrived in-country on October 31, 1967 and took up his duties as the commanding officer of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment stationed up near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Echo Company had suffered 60% casualties just weeks prior to Livingston's command tenure and he instituted a rigorous training schedule including PT runs and equipment inspections, something unheard of in a combat zone. Leading by example, he earned the trust and respect of the men under his command, something they would all need in the months to come. Active operations followed, as the NVA began the Tet Offensive, culminating in the Battle of Dai Do, where Livingston earned his Medal of Honor on May 2, 1968. In the three-day battle, the Marines decimated the NVA 320 Infantry Division, a 7,000 man strong unit of experienced regulars. This unit remained unusable for combat for five years after that. Many Marines lost their lives, Livingston being thrice wounded himself.
But the story doesn't end there. He finished his tour on Okinawa and eventually was one of the last Marines out during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. After further service in the Philippines, California and New Orleans, he retired in 1995.
This is a no holds barred book about Vietnam from the battle line; the author also expresses a very clear opinion on future threats and operations. His attitude definitely reflects the present-day, get-it-done Marine Corps. OO-RAH!!
This is the autobiography of a gung-ho Marine who enlisted in the Corps in 1962 after receiving his draft notice. In his words, he “wanted to be with a very aggressive outfit.” He certainly got his wish. After completing the platoon leaders courses at Quantico, Virginia and graduation from Auburn University, he received his commission as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve; he did not intend to stay in past his first hitch. After a couple of cruises afloat he threatened to resign if not given a command. Volunteering for Vietnam, Livingston arrived in-country on October 31, 1967 and took up his duties as the commanding officer of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment stationed up near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Echo Company had suffered 60% casualties just weeks prior to Livingston's command tenure and he instituted a rigorous training schedule including PT runs and equipment inspections, something unheard of in a combat zone. Leading by example, he earned the trust and respect of the men under his command, something they would all need in the months to come. Active operations followed, as the NVA began the Tet Offensive, culminating in the Battle of Dai Do, where Livingston earned his Medal of Honor on May 2, 1968. In the three-day battle, the Marines decimated the NVA 320 Infantry Division, a 7,000 man strong unit of experienced regulars. This unit remained unusable for combat for five years after that. Many Marines lost their lives, Livingston being thrice wounded himself.
But the story doesn't end there. He finished his tour on Okinawa and eventually was one of the last Marines out during the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. After further service in the Philippines, California and New Orleans, he retired in 1995.
This is a no holds barred book about Vietnam from the battle line; the author also expresses a very clear opinion on future threats and operations. His attitude definitely reflects the present-day, get-it-done Marine Corps. OO-RAH!!
New York Gangster
Hanson, Neil. Monk Eastman: The Gangster Who Became a War Hero. Knopf. Ill.; maps; notes; bib.; index. 416p. ISBN978-0-3072-6655-2. $29.95 October, 2010.
It is difficult to fashion an accurate biography of an individual when the details are missing or buried deep within myths and legends. This is especially true if your subject lives (or lived) on the “other side” of the law.
English historian Hanson has done a creditable job in finding Edward “Monk” Eastman, a notorious gang leader from New York City's Lower East Side. A man who lied about practically everything, Eastman operated from the 1890's through about 1907, when he began a ten-year sentence in Sing Sing Prison. By 1900, at the ripe old age of seventeen, he led a gang of some two thousand thugs, prostitutes and thieves. At his release from prison in 1917, political and neighborhood demographics had changed; Eastman was no longer protected nor trusted by either side and he joined the New York National Guard, lying about his age, saying that he was 39 when he was 42. Shipping out to France as a part of the 27th Infantry Division, Monk and his fellow New Yorkers saw heavy combat beginning in May, 1918, as the Allies began the assault on the Hindenburg Line and the final defeat of Germany that November. Although neither decorated nor promoted, Eastman distinguished himself in brutal combat, repeatedly risking his life to save his comrades. In their eyes, at least, he partly redeemed his nefarious past. Returning to an “honest” civilian life, he couldn't quite remain completely straight and was murdered by person or persons unknown in 1920.
Neil Hanson paints a decidedly ugly portrait of New York City's Lower East Side – one that is undoubtedly true – comparing it unfavorably to Dickens' London: the Lower East Side was dirtier, scarier and more crowded with downtrodden humanity than practically anywhere else on the planet. Hanson's impeccable research reveals Eastman to have come from a respectable New York family of English extraction, not Irish or Jewish as every other writer has made him. Also, a life of crime was something he chose.
This is a biography and an excellent history of the time period.
It is difficult to fashion an accurate biography of an individual when the details are missing or buried deep within myths and legends. This is especially true if your subject lives (or lived) on the “other side” of the law.
English historian Hanson has done a creditable job in finding Edward “Monk” Eastman, a notorious gang leader from New York City's Lower East Side. A man who lied about practically everything, Eastman operated from the 1890's through about 1907, when he began a ten-year sentence in Sing Sing Prison. By 1900, at the ripe old age of seventeen, he led a gang of some two thousand thugs, prostitutes and thieves. At his release from prison in 1917, political and neighborhood demographics had changed; Eastman was no longer protected nor trusted by either side and he joined the New York National Guard, lying about his age, saying that he was 39 when he was 42. Shipping out to France as a part of the 27th Infantry Division, Monk and his fellow New Yorkers saw heavy combat beginning in May, 1918, as the Allies began the assault on the Hindenburg Line and the final defeat of Germany that November. Although neither decorated nor promoted, Eastman distinguished himself in brutal combat, repeatedly risking his life to save his comrades. In their eyes, at least, he partly redeemed his nefarious past. Returning to an “honest” civilian life, he couldn't quite remain completely straight and was murdered by person or persons unknown in 1920.
Neil Hanson paints a decidedly ugly portrait of New York City's Lower East Side – one that is undoubtedly true – comparing it unfavorably to Dickens' London: the Lower East Side was dirtier, scarier and more crowded with downtrodden humanity than practically anywhere else on the planet. Hanson's impeccable research reveals Eastman to have come from a respectable New York family of English extraction, not Irish or Jewish as every other writer has made him. Also, a life of crime was something he chose.
This is a biography and an excellent history of the time period.
United States Marine Corps
Coram, Robert. Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, US Marine. Little, Brown and Co. ill.; bib.; index. 384p. ISBN: 978-0-3167-5846-8. $27.99 November, 2010.
The more one is exposed to biographies, the more one can discern the biographers' prejudices concerning his subject. Lose your objectivity, either for or against your subject, and the biography is marred. Perhaps the hardest biography to write is one where you admire your subject who is a legend and you attempt to write a warts and all book.
Robert Coram succeeds in this task. He clearly admires Lieutenant General Victor Krulak, who is one of those Marine officers one does not want to meet the morning after a long weekend (or perhaps at any time). Krulak is a genuine Marine Corps legend who has a closet full of skeletons, secrets and lies and, refreshingly, Coram is not afraid to include, analyze and discuss them without being judgmental, taking the stance that man should be measured by the deeds of his later, not early years.
Krulak suppressed the fact that he was Jewish (this being the +1930's, a wise move), to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and is therefore guilty of lying and falsifying documents. As a young Marine officer, he observed the second Sino-Japanese War, in which the Japanese used a drop-bow landing craft. Krulak's tireless efforts resulted in the Higgins boat and the way to victory in the Pacific in World War II. He also masterminded the invasion of Okinawa, kept the Marine Corps from disappearing completely after the end of hostilities, became an advocate for the use of the helicopter in combat, and, finally, developed his ideas of counter insurgency warfare in Vietnam. His ideas were largely rejected by President Lyndon Johnson and his enlightened confidantes and Krulak's outspokenness cost him the one job he desperately sought, that of commandant of the Marine Corps.
Krulak is possibly the greatest Marine of the twentieth century and this book secures his place in history. Krulak lived long enough to see all three of his sons serve in uniform – two as prominent Episcopal clergymen (and decorated officers), and the other as Commandant of the Marine Corps
The more one is exposed to biographies, the more one can discern the biographers' prejudices concerning his subject. Lose your objectivity, either for or against your subject, and the biography is marred. Perhaps the hardest biography to write is one where you admire your subject who is a legend and you attempt to write a warts and all book.
Robert Coram succeeds in this task. He clearly admires Lieutenant General Victor Krulak, who is one of those Marine officers one does not want to meet the morning after a long weekend (or perhaps at any time). Krulak is a genuine Marine Corps legend who has a closet full of skeletons, secrets and lies and, refreshingly, Coram is not afraid to include, analyze and discuss them without being judgmental, taking the stance that man should be measured by the deeds of his later, not early years.
Krulak suppressed the fact that he was Jewish (this being the +1930's, a wise move), to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and is therefore guilty of lying and falsifying documents. As a young Marine officer, he observed the second Sino-Japanese War, in which the Japanese used a drop-bow landing craft. Krulak's tireless efforts resulted in the Higgins boat and the way to victory in the Pacific in World War II. He also masterminded the invasion of Okinawa, kept the Marine Corps from disappearing completely after the end of hostilities, became an advocate for the use of the helicopter in combat, and, finally, developed his ideas of counter insurgency warfare in Vietnam. His ideas were largely rejected by President Lyndon Johnson and his enlightened confidantes and Krulak's outspokenness cost him the one job he desperately sought, that of commandant of the Marine Corps.
Krulak is possibly the greatest Marine of the twentieth century and this book secures his place in history. Krulak lived long enough to see all three of his sons serve in uniform – two as prominent Episcopal clergymen (and decorated officers), and the other as Commandant of the Marine Corps
Pre-Civil War
Hoffer, Williamjames Hull. The Caning of Charles Sumner: Honor, Idealism and the Origins of the Civil War. Johns Hopkins University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 160p. ISBVN: 978-0-8018-9469-5. tp. $19.95 May, 2010
This country has not yet gotten to the point where its politicians are at risk of physical harm from each other at their actual place of business in Washington, D.C. Yet at one point in our nation's history this was not the case. Political and sectional differences just prior to the Civil War quite often led to personal violence and injury. This is the story of one such event which occurred on the floor of the U.S. Senate on May 22, 1856.
Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, noted abolitionist and gifted speaker, recently gave a speech entitled, “A Crime Against Kentucky”, in which he denounced the Kansas-Nebraska Act and ridiculed Senator Andrew Butler, the state of South Carolina and the entire slaveholding South. That day, as he sat at his desk signing copies of his speech, Butler's cousin, Democratic Representative Preston Brooks approached. Brooks claimed insult and before Sumner could get up, started beating him with his walking cane. Continuing the assault, Brooks broke the cane and was finally subdued by others before he killed Sumner. As it was, Sumner was unable to resume his duties for three years but went on to have a distinguished career until his death in 1873. Brooks was fined three hundred dollars and died within a year of a throat infection.
This book points out the role that the Brooks-Sumner affair played in the events leading up to the secession of the southern states from the Union. Hoffer denies that it was the cause of the war (and rightly so), but it represented everything that was wrong in the United States in microcosm.
This is an important book that should be read by anyone with an interest or care in United States history. The parallels with today's problems is revealing.
This country has not yet gotten to the point where its politicians are at risk of physical harm from each other at their actual place of business in Washington, D.C. Yet at one point in our nation's history this was not the case. Political and sectional differences just prior to the Civil War quite often led to personal violence and injury. This is the story of one such event which occurred on the floor of the U.S. Senate on May 22, 1856.
Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, noted abolitionist and gifted speaker, recently gave a speech entitled, “A Crime Against Kentucky”, in which he denounced the Kansas-Nebraska Act and ridiculed Senator Andrew Butler, the state of South Carolina and the entire slaveholding South. That day, as he sat at his desk signing copies of his speech, Butler's cousin, Democratic Representative Preston Brooks approached. Brooks claimed insult and before Sumner could get up, started beating him with his walking cane. Continuing the assault, Brooks broke the cane and was finally subdued by others before he killed Sumner. As it was, Sumner was unable to resume his duties for three years but went on to have a distinguished career until his death in 1873. Brooks was fined three hundred dollars and died within a year of a throat infection.
This book points out the role that the Brooks-Sumner affair played in the events leading up to the secession of the southern states from the Union. Hoffer denies that it was the cause of the war (and rightly so), but it represented everything that was wrong in the United States in microcosm.
This is an important book that should be read by anyone with an interest or care in United States history. The parallels with today's problems is revealing.
World War II
Crosswell, D.K.R. Beetle: The Life of General Walter Bedell Smith. U of Kentucky Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; appendices; index. 1088p. ISBN: 978-0-81321-649-4. $39.95 October, 2010
This massive tome recounts the life of the man primarily responsible for the successful conclusion of the European segment of World War II. General Walter Bedell Smith served as General Dwight D. Eisenhower's chief of staff from 1942 to 1945, managing the headquarters, taking part in strategic and operational planning and trying to maintain some sort of status quo in military and political diplomacy. He personally negotiated the surrender of Italy in 1943 and Germany in 1945. Not bad for a sixteen year old who joined the Indiana National Guard in 1911. After the war, Smith served as U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, the fourth director of the Central Intelligence Agency and, finally, Under Secretary of State and chief diplomat to the Geneva Convention in 1953. This is an overlooked player not only in World War II but also in the immediate post war era.
Crosswell begins this book by tracing Smith's post war career as ambassador, CIA director and Under Secretary of State. Here we see an interesting portrait of a tired and bedraggled officer recently returned from Europe (left behind by Eisenhower), whose real desire was to be Army Chief of Staff (as was his idol George C. Marshall). Eisenhower would not give the position to him of recommend him for it, so, out of a profound sense of duty, Smith dove into the treacherous waters of the early Cold War and, the quagmire that was Southeast Asia. This overwork, more than likely led to his early death by heart attack at the relatively young age of 66.
Crosswell proceeds to Smith's beginnings and continues through Beetle's service in World War I, his rise to become Marshall's right hand man in Washington and culminates with his collaboration with Eisenhower through World War II.
The interplay of personalities around Allied headquarters provides the most entertainment, as one is led to wonder how we managed to win...
This well-researched biography moves along well and belongs on every World War II bookshelf.
This massive tome recounts the life of the man primarily responsible for the successful conclusion of the European segment of World War II. General Walter Bedell Smith served as General Dwight D. Eisenhower's chief of staff from 1942 to 1945, managing the headquarters, taking part in strategic and operational planning and trying to maintain some sort of status quo in military and political diplomacy. He personally negotiated the surrender of Italy in 1943 and Germany in 1945. Not bad for a sixteen year old who joined the Indiana National Guard in 1911. After the war, Smith served as U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, the fourth director of the Central Intelligence Agency and, finally, Under Secretary of State and chief diplomat to the Geneva Convention in 1953. This is an overlooked player not only in World War II but also in the immediate post war era.
Crosswell begins this book by tracing Smith's post war career as ambassador, CIA director and Under Secretary of State. Here we see an interesting portrait of a tired and bedraggled officer recently returned from Europe (left behind by Eisenhower), whose real desire was to be Army Chief of Staff (as was his idol George C. Marshall). Eisenhower would not give the position to him of recommend him for it, so, out of a profound sense of duty, Smith dove into the treacherous waters of the early Cold War and, the quagmire that was Southeast Asia. This overwork, more than likely led to his early death by heart attack at the relatively young age of 66.
Crosswell proceeds to Smith's beginnings and continues through Beetle's service in World War I, his rise to become Marshall's right hand man in Washington and culminates with his collaboration with Eisenhower through World War II.
The interplay of personalities around Allied headquarters provides the most entertainment, as one is led to wonder how we managed to win...
This well-researched biography moves along well and belongs on every World War II bookshelf.
Gilded Age
Conway, J. North. The Big Policeman: The Rise and Fall of America's First, Most Ruthless and Greatest Detective. Lyons Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 336p. ISBN: 978-1-59921-965-3. $24.95 November, 2010
The title of this book refers to Gilded age New York City's top cop, Thomas Byrnes, whose law enforcement career began in 1854 and first came to notice in 1863, during the Civil War draft riots. A product of the 6th Ward slum known as Five Points, a place that no less a personage as Charles Dickens referred to as “one of the worst slums in the world”, Byrnes rose through the ranks to become superintendent of police in 1892. Courage, cleverness, pioneering investigative techniques, good press, graft and corruption all play a part in this story.
Conway proceeds through Byrnes' career on a case by case basis beginning with New York's Jack the Ripper copycat murders and intersperses his narrative with extensive quotes from contemporary newspaper accounts, creating great period atmosphere. He leaves no aspect of wide-open nineteenth century Manhattan, including the graft, corruption and utter lawlessness that permeated it.
Some of the innovative police techniques developed by Byrnes included the compilation of a criminal database (in this time period a wall of photographs – mug shots - of known or suspected criminals), very rudimentary analysis of ballistics and blood evidence and the “third degree”, where suspects are bullied, deceived and beaten, if necessary.
Byrnes was made superintendent of police in 1892 but by 1895 investigations led by Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt into the corruption that had been present for decades forced him to resign.
An excellent book about the Gilded Age, New York City and the beginnings of modern police procedures.
The title of this book refers to Gilded age New York City's top cop, Thomas Byrnes, whose law enforcement career began in 1854 and first came to notice in 1863, during the Civil War draft riots. A product of the 6th Ward slum known as Five Points, a place that no less a personage as Charles Dickens referred to as “one of the worst slums in the world”, Byrnes rose through the ranks to become superintendent of police in 1892. Courage, cleverness, pioneering investigative techniques, good press, graft and corruption all play a part in this story.
Conway proceeds through Byrnes' career on a case by case basis beginning with New York's Jack the Ripper copycat murders and intersperses his narrative with extensive quotes from contemporary newspaper accounts, creating great period atmosphere. He leaves no aspect of wide-open nineteenth century Manhattan, including the graft, corruption and utter lawlessness that permeated it.
Some of the innovative police techniques developed by Byrnes included the compilation of a criminal database (in this time period a wall of photographs – mug shots - of known or suspected criminals), very rudimentary analysis of ballistics and blood evidence and the “third degree”, where suspects are bullied, deceived and beaten, if necessary.
Byrnes was made superintendent of police in 1892 but by 1895 investigations led by Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt into the corruption that had been present for decades forced him to resign.
An excellent book about the Gilded Age, New York City and the beginnings of modern police procedures.
Early National Period
Jackson, John C. By Honor and Right: How One Man Boldly Defined the Destiny of a Nation. Prometheus Books. Ill.; notes; bib.; 380p. ISBN: 978-1-61614-219-3. $28.00 December, 2010
There are uncounted numbers of people and events in history that have, for one reason or another, become mere footnotes to the main story or completely forgotten due to changing trends and shifting politics. Every now and then a new book w ill appear that offers new information to a particular event or specific time frame, thereby broadening our knowledge. This is just such a book.
By Honor and Right brings to life the story of Captain John McClallen, who was the first officer to follow Lewis and Clark across the Continental Divide. Intending to open up the Santa Fe Trail to trade, McClallen was twice detoured from this task by circumstances beyond his control. He had resigned his army commission earlier in order to engage in trade; his father, a New York State Treasurer, had defaulted to the tune of some $33,000 (1803) and therefore, the honor of the family name was at stake. Instead of opening the Santa Fe Trail, McClallen entered the Pacific Northwest and discovered a practicable route across the continent. He single-handedly managed to block British expansion of trade to the Upper Columbia River as the sole representative of the United States in the region. He wrote a letter in 1807 putting the British Empire on notice that the United States held indisputable right of discovery and occupation to the two great rivers of the interior and all the lands where they eventually drained. This played an important part in the border dispute in 1846. This initiative ultimately cost McCallen his life.
This is a true historical mystery, compellingly told using original sources; all the usual suspects make an appearance: Lewis, Clark, Zebulon Pike and James Wilkinson. Anyone with an interest in early US history should own this book.
There are uncounted numbers of people and events in history that have, for one reason or another, become mere footnotes to the main story or completely forgotten due to changing trends and shifting politics. Every now and then a new book w ill appear that offers new information to a particular event or specific time frame, thereby broadening our knowledge. This is just such a book.
By Honor and Right brings to life the story of Captain John McClallen, who was the first officer to follow Lewis and Clark across the Continental Divide. Intending to open up the Santa Fe Trail to trade, McClallen was twice detoured from this task by circumstances beyond his control. He had resigned his army commission earlier in order to engage in trade; his father, a New York State Treasurer, had defaulted to the tune of some $33,000 (1803) and therefore, the honor of the family name was at stake. Instead of opening the Santa Fe Trail, McClallen entered the Pacific Northwest and discovered a practicable route across the continent. He single-handedly managed to block British expansion of trade to the Upper Columbia River as the sole representative of the United States in the region. He wrote a letter in 1807 putting the British Empire on notice that the United States held indisputable right of discovery and occupation to the two great rivers of the interior and all the lands where they eventually drained. This played an important part in the border dispute in 1846. This initiative ultimately cost McCallen his life.
This is a true historical mystery, compellingly told using original sources; all the usual suspects make an appearance: Lewis, Clark, Zebulon Pike and James Wilkinson. Anyone with an interest in early US history should own this book.
American History
Wooster, Robert. The American Military Frontiers; The United States Army in the West, 1783-1900. University of New Mexico Press. Ill.; notes; maps; bib.; index. 379p. ISBN: 9789-0-8263-3843-3. $39.95 October, 2010.
Shortly after settling their differences with Great Britain, the fledgling United States began to look westward to conquer the continent and national growth. The major tool to accomplish the first task was the United States Army (once the first task was completed, the second would follow), whose sole existence was to advance and defend the national interest. In doing so, it clashed with Spain, Britain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy and the Indians. It also built roads, made river improvements and facilitated the construction of the railroad as it reached the West Coast.
Robert Wooster examines these events and identifies the fundamental importance of military affairs to the social, economic and political life throughout the lands west of the Appalachians. Beginning with St. Clair's defeat at the Wabash in 1791 and ending with the tragedy at Wounded Knee in 1890, he covers everything in between (including Florida and Mexico) with an engaging narrative that broadens our knowledge of the Army's role in domestic development.
Shortly after settling their differences with Great Britain, the fledgling United States began to look westward to conquer the continent and national growth. The major tool to accomplish the first task was the United States Army (once the first task was completed, the second would follow), whose sole existence was to advance and defend the national interest. In doing so, it clashed with Spain, Britain, France, Mexico, the Confederacy and the Indians. It also built roads, made river improvements and facilitated the construction of the railroad as it reached the West Coast.
Robert Wooster examines these events and identifies the fundamental importance of military affairs to the social, economic and political life throughout the lands west of the Appalachians. Beginning with St. Clair's defeat at the Wabash in 1791 and ending with the tragedy at Wounded Knee in 1890, he covers everything in between (including Florida and Mexico) with an engaging narrative that broadens our knowledge of the Army's role in domestic development.
Spanish-American War
Schwab, Stephen Irving Max. Guantanamo, USA: The Untold History of America's Cuban Outpost. University Press of Kansas. Ill.; notes; maps; bib.; appendices; index. 367p. ISBN: 978-0-7006-1670-1. November, 2009.
Ever wonder why the United States is allowed to operate a large, fully capable naval base located in the middle of an enemy's (in this case Communist), country? And how it go there in the first place? Guantanamo, USA answers these questions and more.
The history of Guantanamo is definitely complex, one dating back to the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States' successful attempt to liberate Cuba from the crumbling (and tyrannical), Spanish Empire. It is our oldest overseas naval base and as a holding site for “terrorists” is never far from the headlines. It has been a controversial subject ever since President Theodore Roosevelt placed the naval base there and prominent critics such as Mark Twain and Jane Addams voiced their opposition; not to mention the solid local resistance, both at the time, and through to the present day. The Cuban government even refuses to cash the rent checks. Yet everyone honors the original treaty which grants U.S. rights in perpetuity.
Theodore Roosevelt's placing the base in Cuba gave the U.S. a presence in the Caribbean, which had its share of developing nations and possible foreign intervention of various and sundry types. It wasn't long after the establishment of Guantanamo that the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was in place. One of the real benefits of having the base was realized during World War II, when the U.S. Navy used the base against German U-boats in the area.
Author Schwab is detail oriented yet presents his information in a very readable narrative style. The question remains as to what will eventually happen to the base.
Ever wonder why the United States is allowed to operate a large, fully capable naval base located in the middle of an enemy's (in this case Communist), country? And how it go there in the first place? Guantanamo, USA answers these questions and more.
The history of Guantanamo is definitely complex, one dating back to the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States' successful attempt to liberate Cuba from the crumbling (and tyrannical), Spanish Empire. It is our oldest overseas naval base and as a holding site for “terrorists” is never far from the headlines. It has been a controversial subject ever since President Theodore Roosevelt placed the naval base there and prominent critics such as Mark Twain and Jane Addams voiced their opposition; not to mention the solid local resistance, both at the time, and through to the present day. The Cuban government even refuses to cash the rent checks. Yet everyone honors the original treaty which grants U.S. rights in perpetuity.
Theodore Roosevelt's placing the base in Cuba gave the U.S. a presence in the Caribbean, which had its share of developing nations and possible foreign intervention of various and sundry types. It wasn't long after the establishment of Guantanamo that the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine was in place. One of the real benefits of having the base was realized during World War II, when the U.S. Navy used the base against German U-boats in the area.
Author Schwab is detail oriented yet presents his information in a very readable narrative style. The question remains as to what will eventually happen to the base.
Underground Railroad
Mull, Carol E. The Underground Railroad in Michigan. McFarland. Ill.; notes; bib.; appendices; glossary; index. 223p. ISBN: 978-0-7864-4638-2. $55.00 July, 2010
The story of the Underground Railroad, a system of moving runaway slaves south to north and freedom, is a story that should be familiar to all of us; at least the basic story should be. This is the specific story of the important role played by residents of the State of Michigan in the success of the system.
Just as much as people themselves played an important role in the success of the railroad, so too did geography. Michigan's place adjacent to free states and Canada made it a vital element in the network. Generally, slaves who crossed the state line were guaranteed their eventual freedom in Canada, although not all Canadians were too happy to see an influx of runaway slaves wandering around Ontario.
Mull's use of primary source material is evident throughout the book; each chapter begins with a first person account of an escape. The event may include an individual or a group; sometimes well-planned, sometimes not; and the separation from family left behind. All of these pieces are moving and provide an excellent prelude to the facts contained in each chapter.
It is said that the Underground Railroad closed its operations with the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in January, 1863. Its beginnings will probably never be known with any certainty but one of the first recorded escapes occurred in 1829, when a family of three passed through “Midnight” (the code name of Detroit), to Canada.
One of the remarkable things relayed in this book is the fact that even the slave catchers knew that once their quarry crossed the Michigan state line, the chase was over and the contraband lost for good.
The story of the Underground Railroad, a system of moving runaway slaves south to north and freedom, is a story that should be familiar to all of us; at least the basic story should be. This is the specific story of the important role played by residents of the State of Michigan in the success of the system.
Just as much as people themselves played an important role in the success of the railroad, so too did geography. Michigan's place adjacent to free states and Canada made it a vital element in the network. Generally, slaves who crossed the state line were guaranteed their eventual freedom in Canada, although not all Canadians were too happy to see an influx of runaway slaves wandering around Ontario.
Mull's use of primary source material is evident throughout the book; each chapter begins with a first person account of an escape. The event may include an individual or a group; sometimes well-planned, sometimes not; and the separation from family left behind. All of these pieces are moving and provide an excellent prelude to the facts contained in each chapter.
It is said that the Underground Railroad closed its operations with the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in January, 1863. Its beginnings will probably never be known with any certainty but one of the first recorded escapes occurred in 1829, when a family of three passed through “Midnight” (the code name of Detroit), to Canada.
One of the remarkable things relayed in this book is the fact that even the slave catchers knew that once their quarry crossed the Michigan state line, the chase was over and the contraband lost for good.
Mexican War
Lewis, Felice Flanery. Trailing Clouds of Glory: Zachary Taylor's Mexican War Campaign and His Emerging Civil War Leaders. U of Alabama Press. Maps; appendix; notes; bib.; index. 347p. ISBN: 978-0-8173-1678-5. $35.00 March, 2010.
This book is a study of the northern campaign of the Mexican American War of 1846-1848, specifically General Zachary Taylor's Army of Occupation and its movements from its formation in 1844 as a Corps of Observation to its last battle at Buena Vista in February, 1847. Playing a very prominent role are the West Point graduates who served with Taylor. The author does well in narrating the former while playing up the latter, as Mexico was the training ground for future Civil War leaders and in combat there they would get their very first “whiff of grape”.
This book is far more than just a campaign chronicle from a forgotten war. Using loads of primary sources, Lewis describes what it was like to be in the “Army of Manifest Destiny”; what the soldiers thought of each other; how they interacted; what their duties were; how they fought and what they thought of the whole experience afterward. Lewis also presents the continental picture as well, blending in events in Washington, DC, New Mexico and other theaters of war.
The crux of the book is, of course, the experience of those regulars and volunteers who later went on to very active careers, both military and political, during the American Civil War.
This is a useful addition to the literature of the time period from the 1840's to the 1860's and American expansion./
This book is a study of the northern campaign of the Mexican American War of 1846-1848, specifically General Zachary Taylor's Army of Occupation and its movements from its formation in 1844 as a Corps of Observation to its last battle at Buena Vista in February, 1847. Playing a very prominent role are the West Point graduates who served with Taylor. The author does well in narrating the former while playing up the latter, as Mexico was the training ground for future Civil War leaders and in combat there they would get their very first “whiff of grape”.
This book is far more than just a campaign chronicle from a forgotten war. Using loads of primary sources, Lewis describes what it was like to be in the “Army of Manifest Destiny”; what the soldiers thought of each other; how they interacted; what their duties were; how they fought and what they thought of the whole experience afterward. Lewis also presents the continental picture as well, blending in events in Washington, DC, New Mexico and other theaters of war.
The crux of the book is, of course, the experience of those regulars and volunteers who later went on to very active careers, both military and political, during the American Civil War.
This is a useful addition to the literature of the time period from the 1840's to the 1860's and American expansion./
California
Boessenecker, John. Bandito: The Life and Times of Tiburcio Vasquez. U. of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 496p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4127-5. $34.95 September, 2010.
In the pantheon of 19th century desperadoes, Tiburcio Vasquez was, I will admit, nowhere in my line of sight. Bandito has taken care of that oversight. Vasquez is second on the list of America's most infamous Hispanic bandits.
Vasquez, hanged at the ripe old age of thirty-nine in 1875, was a born and bred Californio from Monterey, which at the time teemed with the dregs of West Coast society – Mexico's unwanted, discharged US soldiers and, believe it or not, former members of the Australian penal colony known as “Sydney Ducks.” Add to this mix the wave of Anglos who arrived with the California Gold Rush and soon the native population is overwhelmed, violent crime is an everyday occurrence and racial tensions run rampant.
Boessenecker has done an excellent job at drawing back the curtain of myth and exaggeration that surrounds these larger than life individuals, sometimes, as is the case here, embellished by the individual himself. Cold-blooded murderer or victim of a biased government? A convicted horse thief and robber, Vasquez served two terms in San Quentin, where he started four separate, bloody prison breaks that left over twenty dead inmates. Finally released, he led bandit raids throughout Central and Southern California. Always a lover, his last affair led to his capture in, appropriately enough, the Hollywood Hills. His execution soon followed.
Kudos to the author who has hit another bulls eye with Bandito as fast paced and thrilling as a posse on the trail.
In the pantheon of 19th century desperadoes, Tiburcio Vasquez was, I will admit, nowhere in my line of sight. Bandito has taken care of that oversight. Vasquez is second on the list of America's most infamous Hispanic bandits.
Vasquez, hanged at the ripe old age of thirty-nine in 1875, was a born and bred Californio from Monterey, which at the time teemed with the dregs of West Coast society – Mexico's unwanted, discharged US soldiers and, believe it or not, former members of the Australian penal colony known as “Sydney Ducks.” Add to this mix the wave of Anglos who arrived with the California Gold Rush and soon the native population is overwhelmed, violent crime is an everyday occurrence and racial tensions run rampant.
Boessenecker has done an excellent job at drawing back the curtain of myth and exaggeration that surrounds these larger than life individuals, sometimes, as is the case here, embellished by the individual himself. Cold-blooded murderer or victim of a biased government? A convicted horse thief and robber, Vasquez served two terms in San Quentin, where he started four separate, bloody prison breaks that left over twenty dead inmates. Finally released, he led bandit raids throughout Central and Southern California. Always a lover, his last affair led to his capture in, appropriately enough, the Hollywood Hills. His execution soon followed.
Kudos to the author who has hit another bulls eye with Bandito as fast paced and thrilling as a posse on the trail.
U.S. Marine Corps
Venzon, Anne Cipriano. Leaders of Men: Ten Marines Who Changed the Corps. Scarecrow Press. Ill.; maps; bib.; index. 256p. ISBN: 978-0-8108-6081-0. $49.50 February, 2010.
Marine Corps historian Venzon relates the history of the USMC from 1861 to the 1920's through the careers of ten carefully selected men whose careers span this time period. These men, through their leadership and skills embody the ethos of the modern Marine Corps, what every Marine should attain to.
Most of the ten men are readily familiar – Robert Huntington, Joseph Pendleton and Smedley Darlington Butler have had their share od articles and books but others such as Henry Clay Cochrane, John Twiggs Myers and George Cyrus Thorpe are introduced to the reader for the first time.
A good case in point was the career of Myers, who was the hero of the siege of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. He came form a military family, being the grandson of Revolutionary War General John Twiggs, sometimes called the “Savior of Georgia”. Of his two sons, one was a Marine major killed in Mexico in 1847 and the other a career army officer who ended his long life as a Confederate Major General in 1862. Myers' father, Abraham, was a West Point graduate with combat service from 1837 through the end of the Civil War.
Well researched using little used or even known primary documents, the book goes far towards a better understanding of what it means to be a Marine.
Marine Corps historian Venzon relates the history of the USMC from 1861 to the 1920's through the careers of ten carefully selected men whose careers span this time period. These men, through their leadership and skills embody the ethos of the modern Marine Corps, what every Marine should attain to.
Most of the ten men are readily familiar – Robert Huntington, Joseph Pendleton and Smedley Darlington Butler have had their share od articles and books but others such as Henry Clay Cochrane, John Twiggs Myers and George Cyrus Thorpe are introduced to the reader for the first time.
A good case in point was the career of Myers, who was the hero of the siege of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. He came form a military family, being the grandson of Revolutionary War General John Twiggs, sometimes called the “Savior of Georgia”. Of his two sons, one was a Marine major killed in Mexico in 1847 and the other a career army officer who ended his long life as a Confederate Major General in 1862. Myers' father, Abraham, was a West Point graduate with combat service from 1837 through the end of the Civil War.
Well researched using little used or even known primary documents, the book goes far towards a better understanding of what it means to be a Marine.
Battles
O'Brien, Cormac. Outnumbered: Incredible Stories of History's Most Surprising Battlefield Upsets. Fair Winds Press. Ill.; bib.; index; maps. 304p. ISBN: 978-1-5923-3405-9. tp. $19.99 May, 2010.
This is a collection of fourteen battles that range from antiquity through World War II, where the victor began the action as the smaller, weaker combatant. In each of these instances, the prevailing commander devised a brilliant, daring, audacious or surprising plan or strategy that won the day.
The battles covered are: Salamis (480BC), Isous (333BC), Cannae (216BC), Carrhae (53BC), Alesia (52BC), Tricamarum (533), Agincourt (1415), Narva (1700), Leuthen (1757), Auerstadt (1806), Chancellorsville (1863), Rorke's Drift (1879), Tannenberg (1914) and Singapore (1942). O'Brien begins each chapter with a strategic overview of the two warring factions, a narrative of the battles and ends each with a recounting of subsequent events following the battle.
Each is a well-written chapter that could stand alone – so the book can be referred to continuously. The chapters are arranged chronologically and contain large color illustrations and frequent maps which make this a beautifully presented book.
This is a collection of fourteen battles that range from antiquity through World War II, where the victor began the action as the smaller, weaker combatant. In each of these instances, the prevailing commander devised a brilliant, daring, audacious or surprising plan or strategy that won the day.
The battles covered are: Salamis (480BC), Isous (333BC), Cannae (216BC), Carrhae (53BC), Alesia (52BC), Tricamarum (533), Agincourt (1415), Narva (1700), Leuthen (1757), Auerstadt (1806), Chancellorsville (1863), Rorke's Drift (1879), Tannenberg (1914) and Singapore (1942). O'Brien begins each chapter with a strategic overview of the two warring factions, a narrative of the battles and ends each with a recounting of subsequent events following the battle.
Each is a well-written chapter that could stand alone – so the book can be referred to continuously. The chapters are arranged chronologically and contain large color illustrations and frequent maps which make this a beautifully presented book.
Wild West & Aviation
Kuntz, Jerry. A Pair of Shootists: The Wild West Story of S.F. Cody and Maud Lee. U. Of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 224p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4149-7. $29.95 September, 2010.
Anyone with an interest in Wild West Shows, marksmen (and women) and early aviation will enjoy this book. Samuel Franklin Cody, who changed his name because he could pass for Buffalo Bill, was a horse wrangler and fancy pistol shooter in one of the shows touring the country when he met Maud Lee, an aspiring circus performer. They soon married and appeared together in vaudeville halls and dime museum shows as often as possible. Taking their show on the road, literally to Great Britain, the turn of the century saw them go their separate ways. Cody became interested in ballooning and early airplanes, while Maud Lee's career declined into mental illness and institutionalization. There is no romanticized view of Wild West Shows and their working performers here.
Although Kuntz focuses mainly on Cody's contributions to aviation, he has successfully reconstructed a forgotten pair and time in our history. Well written.
Anyone with an interest in Wild West Shows, marksmen (and women) and early aviation will enjoy this book. Samuel Franklin Cody, who changed his name because he could pass for Buffalo Bill, was a horse wrangler and fancy pistol shooter in one of the shows touring the country when he met Maud Lee, an aspiring circus performer. They soon married and appeared together in vaudeville halls and dime museum shows as often as possible. Taking their show on the road, literally to Great Britain, the turn of the century saw them go their separate ways. Cody became interested in ballooning and early airplanes, while Maud Lee's career declined into mental illness and institutionalization. There is no romanticized view of Wild West Shows and their working performers here.
Although Kuntz focuses mainly on Cody's contributions to aviation, he has successfully reconstructed a forgotten pair and time in our history. Well written.
Boxing
Roberts, Randy. Joe Louis: Hard Times Man. Yale University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index; 328p. ISBN: 978-0-300122-220. $27.50 October, 2010.
As the case with most celebrities, their public persona’s are nearly always perfect (or at least our perception of it is) and their private lives are nearly always the complete opposite. In most instances, it is better to maintain the public image in your mind and forget about the other. And, needless to say, this not so perfect material is gist for the juicy tell-all book.
Randy Roberts picture of Joe Louis is a complete one set against the background of a vilely racist American society, both North and South. He presents Louis as the seventh of eight children born into an Alabama sharecroppers family with no particular aptitude for much of anything, until he got to Detroit. By that time, his father had died, his mother remarried and the family all went north in search of work in the auto industry. It turns out Louis had a talent – the ability to take and give out punishment with his fists. Therein lies the tale.
Joe Louis fought thirteen times in 1935 as a new heavyweight. That was inside the ring. Outside, he had to deal with the social challenges faced by every black fighter. The unofficial color line in the heavyweight division was set through the disruptive actions of Jack Johnson, the first black champion. Johnson reveled in the fact that he was champion and could take whatever he wanted as a result. His behavior made him anathema to most whites who never wanted to see another black champion. Joe Louis followed some hard and fast rules to overcome this prejudice and was largely successful despite his dalliances.
Hard Times Man is more than a biography. It is a cultural history of a bygone life and times. Joe Louis towered over the world in his reign as champion; he meant many things to many people and his emotional story is ably retold here for the benefit of a new generation lacking in genuine heroes.
As the case with most celebrities, their public persona’s are nearly always perfect (or at least our perception of it is) and their private lives are nearly always the complete opposite. In most instances, it is better to maintain the public image in your mind and forget about the other. And, needless to say, this not so perfect material is gist for the juicy tell-all book.
Randy Roberts picture of Joe Louis is a complete one set against the background of a vilely racist American society, both North and South. He presents Louis as the seventh of eight children born into an Alabama sharecroppers family with no particular aptitude for much of anything, until he got to Detroit. By that time, his father had died, his mother remarried and the family all went north in search of work in the auto industry. It turns out Louis had a talent – the ability to take and give out punishment with his fists. Therein lies the tale.
Joe Louis fought thirteen times in 1935 as a new heavyweight. That was inside the ring. Outside, he had to deal with the social challenges faced by every black fighter. The unofficial color line in the heavyweight division was set through the disruptive actions of Jack Johnson, the first black champion. Johnson reveled in the fact that he was champion and could take whatever he wanted as a result. His behavior made him anathema to most whites who never wanted to see another black champion. Joe Louis followed some hard and fast rules to overcome this prejudice and was largely successful despite his dalliances.
Hard Times Man is more than a biography. It is a cultural history of a bygone life and times. Joe Louis towered over the world in his reign as champion; he meant many things to many people and his emotional story is ably retold here for the benefit of a new generation lacking in genuine heroes.
Alternate Civil War
Tsouras, Peter G. Rainbow of Blood: The Union in Peril; An Alternate History. Potomac Books. Ill.; maps; appendices; notes. 354p. IBSN: 978-15979-721-6. $29.95 July, 2010
The second installment (of three) in Tsouras' alternate history of the American Civil War brings an acceleration to the conflict during a few weeks in October, 1863 and truly becomes a world war. France and Great Britain both side with the Confederacy while Russia is allied to the Abraham Lincoln – led Union. With the British in Maine and upstate New York, the French and rebels invade Louisiana and march north. The Copperheads have revolted in the Midwest and “Hanging Billy” Sherman is using anything upright that will support the weight to regain control in Chicago. If that's not enough, Robert E. Lee and the Royal Navy are about to take Washington D.C. By storm, while President Lincoln watches action on the Long Bridge from the second story of a burned out hotel. This is just after foiling an assassination attempt on himself..by killing his assailant with his bare hands. It sounds too fantastic to be plausible, except that it's not that far fetched.
Peter Tsouras is one of the best at writing entertaining and believable alternate history. A solid grasp of both the facts and the military and how it works combined with talented writing makes this a winning series. With Russia poised to make a move in Europe, I can't wait for the next installment.
The second installment (of three) in Tsouras' alternate history of the American Civil War brings an acceleration to the conflict during a few weeks in October, 1863 and truly becomes a world war. France and Great Britain both side with the Confederacy while Russia is allied to the Abraham Lincoln – led Union. With the British in Maine and upstate New York, the French and rebels invade Louisiana and march north. The Copperheads have revolted in the Midwest and “Hanging Billy” Sherman is using anything upright that will support the weight to regain control in Chicago. If that's not enough, Robert E. Lee and the Royal Navy are about to take Washington D.C. By storm, while President Lincoln watches action on the Long Bridge from the second story of a burned out hotel. This is just after foiling an assassination attempt on himself..by killing his assailant with his bare hands. It sounds too fantastic to be plausible, except that it's not that far fetched.
Peter Tsouras is one of the best at writing entertaining and believable alternate history. A solid grasp of both the facts and the military and how it works combined with talented writing makes this a winning series. With Russia poised to make a move in Europe, I can't wait for the next installment.
Post Civil War
Hardin, David E. After the War: The Lives and Images of Major Civil War Figures After the Shooting Stopped. Ivan R. Dee ill.; notes; bib.; index. 360p. ISBN: 978-1-56663-859-3. $27.95 September, 2010.
History is full of great lives; generally, readers know of them at their moment on history's stage and not so much after their days in the limelight. The question, “Whatever happened to...?” is ably asked and answered in this book which concerns itself with the continuing lives of eleven folks from the Civil War, some well-known and others not so. The list is necessarily short and those that are included certainly should be and much argument will be made for those not present. Of the eleven, five are civilians and five are combatants, with the last being a chapter on the Custers, George and Elizabeth. The rest of the list contains: Winnie Davis, Tom Sherman, Grant, Mary Lincoln, Mary Chestnut, John Bell Hood, Forrest, Joseph Johnston, George Thomas and Robert E. Lee.
The irony involved in some of these stories makes for a compelling read. For example, Winnie Davis, daughter of Jefferson and Varina, is involved in an explosive romance with the grandson of an ardent Yankee abolitionist; Tom Sherman, son of General William Sherman, becomes a priest after the favorite son dies during the war; Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Davis actually become friends; and the list goes on. Some stories reveal the animosities prevalent after the guns fell silent; the diarist Chestnut and Confederate General Johnston are but two examples.
There are interesting tidbits galore, some you know and others you have forgotten; each chapter stands alone in this well written narrative. It belongs on Civil War bookshelves at every level of expertise.
History is full of great lives; generally, readers know of them at their moment on history's stage and not so much after their days in the limelight. The question, “Whatever happened to...?” is ably asked and answered in this book which concerns itself with the continuing lives of eleven folks from the Civil War, some well-known and others not so. The list is necessarily short and those that are included certainly should be and much argument will be made for those not present. Of the eleven, five are civilians and five are combatants, with the last being a chapter on the Custers, George and Elizabeth. The rest of the list contains: Winnie Davis, Tom Sherman, Grant, Mary Lincoln, Mary Chestnut, John Bell Hood, Forrest, Joseph Johnston, George Thomas and Robert E. Lee.
The irony involved in some of these stories makes for a compelling read. For example, Winnie Davis, daughter of Jefferson and Varina, is involved in an explosive romance with the grandson of an ardent Yankee abolitionist; Tom Sherman, son of General William Sherman, becomes a priest after the favorite son dies during the war; Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Davis actually become friends; and the list goes on. Some stories reveal the animosities prevalent after the guns fell silent; the diarist Chestnut and Confederate General Johnston are but two examples.
There are interesting tidbits galore, some you know and others you have forgotten; each chapter stands alone in this well written narrative. It belongs on Civil War bookshelves at every level of expertise.
Napoleonic
Coss, Edward J. All For the King's Shilling: The British Soldier under Wellington, 1808-1814. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; tables; charts; appendices; notes; bib.; index. 392p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4105-3. $39.95 April, 2010.
Much maligned by their own commander, the Duke of Wellington, as the “scum of the earth”, it has been assumed since then that these soldiers were just that – society's lowest, or criminals who “took the king's shilling” to escape justice.
Now Edward Coss shows that it ain't necessarily so in this fantastic revision of the daily lives, background and motivation of the conquerors of Napoleon and the French. He finds that most of these redcoats were respectable people – laborers and tradesmen, mostly – whose one viable alternative to starving in a terrible economy was military service; much as it is now and probably will be as long as men (and women) are willing to wear a uniform.
Coss draws on first-person accounts of Peninsular War veterans, officers and enlisted men, as well as a comprehensive database, the British Soldier Compendium, to support his analysis and very plausible conclusions. The BSC is a compilation of demographic data from 14 British infantry regiments, 4 cavalry regiments and 3 unspecified artillery battalions. It is a gold mine of background information on British soldiers, such as nationality, skills and physical characteristics.
Coss examines the social composition of Wellington's army and applies military psychology to help understand the behavior of the soldier and what motivated him. What with infrequent pay and provisions even scarcer, it is a wonder that the redcoats maintained any discipline at all, much less the high degree held by them. Breakdowns in behavior were directly related to inadequate support, which led soldiers to rely on each other and establish their own moral and behavioral codes.
Fascinating stuff and a must have for those interested in early nineteenth century military history.
Much maligned by their own commander, the Duke of Wellington, as the “scum of the earth”, it has been assumed since then that these soldiers were just that – society's lowest, or criminals who “took the king's shilling” to escape justice.
Now Edward Coss shows that it ain't necessarily so in this fantastic revision of the daily lives, background and motivation of the conquerors of Napoleon and the French. He finds that most of these redcoats were respectable people – laborers and tradesmen, mostly – whose one viable alternative to starving in a terrible economy was military service; much as it is now and probably will be as long as men (and women) are willing to wear a uniform.
Coss draws on first-person accounts of Peninsular War veterans, officers and enlisted men, as well as a comprehensive database, the British Soldier Compendium, to support his analysis and very plausible conclusions. The BSC is a compilation of demographic data from 14 British infantry regiments, 4 cavalry regiments and 3 unspecified artillery battalions. It is a gold mine of background information on British soldiers, such as nationality, skills and physical characteristics.
Coss examines the social composition of Wellington's army and applies military psychology to help understand the behavior of the soldier and what motivated him. What with infrequent pay and provisions even scarcer, it is a wonder that the redcoats maintained any discipline at all, much less the high degree held by them. Breakdowns in behavior were directly related to inadequate support, which led soldiers to rely on each other and establish their own moral and behavioral codes.
Fascinating stuff and a must have for those interested in early nineteenth century military history.
World War I
Hutton, John. August, 1914: Surrender at St. Quentin. Pen & Sword Books. Ill.; appendices; notes; bib.; index. 207p. ISBN: 978-1-84884134-5. $39.95 2010.
August, 1914 found the British Expeditionary Force in France fighting a kind of war it was in no way properly prepared for – battle on a scale never before seen on the European continent. Highly trained as it was, the BEF was no match for the numerically superior German army. The ensuing Retreat from Mons has become one of the most famous in military history. Its heroic fighting withdrawal in late August saved itself from complete annihilation. But not all were heroes.
This book focuses on the actions of two regiments, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and their commanding officers, Lieutenant Colonels Mainwaring and Elkington, both career soldiers from families with deep military traditions. Thrown into combat almost immediately after debarking in France at Le Cateau, both units performed well but supply, support and logistics were practically non-existent and soon they were in the long, exhausting and demoralizing retreat.
At the town of St. Quentin, the survivors of these regiments stopped to rest. Without any other intelligence, military or otherwise, the mayor informed the two commanding officers that the town was surrounded by Germans and the British presence could cost civilian lives. The colonels decided to surrender to the mayor to prevent this, the men being incapable of any armed defense. Unfortunately, the enemy wasn't close and officers from the cavalry rearguard coaxed the men to their feet and got them to safety. The two colonels were subsequently court martialed and cashiered. The verdicts shook the British officer corps and most everything, from training methods to officer fitness was called into question. Just or not, the debates continue.
Hutton has written an intriguing book which illustrates, in graphic detail, the confusion of war and its effect on the mental state of the combatants.
August, 1914 found the British Expeditionary Force in France fighting a kind of war it was in no way properly prepared for – battle on a scale never before seen on the European continent. Highly trained as it was, the BEF was no match for the numerically superior German army. The ensuing Retreat from Mons has become one of the most famous in military history. Its heroic fighting withdrawal in late August saved itself from complete annihilation. But not all were heroes.
This book focuses on the actions of two regiments, the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and their commanding officers, Lieutenant Colonels Mainwaring and Elkington, both career soldiers from families with deep military traditions. Thrown into combat almost immediately after debarking in France at Le Cateau, both units performed well but supply, support and logistics were practically non-existent and soon they were in the long, exhausting and demoralizing retreat.
At the town of St. Quentin, the survivors of these regiments stopped to rest. Without any other intelligence, military or otherwise, the mayor informed the two commanding officers that the town was surrounded by Germans and the British presence could cost civilian lives. The colonels decided to surrender to the mayor to prevent this, the men being incapable of any armed defense. Unfortunately, the enemy wasn't close and officers from the cavalry rearguard coaxed the men to their feet and got them to safety. The two colonels were subsequently court martialed and cashiered. The verdicts shook the British officer corps and most everything, from training methods to officer fitness was called into question. Just or not, the debates continue.
Hutton has written an intriguing book which illustrates, in graphic detail, the confusion of war and its effect on the mental state of the combatants.
Jack the Ripper
Connell, Nicholas and Stewart P. Evans. The Man Who Hunted Jack the Ripper: Edmund Reid – Victorian Detective. Amberley. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 191p. ISBN: 978-1- 84868-260-3. $24.95 February, 2010.
Comfortingly, this is not just another rehashing of the Ripper murders that terrorized Victorian London from 1888 to 1891, when the horrors just as suddenly stopped. It is, instead, a well researched biography of Edmund Reid, who was the head of the Whitechapel detective force by the time of his retirement in 1896. He had served twenty-six years as a member of the Metropolitan Police and had received fifty rewards and commendations over the course of his career.
Reid was on the scene for at least four of the East End murders in 1888. Using Reid's written statements, one gets a good sense of what detective work was all about during this time period and a greater understanding of conditions in London just before the turn of the century.
The book follows Reid's life after retirement as well (he died in 1917), and presents a colorful picture of the life of a retired Victorian working class gentleman. Reid's interviews for various newspapers on the Ripper also add to our knowledge of one of history's most notorious serial killers. This is an informative and entertaining addition to the literature.
Comfortingly, this is not just another rehashing of the Ripper murders that terrorized Victorian London from 1888 to 1891, when the horrors just as suddenly stopped. It is, instead, a well researched biography of Edmund Reid, who was the head of the Whitechapel detective force by the time of his retirement in 1896. He had served twenty-six years as a member of the Metropolitan Police and had received fifty rewards and commendations over the course of his career.
Reid was on the scene for at least four of the East End murders in 1888. Using Reid's written statements, one gets a good sense of what detective work was all about during this time period and a greater understanding of conditions in London just before the turn of the century.
The book follows Reid's life after retirement as well (he died in 1917), and presents a colorful picture of the life of a retired Victorian working class gentleman. Reid's interviews for various newspapers on the Ripper also add to our knowledge of one of history's most notorious serial killers. This is an informative and entertaining addition to the literature.
Ancient Rome
Meijer, Fik. Chariot Racing I n the Roman Empire. Translated by Liz Waters. Johns Hopkins University Press. Ill.; maps; notes; glossary; bib.; index. 208p. ISBN: 978-0-8018-9677-2. $29.95 September, 2010.
Fans of Ben Hur will find this very readable book entertaining and informative. Fik Meijer begins the book with a description of the Nika Riot, which occurred in early January, AD 532, in Constantinople after a series of contested chariot races were held in the Hippodrome. Some thirty thousand people were killed after tensions between the Blues and the Greens (two racing teams), escalated into outright chaos. He then reviews the historical background of racing starting in the 1st Century BC and ending with a lively chapter on chariot racing in the movies.
But this book is not just about fun and games. Meijer also looks at the political importance of these spectacles, as they were a place where all classes of Romans with their Emperor filled the stadium; the Emperor could also judge the approval or disapproval of the people on almost any issue. These crowds grew to enormous numbers, the Circus Maximus holding up to 150,000 people, including (or not) SRO.
Mixing obscure contemporary sources into his lively narrative, Meijer recreates these races in more detail than thought possible, given the length of time passed. It is an in-your-seat, in-your-face ancient history worthy of any bookshelf.
Fans of Ben Hur will find this very readable book entertaining and informative. Fik Meijer begins the book with a description of the Nika Riot, which occurred in early January, AD 532, in Constantinople after a series of contested chariot races were held in the Hippodrome. Some thirty thousand people were killed after tensions between the Blues and the Greens (two racing teams), escalated into outright chaos. He then reviews the historical background of racing starting in the 1st Century BC and ending with a lively chapter on chariot racing in the movies.
But this book is not just about fun and games. Meijer also looks at the political importance of these spectacles, as they were a place where all classes of Romans with their Emperor filled the stadium; the Emperor could also judge the approval or disapproval of the people on almost any issue. These crowds grew to enormous numbers, the Circus Maximus holding up to 150,000 people, including (or not) SRO.
Mixing obscure contemporary sources into his lively narrative, Meijer recreates these races in more detail than thought possible, given the length of time passed. It is an in-your-seat, in-your-face ancient history worthy of any bookshelf.
Waterloo
Glover, Gareth, Editor. The Waterloo Archive, Volume I: British Sources. Frontline Books. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 288p. ISBN: 978-1-84832-540-1. $50.00 February, 2010.
With the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo fast approaching, (2015), the first of a projected six volume series of books has been published focusing on primary British sources from the battle. Most of these sources have never been seen before and consequently add new information to an old subject.
The sources are divided up into six sections: staff, cavalry, artillery, infantry, support services and civilians, making the book accessible for specific reading or a straight read through. The sources come from officer and enlisted men alike, in the from of letters written or journals kept just prior to and during the campaign. The two support services contributions come from medical services and the Battering Train. There are two civilian sources, one an Englishwoman writing from Brussels and an Englishwoman writing from London. Among the jewels found here is the journal of the Scots Greys detailing their movements and actions throughout the campaign in France and Belgium.
A fine beginning to the series, this one belongs on every Waterloo bookshelf.
With the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo fast approaching, (2015), the first of a projected six volume series of books has been published focusing on primary British sources from the battle. Most of these sources have never been seen before and consequently add new information to an old subject.
The sources are divided up into six sections: staff, cavalry, artillery, infantry, support services and civilians, making the book accessible for specific reading or a straight read through. The sources come from officer and enlisted men alike, in the from of letters written or journals kept just prior to and during the campaign. The two support services contributions come from medical services and the Battering Train. There are two civilian sources, one an Englishwoman writing from Brussels and an Englishwoman writing from London. Among the jewels found here is the journal of the Scots Greys detailing their movements and actions throughout the campaign in France and Belgium.
A fine beginning to the series, this one belongs on every Waterloo bookshelf.
Detroit
Bak, Richard. Boneyards: Detroit Under Ground. Wayne State University Press. Ill.; bib.; index. 248p. ISBN: 978-0-8143-3353-2. $34.95 2010.
Here is an illustrated history that reveals how Metropolitan Detroiters have buried their dead and preserved their memory. From Native American burial mounds to today's street shrines, author Bak presents a mix of historic and contemporary photographs to illustrate our treatment of the dead. The book visits some of the tri-county area's largest cemeteries, including Elmwood, Mount Elliott, Woodmere and Mount Olivet, as well as abandoned graveyards like William Ganong Cemetery in Westland and Beth Olem Cemetery , which just happens to be inside the General Motors Poletown Plant.
Also included are photographs of some of Detroit's largest funerals from car maker Henry Ford to “Maserati Rick”, the king of crack, who was laid to rest in a casket modeled after a Mercedes Benz. Bak doesn't ignore the business side of death either; funeral homes, grave diggers and monument makers are also pictured.
There is much to be revealed of our culture, or any culture, and values by our treatment of the dead; it is ably shown here.
Here is an illustrated history that reveals how Metropolitan Detroiters have buried their dead and preserved their memory. From Native American burial mounds to today's street shrines, author Bak presents a mix of historic and contemporary photographs to illustrate our treatment of the dead. The book visits some of the tri-county area's largest cemeteries, including Elmwood, Mount Elliott, Woodmere and Mount Olivet, as well as abandoned graveyards like William Ganong Cemetery in Westland and Beth Olem Cemetery , which just happens to be inside the General Motors Poletown Plant.
Also included are photographs of some of Detroit's largest funerals from car maker Henry Ford to “Maserati Rick”, the king of crack, who was laid to rest in a casket modeled after a Mercedes Benz. Bak doesn't ignore the business side of death either; funeral homes, grave diggers and monument makers are also pictured.
There is much to be revealed of our culture, or any culture, and values by our treatment of the dead; it is ably shown here.
Baseball
Elias, Robert. The Empire Strikes Out: How Baseball Sold U.S. Foreign Policy and Promoted the American Way Abroad. The New Press. Ill.; notes; index. 448p. ISBN: 9789-1-59558-195-2. $27.95 February, 2010.
Anyone expecting a dry, academic tome full of statistics and factoids about how American foreign policy and baseball traveled hand in hand around the globe, will be disappointed in The Empire Strikes Out. If one would like a lively recounting of an “unauthorized” history of our national pastime from the American Revolution forward, then this book is for you.
Elias traces both the history of baseball and U.S. foreign policy from 1775 to 2009. the text is laden with gems of baseball information, used to illustrate his points. Starting with the very interesting beginning of the term “Yankee Doodle” (leave it to the military, in this case the British), to the origins of various baseball terms such as bullpen, to his comparison of baseball and the world as we know it today – globalization and the minor league farm system. These hooks keep the pages turning. Some of the items will have you scrambling for corroboration; i.e. Thomas Jefferson not being very impressed with the game and Abraham Lincoln's enjoyment as a player and spectator are just two that come to mind.
All in all, this book will definitely make you think of just how much more closely did the diamond follow the flag than is generally known or even thought of as relevant? Just how much has baseball been part and parcel of American diplomacy, imperialism and globalization? Or are baseball and the American Dream really one and the same? Not just for baseball fans.
Anyone expecting a dry, academic tome full of statistics and factoids about how American foreign policy and baseball traveled hand in hand around the globe, will be disappointed in The Empire Strikes Out. If one would like a lively recounting of an “unauthorized” history of our national pastime from the American Revolution forward, then this book is for you.
Elias traces both the history of baseball and U.S. foreign policy from 1775 to 2009. the text is laden with gems of baseball information, used to illustrate his points. Starting with the very interesting beginning of the term “Yankee Doodle” (leave it to the military, in this case the British), to the origins of various baseball terms such as bullpen, to his comparison of baseball and the world as we know it today – globalization and the minor league farm system. These hooks keep the pages turning. Some of the items will have you scrambling for corroboration; i.e. Thomas Jefferson not being very impressed with the game and Abraham Lincoln's enjoyment as a player and spectator are just two that come to mind.
All in all, this book will definitely make you think of just how much more closely did the diamond follow the flag than is generally known or even thought of as relevant? Just how much has baseball been part and parcel of American diplomacy, imperialism and globalization? Or are baseball and the American Dream really one and the same? Not just for baseball fans.
Danton
Lawday, David. The Giant of the French Revolution: Danton, A Life. Grove Press. Ill.; notes; map; index. 304p. ISBN: 978-0-8021-1933-9. $27.50 July, 2010.
The French Revolution of 1789 has given us a few remembered characters – King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Robespierre and Jean-Paul Marat are all recognizable personalities from the time period. One who is not so well known, George-Jacque Danton, is the subject of this aptly titled book. Danton was a giant of a man, both physically and in his impact on French and European history.
Born in rural France in 1759 into modest circumstances, Danton was well above average educated and went to Paris to study law in 1780, becoming a rather well-known if not successful practicing lawyer. Physically quite large for the time, Danton was also disfigured from a bout of childhood smallpox, making him somewhat grotesque. A dangerous-looking, intimidating presence, he had a tremendous speaking ability to go along with a near perfect memory, which enabled him to quote extensively from anything ha had previously read. These abilities served him well in the late 1780's, when he became a leading member of one of the political clubs that sprouted up in the rabid political climate of France.
Danton worked his way up to minister of justice but had made a number of powerful enemies, one of which was Robespierre, which would eventually lead Danton himself to the guillotine. He did not go quietly; at his trial, he defended himself so vehemently that the tribunal quickly approved a gag motion and convicted him even faster than that.
This is a well-researched and well-written look at the French Revolution from the inside out. An exciting page-turner for history readers.
The French Revolution of 1789 has given us a few remembered characters – King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Robespierre and Jean-Paul Marat are all recognizable personalities from the time period. One who is not so well known, George-Jacque Danton, is the subject of this aptly titled book. Danton was a giant of a man, both physically and in his impact on French and European history.
Born in rural France in 1759 into modest circumstances, Danton was well above average educated and went to Paris to study law in 1780, becoming a rather well-known if not successful practicing lawyer. Physically quite large for the time, Danton was also disfigured from a bout of childhood smallpox, making him somewhat grotesque. A dangerous-looking, intimidating presence, he had a tremendous speaking ability to go along with a near perfect memory, which enabled him to quote extensively from anything ha had previously read. These abilities served him well in the late 1780's, when he became a leading member of one of the political clubs that sprouted up in the rabid political climate of France.
Danton worked his way up to minister of justice but had made a number of powerful enemies, one of which was Robespierre, which would eventually lead Danton himself to the guillotine. He did not go quietly; at his trial, he defended himself so vehemently that the tribunal quickly approved a gag motion and convicted him even faster than that.
This is a well-researched and well-written look at the French Revolution from the inside out. An exciting page-turner for history readers.
Heidler, David S. and Jeanne T. Heidler. Henry Clay: The Essential American. Random House. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 624p. ISBN: 978-1-4000-6726-8. $30. May, 2010.
one third of the Great Triumvirate, Henry Clay (with John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster), bestrode the American political scene for 49 years – from the time of Alexander Hamilton to the time of Abraham Lincoln. Clay served in the House of Representatives and the Senate (as Speaker in the former), four years as Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams and a five-time presidential aspirant. Known as “The Great Compromiser”, not even Clay could prevent the conflict that manifested itself as the Civil War.
The Heilders have presented us with an extremely detailed yet lively look at Clay's life, flaws and all; Clay's support for gradual emancipation of slaves while being a slaveholder himself is but one example. His five failed attempts to become President are also addressed in painful detail – so close and yet so far,with a lesser man winning the prize.
The major political issues of the day are also discussed and they range form the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812 through to the annexation of Texas and the secession crisis of the 1850's. Congressional and election politics of the nineteenth century are quite similar to today – one thing missing is the great orator, of whom Clay was one.
one third of the Great Triumvirate, Henry Clay (with John C. Calhoun and Daniel Webster), bestrode the American political scene for 49 years – from the time of Alexander Hamilton to the time of Abraham Lincoln. Clay served in the House of Representatives and the Senate (as Speaker in the former), four years as Secretary of State under President John Quincy Adams and a five-time presidential aspirant. Known as “The Great Compromiser”, not even Clay could prevent the conflict that manifested itself as the Civil War.
The Heilders have presented us with an extremely detailed yet lively look at Clay's life, flaws and all; Clay's support for gradual emancipation of slaves while being a slaveholder himself is but one example. His five failed attempts to become President are also addressed in painful detail – so close and yet so far,with a lesser man winning the prize.
The major political issues of the day are also discussed and they range form the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812 through to the annexation of Texas and the secession crisis of the 1850's. Congressional and election politics of the nineteenth century are quite similar to today – one thing missing is the great orator, of whom Clay was one.
Nolan, Keith W. Search and Destroy: The Story of an Armored Cavalry Squadron in Viet Nam. 1/1 Cav, 1967-1968. Zenith Press. Ill.; maps; appendices; glossary; notes; bib.; index. 448p. ISBN:978-0-7603-3312-9. $30.00 July, 2010.
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF.... you are not interested in reading about the Viet Nam War; you do not like to read accurate, in-your-face accounts of modern warfare; you knew that there were atrocities committed on both sides in this conflict but were afraid to read about them; and, man's worst treatment of his and/or her fellow man and/or woman keeps you up at night.
Sadly, this is author Keith Nolan's last book before losing his battle with lung cancer. Not many authors outside of that (Viet Nam) generation have the ability to catch and relate the nuances of speech, thoughts and actions of soldiers during that time period. Nolan's writing is superb. The Viet Nam Veterans have lost a compassionate voice.
This is the complicated story of the 1/1 (read first of the first) Cav, the Army's most battle-honored unit, and their initial tour of duty from January, 1967 through December, 1968. The 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment has been earning campaign streamers and unit awards since the Mexican War of 1846-1848 and every war since. Their reputation would be confirmed as the 1/1 Cav was recognized as the most aggressive outfit in the Americal Division, to which they were attached.
This time, however, the reputation although well earned, would be slightly tarnished, as most everything that the U.S. put into the jungle hell of Viet Nam, was. I Corps in 1967 and 1968 was an area full of savage battles in places like Tam Ky, the Que Son Valley, the Pineapple Forest, Hill 34 and Cigar Island. These locales were under the complete control of the enemy with an uncooperative population aiding them. The tensions mounted and violence escalated truing the tamest soldier into a cold blooded killer.
“Stuff” happens and the unvarnished truth is related here for anyone to see and, inevitably, judge. Stories of heroism, compassion, ruthlessness, accidents and paybacks are all here. It was a brutal existence and a complicated reality. PLEASE DO READ THIS BOOK.
PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF.... you are not interested in reading about the Viet Nam War; you do not like to read accurate, in-your-face accounts of modern warfare; you knew that there were atrocities committed on both sides in this conflict but were afraid to read about them; and, man's worst treatment of his and/or her fellow man and/or woman keeps you up at night.
Sadly, this is author Keith Nolan's last book before losing his battle with lung cancer. Not many authors outside of that (Viet Nam) generation have the ability to catch and relate the nuances of speech, thoughts and actions of soldiers during that time period. Nolan's writing is superb. The Viet Nam Veterans have lost a compassionate voice.
This is the complicated story of the 1/1 (read first of the first) Cav, the Army's most battle-honored unit, and their initial tour of duty from January, 1967 through December, 1968. The 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment has been earning campaign streamers and unit awards since the Mexican War of 1846-1848 and every war since. Their reputation would be confirmed as the 1/1 Cav was recognized as the most aggressive outfit in the Americal Division, to which they were attached.
This time, however, the reputation although well earned, would be slightly tarnished, as most everything that the U.S. put into the jungle hell of Viet Nam, was. I Corps in 1967 and 1968 was an area full of savage battles in places like Tam Ky, the Que Son Valley, the Pineapple Forest, Hill 34 and Cigar Island. These locales were under the complete control of the enemy with an uncooperative population aiding them. The tensions mounted and violence escalated truing the tamest soldier into a cold blooded killer.
“Stuff” happens and the unvarnished truth is related here for anyone to see and, inevitably, judge. Stories of heroism, compassion, ruthlessness, accidents and paybacks are all here. It was a brutal existence and a complicated reality. PLEASE DO READ THIS BOOK.
Hawkins, Jim. Al Kaline: The Biography of a Tigers Icon. Triumph Books. Ill.; bib.; index. 290p. ISBN: 978-1-60078-314-2. $24.95 2010.
In a Catholic High School on the west side of Detroit during the fall of 1968, something seemingly miraculous occurred. In classrooms equipped with televisions, the World Series was on and we were allowed to watch. Unbelievable! Everything could wait because the Tigers were playing the St. Louis Cardinals. Back then, the games were played in the afternoon and most importantly, Al Kaline was finally playing in the Fall Classic.
On one hand, it is unbelievable that this book is the first full biography of Mr. Tiger and on the other hand, knowing that the icon is quiet and unassuming, almost private, it is no surprise. Given that reclusiveness, the book is full of surprises when detailing the life of Kaline. The basic story is well known; Al is from Baltimore, never spent a day in the minor leagues and, spent his entire career with Detroit. What is least known about the man is sometimes revealed here; the very painful deformity in his foot for instance, leaves one amazed at the drive and desire to succeed that is in the man. There are others, so go get the book.
For some strange reason, the book sometimes repeats itself and although slightly irritating, does not detract from the value of the information presented.
This us a must for every Tiger bookshelf.
In a Catholic High School on the west side of Detroit during the fall of 1968, something seemingly miraculous occurred. In classrooms equipped with televisions, the World Series was on and we were allowed to watch. Unbelievable! Everything could wait because the Tigers were playing the St. Louis Cardinals. Back then, the games were played in the afternoon and most importantly, Al Kaline was finally playing in the Fall Classic.
On one hand, it is unbelievable that this book is the first full biography of Mr. Tiger and on the other hand, knowing that the icon is quiet and unassuming, almost private, it is no surprise. Given that reclusiveness, the book is full of surprises when detailing the life of Kaline. The basic story is well known; Al is from Baltimore, never spent a day in the minor leagues and, spent his entire career with Detroit. What is least known about the man is sometimes revealed here; the very painful deformity in his foot for instance, leaves one amazed at the drive and desire to succeed that is in the man. There are others, so go get the book.
For some strange reason, the book sometimes repeats itself and although slightly irritating, does not detract from the value of the information presented.
This us a must for every Tiger bookshelf.
Campbell, Alexander V. The Royal American Regiment: An Atlantic Microcosm, 1755-1772. U. of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; tables; appendix; bib.; maps; index. 368p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4102-2. $34.95 2010.
One of the more famous regiments in the army of Great Britain is the 60th, or Royal American Regiment, of Foot. Raised as a direct response to English General Edward Braddock's defeat at the hands of the French and their Indian allies in the wilds of western Pennsylvania in 1755, this regiment was recruited primarily from native Germans and German colonists in the American colonies. As recruiting in North America was not successful, their numbers were made up of men rejected by British regiments in Ireland. Their officers were the first foreigners to be commissioned into the regular British Army. Among their officers were two very able Swiss soldiers, Henri Bouquet and Frederick Haldimand, who commanded the 1st and 2nd Battalions, respectively. Both men trained their units to fight in the North American wilderness; skills that were not to be found in the set piece battles of Europe. Each battalion of this regiment (there were four), saw action in most of the battles of the French and Indian War after 1755.
What makes this book different from other regimental histories is the fact that it explores how the unit trained, deployed and operated in combat, how the men lived and prepared for the active campaign season and how the veterans helped settle the frontier by taking up the land grants that were promised to them at their enlistment. These soldiers who came from so many different backgrounds surely formed a cosmopolitan society, one that reflected the “American” society at the time.
This is a remarkable book, reflective of the “new” military history. Readable and informative.
One of the more famous regiments in the army of Great Britain is the 60th, or Royal American Regiment, of Foot. Raised as a direct response to English General Edward Braddock's defeat at the hands of the French and their Indian allies in the wilds of western Pennsylvania in 1755, this regiment was recruited primarily from native Germans and German colonists in the American colonies. As recruiting in North America was not successful, their numbers were made up of men rejected by British regiments in Ireland. Their officers were the first foreigners to be commissioned into the regular British Army. Among their officers were two very able Swiss soldiers, Henri Bouquet and Frederick Haldimand, who commanded the 1st and 2nd Battalions, respectively. Both men trained their units to fight in the North American wilderness; skills that were not to be found in the set piece battles of Europe. Each battalion of this regiment (there were four), saw action in most of the battles of the French and Indian War after 1755.
What makes this book different from other regimental histories is the fact that it explores how the unit trained, deployed and operated in combat, how the men lived and prepared for the active campaign season and how the veterans helped settle the frontier by taking up the land grants that were promised to them at their enlistment. These soldiers who came from so many different backgrounds surely formed a cosmopolitan society, one that reflected the “American” society at the time.
This is a remarkable book, reflective of the “new” military history. Readable and informative.
Lehrack, Otto J. Road of 10,000 Pains: The Destruction of the 2nd NVA Division by the U.S. Marines, 1967. Zenith Press. Ill.; maps; appendix; glossary; notes; index. 320p. ISBN: 978-0-7603-3801-8. $30.00 April, 2010.
An epic oral history of U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War, this one is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is the emotional, gut-wrenching, smell-the-cordite story of soldiers at war in the indefinable hell that was (and is) Vietnam.
The book covers a seven month period in 1967, April through November, in the Que Son Valley, a very strategic place for the North Vietnamese Army. The corridor provided access, food and recruits from the mountains in the west to the South China Sea in the east. In April, the Marines decided to sweep the valley. The following seven months would be the bloodiest in Vietnam, fought in a series of battles within four miles of each other along Route 534. The Marines would be outnumbered by both the NVA and Vietcong forces throughout the campaign. By the end of the year, the 2nd NVA Division was beaten so badly that it could not participate in the 1968 TET Offensive. Its objective was the city of Da Nang. Only one platoon made it inside the city limits.
Author Lehrack, a former Marine and two-tour Vietnam veteran, has interviewed scores of veterans from both sides of this campaign and judiciously lets them tell the story, injecting just enough narrative to keep everything on an even keel and moving forward.
This is an important contribution to the Vietnam war literature and an emotional testament to the heroes who are the veterans of Vietnam.
An epic oral history of U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War, this one is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is the emotional, gut-wrenching, smell-the-cordite story of soldiers at war in the indefinable hell that was (and is) Vietnam.
The book covers a seven month period in 1967, April through November, in the Que Son Valley, a very strategic place for the North Vietnamese Army. The corridor provided access, food and recruits from the mountains in the west to the South China Sea in the east. In April, the Marines decided to sweep the valley. The following seven months would be the bloodiest in Vietnam, fought in a series of battles within four miles of each other along Route 534. The Marines would be outnumbered by both the NVA and Vietcong forces throughout the campaign. By the end of the year, the 2nd NVA Division was beaten so badly that it could not participate in the 1968 TET Offensive. Its objective was the city of Da Nang. Only one platoon made it inside the city limits.
Author Lehrack, a former Marine and two-tour Vietnam veteran, has interviewed scores of veterans from both sides of this campaign and judiciously lets them tell the story, injecting just enough narrative to keep everything on an even keel and moving forward.
This is an important contribution to the Vietnam war literature and an emotional testament to the heroes who are the veterans of Vietnam.
Winder, Simon. Germania: A Personal History of Germans Ancient and Modern. Picador. Ill.; bib.; map; index. 470P ISBN: 978-0-330-45139-0. $35.00 2010.
Anyone looking for a straightforward chronological history of Germany and the Germans had better look elsewhere, as Germania is anything but. Author Winder, a non-German speaking Englishman, has attempted to write an off-beat, funny yet informative history of Germany and its people from the pre-Roman past to Adolf Hitler's seizure of power in 1933. He has succeeded for the most part but this book needs to be digested in sections, which is more manageable than trying to swallow it whole.
Winder uses a chronological narrative but his account is loaded with digressions on just about any subject; German food, composers, knights, barons, medieval castles, churches and towns and their town folks. Most of these are instructive while some of them force one to put the book down until later as being too far afield. It helps to have a little background to enjoy the nuances of this book.
All in all, Germania is written in a lively, witty style and is definitely a labor of love.
Anyone looking for a straightforward chronological history of Germany and the Germans had better look elsewhere, as Germania is anything but. Author Winder, a non-German speaking Englishman, has attempted to write an off-beat, funny yet informative history of Germany and its people from the pre-Roman past to Adolf Hitler's seizure of power in 1933. He has succeeded for the most part but this book needs to be digested in sections, which is more manageable than trying to swallow it whole.
Winder uses a chronological narrative but his account is loaded with digressions on just about any subject; German food, composers, knights, barons, medieval castles, churches and towns and their town folks. Most of these are instructive while some of them force one to put the book down until later as being too far afield. It helps to have a little background to enjoy the nuances of this book.
All in all, Germania is written in a lively, witty style and is definitely a labor of love.
Lemay, Benoit. Erich Von Manstein: Hitler's Master Strategist. Casemate. Ill.; notes; bib.; 528p. ISBN: 978-1-935149-26-2 $32.95 July, 2010.
German Field Marshal Erich Von Manstein is not so well known in the West (except to those close students of World War II), due to the fact that the bulk of his active service took place on the Eastern Front, where he performed brilliantly. In fact, Von Manstein gathered laurels wherever he served from 1939 to 1945. He was instrumental in devising plans for the invasion of Poland; he devised the plan that captured France in 1940; in the East, he led a panzer corps to the gates of Leningrad in 1941; conquered the Crimea at the head of 11th Army; destroyed another Soviet Army in the north before being assigned the task of correcting the disaster at Stalingrad and nearly crushed the Soviets at the Battle of Kursk.
Von Manstein survived the war an was involved in establishing the post-war German Army and published his memoirs in the late 1950's. He was also influential in reestablishing the “honor” of the Wehrmacht during the early years of the Cold War. An outstanding record; still, he was convicted of war crimes at the trials at Nuremburg and sentenced to eighteen years in prison; but his early release or “liberation” from prison was negotiated at the highest levels, including Winston Churchill himself.
In this book, we get an objective analysis not only of Von Manstein's campaigns but also of his participation in the criminal aspects of Nazi Germany's war effort. Much to the author's credit, he does nor flinch when he exposes Von Manstein's participation in the “Final Solution” and an intense examination of the Field Marshal's politics, attitudes and behavior towards his enemies. A typical representation of the Prussian military caste of the time, Von Manstein was a master of modern warfare with no political sense at all.
An excellent biography of a flawed yet brilliant soldier.
German Field Marshal Erich Von Manstein is not so well known in the West (except to those close students of World War II), due to the fact that the bulk of his active service took place on the Eastern Front, where he performed brilliantly. In fact, Von Manstein gathered laurels wherever he served from 1939 to 1945. He was instrumental in devising plans for the invasion of Poland; he devised the plan that captured France in 1940; in the East, he led a panzer corps to the gates of Leningrad in 1941; conquered the Crimea at the head of 11th Army; destroyed another Soviet Army in the north before being assigned the task of correcting the disaster at Stalingrad and nearly crushed the Soviets at the Battle of Kursk.
Von Manstein survived the war an was involved in establishing the post-war German Army and published his memoirs in the late 1950's. He was also influential in reestablishing the “honor” of the Wehrmacht during the early years of the Cold War. An outstanding record; still, he was convicted of war crimes at the trials at Nuremburg and sentenced to eighteen years in prison; but his early release or “liberation” from prison was negotiated at the highest levels, including Winston Churchill himself.
In this book, we get an objective analysis not only of Von Manstein's campaigns but also of his participation in the criminal aspects of Nazi Germany's war effort. Much to the author's credit, he does nor flinch when he exposes Von Manstein's participation in the “Final Solution” and an intense examination of the Field Marshal's politics, attitudes and behavior towards his enemies. A typical representation of the Prussian military caste of the time, Von Manstein was a master of modern warfare with no political sense at all.
An excellent biography of a flawed yet brilliant soldier.
Eshelman, Ralph E., Scott S. Sheads and Donald R. Hickey. The War of 1812 in the Chesapeake: A Reference Guide to Historic Sites in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Johns Hopkins University Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; appendices; maps; index. 410P ISBN: 978-0-8018-9235-6. $65.00 March, 2010.
This is not your standard reference book to historical sites – it is much more than that. It is specific to sites connected with the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake area and contains over eight hundred entries divided by the three regions specified in the title. It also has an overview of the war, a chapter on the war in the Chesapeake and useful appendices containing information on grave sites and other related incidents occurring in the region.
Each entry contains detailed information about the site and the events that occurred there grounded on period drawings, maps, diaries and letters along with appropriate photographs. There are over seven hundred 1812 veteran grave sites and a detailed chronology of the war in the region contained in two of the four appendices.
With the bicentennial of the War of 1812 fast approaching, this is not only a useful reference tool but a detailed, informative and enjoyable book to read.
This is not your standard reference book to historical sites – it is much more than that. It is specific to sites connected with the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake area and contains over eight hundred entries divided by the three regions specified in the title. It also has an overview of the war, a chapter on the war in the Chesapeake and useful appendices containing information on grave sites and other related incidents occurring in the region.
Each entry contains detailed information about the site and the events that occurred there grounded on period drawings, maps, diaries and letters along with appropriate photographs. There are over seven hundred 1812 veteran grave sites and a detailed chronology of the war in the region contained in two of the four appendices.
With the bicentennial of the War of 1812 fast approaching, this is not only a useful reference tool but a detailed, informative and enjoyable book to read.
Jamieson, Dave Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession. Atlantic Monthly Press. Ill.; notes; 320p ISBN: 978-0-802-119395. $25.00 April, 2010.
Finally, a well-researched and well-written history of the baseball card phenomenon from the late 1860's to the present day. Jamieson tracks the evolution of the card from its first appearance in 1868 as advertisement for the Red Stockings, to its inclusion in packages of cigarettes, the introduction of bubble gum, the the disappearance of the gum to the present day of contained scarcities, autographs, hair samples and other inanities as inducements to purchase overpriced packs of cards.
In Mint Condition, we get a rare inside look at the industry and the creators of some of the classiest cardboard ever to grace the spokes of a bicycle (especially if they depicted the New York Yankees), and the present day collections of those fortunate enough to keep their collections intact. We also get a lively discussion of the evolution of cards from their first function as “stiffeners” to prevent cigarettes from being crushed in various clothing pockets to whatever their purpose is today. Jamieson includes interviews with two of the men who founded TOPPS and a collector who has dealt in million dollar cards.
Other highlights of the book include Jamieson's discussions of some of the more well-known non-sport card sets, such as Horrors of War, Mars Attacks and Civil War News; his profile of Jefferson Burdick, the original classifier and cataloger of all sorts of cards whose collection resides at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his thoughts on the future of cards and card collecting. Kudos go to the publisher, who included some color photographs of these miniature works of art.
This is truly a fun book to read and an informative one.
Finally, a well-researched and well-written history of the baseball card phenomenon from the late 1860's to the present day. Jamieson tracks the evolution of the card from its first appearance in 1868 as advertisement for the Red Stockings, to its inclusion in packages of cigarettes, the introduction of bubble gum, the the disappearance of the gum to the present day of contained scarcities, autographs, hair samples and other inanities as inducements to purchase overpriced packs of cards.
In Mint Condition, we get a rare inside look at the industry and the creators of some of the classiest cardboard ever to grace the spokes of a bicycle (especially if they depicted the New York Yankees), and the present day collections of those fortunate enough to keep their collections intact. We also get a lively discussion of the evolution of cards from their first function as “stiffeners” to prevent cigarettes from being crushed in various clothing pockets to whatever their purpose is today. Jamieson includes interviews with two of the men who founded TOPPS and a collector who has dealt in million dollar cards.
Other highlights of the book include Jamieson's discussions of some of the more well-known non-sport card sets, such as Horrors of War, Mars Attacks and Civil War News; his profile of Jefferson Burdick, the original classifier and cataloger of all sorts of cards whose collection resides at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, and his thoughts on the future of cards and card collecting. Kudos go to the publisher, who included some color photographs of these miniature works of art.
This is truly a fun book to read and an informative one.
Collins, Michael L. Texas Devils: Rangers and Regulars on the Lower Rio Grande, 1846-1861. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; map; bib.; notes; index. 316p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4132-9. $14.95tp. 2010.
There ain't nothin' bigger in Texas history than the story of the Texas Rangers, (not the baseball team), subject matter for countless novels, movies, television series and serious, scholarly books. The immortal “good guys in white hats” brought law and order to the great state of Texas. Or did they? A second glance at the title, Texas Devils, suggests a different reality from the one we're used to.
Los diablos Tejanos was the nickname bestowed on the Rangers by the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of the region who were the targets of Ranger violence and brutal injustice. The Indians in the area would mos assuredly agree with them. Rather than bringing peace to southern Texas, Michael Collins amply demonstrates that the Rangers created that violence with a barbaric code of conduct directed toward both groups of indigenous population. Ranger immortals such as John Coffee “Jack” Hays, Ben McCulloch and John S. “Rip” Ford, so much a part of the origins of the Texas Rangers' legend, are cast in a definitely new and much less flattering light than heretofore. They are revealed to be very human, almost cold-blooded men very much in tune with the lawlessness of the time. Along with the Rangers, Collins includes the United States Army's Regulars and the role they played in the history of the area, from the beginning of the Mexican to the beginning of the Civil War.
New scholarship, deeply researched and definitely entertaining, Texas Devils is for anyone wanting to know the real story.
There ain't nothin' bigger in Texas history than the story of the Texas Rangers, (not the baseball team), subject matter for countless novels, movies, television series and serious, scholarly books. The immortal “good guys in white hats” brought law and order to the great state of Texas. Or did they? A second glance at the title, Texas Devils, suggests a different reality from the one we're used to.
Los diablos Tejanos was the nickname bestowed on the Rangers by the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of the region who were the targets of Ranger violence and brutal injustice. The Indians in the area would mos assuredly agree with them. Rather than bringing peace to southern Texas, Michael Collins amply demonstrates that the Rangers created that violence with a barbaric code of conduct directed toward both groups of indigenous population. Ranger immortals such as John Coffee “Jack” Hays, Ben McCulloch and John S. “Rip” Ford, so much a part of the origins of the Texas Rangers' legend, are cast in a definitely new and much less flattering light than heretofore. They are revealed to be very human, almost cold-blooded men very much in tune with the lawlessness of the time. Along with the Rangers, Collins includes the United States Army's Regulars and the role they played in the history of the area, from the beginning of the Mexican to the beginning of the Civil War.
New scholarship, deeply researched and definitely entertaining, Texas Devils is for anyone wanting to know the real story.
Ernst, Donna B. The Sundance Kid: The Life of Harry Alonzo Longabaugh. U. of Oklahoma Press. Ill.; notes; bib.; index. 233P tp. ISBN: 978-0806-141152. $19.95 May, 2010.
Thanks to the efforts of Hollywood, the history of the American West resounds with tales of gun fights, Indian disputes and damsels in distress. One of the more well known tales is that of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and the Hole-in-the Wall Gang, who terrorized several states at the turn of the last century. And, separating fact from Hollywood “fact” is sometimes difficult if not impossible depending on the extent of the damage done by the silver screen to the truth.
Leave it to a relative (by marriage) of Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, aka the Sundance Kid, to set the record straight about a life lived to a fuller extent than history or even Hollywood has admitted. After more than twenty-five years of solid research into archives and family records, Ernst has written an engaging biography, describing a life quite different from the famous name. She tells the whole story from his beginnings in Pennsylvania, his move west, his fall off the legal path and his attempts to go straight. As is the case with most outlaws, Sundance was blamed for more misdeeds than he actually committed and Ernst presents good evidence in setting the record straight. She also brings to light his activities in South America and presents convincing evidence that Butch Cassidy and Sundance were killed in Bolivia in 1908. Along the way, we get to meet the Wild Bunch and learn more about the outlaw life as it was just before the turn of the century.
Reading this book is time well spent for those who love the American West, the outlaw life and American history in general.
Thanks to the efforts of Hollywood, the history of the American West resounds with tales of gun fights, Indian disputes and damsels in distress. One of the more well known tales is that of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and the Hole-in-the Wall Gang, who terrorized several states at the turn of the last century. And, separating fact from Hollywood “fact” is sometimes difficult if not impossible depending on the extent of the damage done by the silver screen to the truth.
Leave it to a relative (by marriage) of Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, aka the Sundance Kid, to set the record straight about a life lived to a fuller extent than history or even Hollywood has admitted. After more than twenty-five years of solid research into archives and family records, Ernst has written an engaging biography, describing a life quite different from the famous name. She tells the whole story from his beginnings in Pennsylvania, his move west, his fall off the legal path and his attempts to go straight. As is the case with most outlaws, Sundance was blamed for more misdeeds than he actually committed and Ernst presents good evidence in setting the record straight. She also brings to light his activities in South America and presents convincing evidence that Butch Cassidy and Sundance were killed in Bolivia in 1908. Along the way, we get to meet the Wild Bunch and learn more about the outlaw life as it was just before the turn of the century.
Reading this book is time well spent for those who love the American West, the outlaw life and American history in general.
Brands, H. W. American Dreams: The United States Since 1945. Penguin Press. Notes; index. 422p. ISBN: 978-1-59420-262-9. $32.95 June, 2010.
Brands begins his book in July, 1945, in southern New Mexico. Alamogordo to be exact, and describes the testing (by explosion) of an atomic bomb. Thus heralding both the end of World War II and the beginning of the Atomic Age, Brands moves with amazing clarity to the present day covering everything important from war and politics to culture and society and everything else in between.
In a constantly moving narrative, Brands relates the story of the Cold War world through descriptions of a changing society – the bay boom, civil rights, the emergence of the middle class in America and tensions at the start of the nuclear arms race are all elements of this change. He deftly weaves historical factoids into his story, some we know about, some we have forgotten but all have a place, some more so than we realize, in this recounting of the last half century or so of U.S. history.
Author Brands doesn't shy away from controversial or difficult topics and all are given equal and fair treatment. This time period was and is one of the most tumultuous in our nations' history and readers of all stripes will appreciate this educational, easy to read history of themselves.
Brands begins his book in July, 1945, in southern New Mexico. Alamogordo to be exact, and describes the testing (by explosion) of an atomic bomb. Thus heralding both the end of World War II and the beginning of the Atomic Age, Brands moves with amazing clarity to the present day covering everything important from war and politics to culture and society and everything else in between.
In a constantly moving narrative, Brands relates the story of the Cold War world through descriptions of a changing society – the bay boom, civil rights, the emergence of the middle class in America and tensions at the start of the nuclear arms race are all elements of this change. He deftly weaves historical factoids into his story, some we know about, some we have forgotten but all have a place, some more so than we realize, in this recounting of the last half century or so of U.S. history.
Author Brands doesn't shy away from controversial or difficult topics and all are given equal and fair treatment. This time period was and is one of the most tumultuous in our nations' history and readers of all stripes will appreciate this educational, easy to read history of themselves.
Brady, James. Hero of the Pacific: The Life of Marine Legend John Basilone. Wiley. Ill; bib; index. 275p. ISBN: 978-0-470-37941-7. $25.95 2010.
A decorated United States Marine Corps hero, the subject of a biography written by another decorated USMC hero, one serving just after the other – should be a perfect match for an excellent read. Such is almost the case, as this story is marred by too much time spent on criticizing other works on Sergeant John Basilone. Mr. Brady should have mentioned the discrepancies that he found in other works in the introduction and let it go at that because he is a much better writer than critic.
The real story of john Basilone has been shrouded in mystery and myth since the summer of 1943, just after Basilone became the first enlisted man to win the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in combat against the Japanese on Guadalcanal the previous fall. Specifics of his actions on the island grew as often as the tale was told and the young Marine was too reticent to add or subtract from the total.
An exceptionally good looking Marine, he was sent back to the States to participate in a war bond tour. Several other veterans, along with a host of Hollywood stars and starlets accompanied the tour, one which Basilone quickly grew tired of participating in. he begged and pleaded to be returned to the Pacific and was finally released from the bond drive and assigned to California, where a new Marine unit was training for combat. In February, 1945, this unit hit the beach at Iwo Jima, where Basilone earned a posthumous Navy Cross.
Criticisms aside (this is Mr. Brady's last book), the story of this hero is a sad one, still surrounded by myth and mystery. Since Basiolne's death in combat, Medal of Honor winners are no longer allowed back into combat.
A decorated United States Marine Corps hero, the subject of a biography written by another decorated USMC hero, one serving just after the other – should be a perfect match for an excellent read. Such is almost the case, as this story is marred by too much time spent on criticizing other works on Sergeant John Basilone. Mr. Brady should have mentioned the discrepancies that he found in other works in the introduction and let it go at that because he is a much better writer than critic.
The real story of john Basilone has been shrouded in mystery and myth since the summer of 1943, just after Basilone became the first enlisted man to win the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in combat against the Japanese on Guadalcanal the previous fall. Specifics of his actions on the island grew as often as the tale was told and the young Marine was too reticent to add or subtract from the total.
An exceptionally good looking Marine, he was sent back to the States to participate in a war bond tour. Several other veterans, along with a host of Hollywood stars and starlets accompanied the tour, one which Basilone quickly grew tired of participating in. he begged and pleaded to be returned to the Pacific and was finally released from the bond drive and assigned to California, where a new Marine unit was training for combat. In February, 1945, this unit hit the beach at Iwo Jima, where Basilone earned a posthumous Navy Cross.
Criticisms aside (this is Mr. Brady's last book), the story of this hero is a sad one, still surrounded by myth and mystery. Since Basiolne's death in combat, Medal of Honor winners are no longer allowed back into combat.
Kurowski, Franz. Jump Into Hell: German Paratroopers in World War II. Stackpole Books. Ill; maps; bib; notes; index. 360p. ISBN: 978-0-8117-0582-0. $28.95 2010.
German World War II veteran Kurowski does for the paratroopers what he has done previously for other branches of the German Armed Forces – recount their complete battle history from the small unit viewpoint in an informative narrative, replete with first-person accounts.
Beginning with the formation of airborne forces, Kurowski describes the proposed World War I drop by American forces led by General Billy Mitchell (which never occurred as it was scheduled for 1919). He then moves to the Russians, who were developing their airborne tactics as early as 1923. During the same time period, he states that the Germans were acquainted with the idea of airborne envelopment but it remained in the theoretical stage until the mid-1930's, when the Fallschirmjager was established and kept secret until the invasion of the Lowlands in 1940.
The main event in Jump Into Hell is the large scale paratroop drop onto the island of Crete in May, 1941. Although the Germans eventually secured the island, casualties were so high that Adolf Hitler forbade any more massive drops. The chapter on the campaign in Russia, followed by Sicily and Italy to the end in 1945.
Based on eyewitness interviews after the war, Jump Into Hell is an excellent history of one of Germany's elite fighting units.
German World War II veteran Kurowski does for the paratroopers what he has done previously for other branches of the German Armed Forces – recount their complete battle history from the small unit viewpoint in an informative narrative, replete with first-person accounts.
Beginning with the formation of airborne forces, Kurowski describes the proposed World War I drop by American forces led by General Billy Mitchell (which never occurred as it was scheduled for 1919). He then moves to the Russians, who were developing their airborne tactics as early as 1923. During the same time period, he states that the Germans were acquainted with the idea of airborne envelopment but it remained in the theoretical stage until the mid-1930's, when the Fallschirmjager was established and kept secret until the invasion of the Lowlands in 1940.
The main event in Jump Into Hell is the large scale paratroop drop onto the island of Crete in May, 1941. Although the Germans eventually secured the island, casualties were so high that Adolf Hitler forbade any more massive drops. The chapter on the campaign in Russia, followed by Sicily and Italy to the end in 1945.
Based on eyewitness interviews after the war, Jump Into Hell is an excellent history of one of Germany's elite fighting units.
Brinkley, Alan. The Publisher: Henry Luce and the American Century. Knopf. Ill; notes; index. 544p. ISBN: 978-0-679-41444-5. $35. April, 2010.
Henry Luce was one of the major players in shaping American society from the 1920's on to the present day. The son of missionaries who traveled extensively in the United States, parts of Great Britain, Europe and China well before his majority, Luce and his partner, Brit Haddon, founded Time magazine in 1923 and changed the way we read the news and view the world around us. Fortune and Life magazines followed shortly thereafter and Luce found himself with the fame, fortune and influence that he had craved from a young age, not to mention one of the greatest media empires of the Twentieth Century.
In a well-researched, lively narrative, Alan Brinkley brings Luce's life and work into the open, analyzing his character with fair mindedness and is not afraid to criticize his social and political vision. Luce was controversial and difficult to know and work for, let alone write a book about. He was gifted, vain, arrogant and lonely and all of twenty-four years of age when he co-founded Time. Everything is here including his tempestuous marriage to Clare Boothe and his isolated final years.
This is a well crafted biography by a leading historian and a valuable addition to th history of media as well.
Henry Luce was one of the major players in shaping American society from the 1920's on to the present day. The son of missionaries who traveled extensively in the United States, parts of Great Britain, Europe and China well before his majority, Luce and his partner, Brit Haddon, founded Time magazine in 1923 and changed the way we read the news and view the world around us. Fortune and Life magazines followed shortly thereafter and Luce found himself with the fame, fortune and influence that he had craved from a young age, not to mention one of the greatest media empires of the Twentieth Century.
In a well-researched, lively narrative, Alan Brinkley brings Luce's life and work into the open, analyzing his character with fair mindedness and is not afraid to criticize his social and political vision. Luce was controversial and difficult to know and work for, let alone write a book about. He was gifted, vain, arrogant and lonely and all of twenty-four years of age when he co-founded Time. Everything is here including his tempestuous marriage to Clare Boothe and his isolated final years.
This is a well crafted biography by a leading historian and a valuable addition to th history of media as well.
Hammel, Eric. Islands of Hell: The U.S. Marines in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945. Zenith Press. Ill; maps; index. 300p. ISBN: 978-0-7603-3779-0. $50. March, 2010.
This profusely illustrated coffee table book graphically relates the grueling last year of the island-hopping campaign that was World War II in the Pacific for the United States Marine Corps.
The book covers the Marines in the Western Pacific and is organized into three sections: The Marianas (Saipan, Tinian and Guam); Peleliu and Iwo Jima; Okinawa. Each chapter focuses on an individual island and begins with an apt narration of the strategy involved with the assault, then a description of the assault down to the battalion level. Then follows the amazing photographs. There are two or three to each page and are well captioned and beautifully reproduced.
The photographs are really what makes the book a true treasure to own and Hammel, no stranger to the Marines or the Pacific War, has done another wonderful job at selecting and captioning the photos. This is a book about the last sixteen months of the war and it is assumed that the reader is aware of or has a knowledge of events leading up to the invasion of Saipan.
This book is a must for students and veterans of the Pacific War.
This profusely illustrated coffee table book graphically relates the grueling last year of the island-hopping campaign that was World War II in the Pacific for the United States Marine Corps.
The book covers the Marines in the Western Pacific and is organized into three sections: The Marianas (Saipan, Tinian and Guam); Peleliu and Iwo Jima; Okinawa. Each chapter focuses on an individual island and begins with an apt narration of the strategy involved with the assault, then a description of the assault down to the battalion level. Then follows the amazing photographs. There are two or three to each page and are well captioned and beautifully reproduced.
The photographs are really what makes the book a true treasure to own and Hammel, no stranger to the Marines or the Pacific War, has done another wonderful job at selecting and captioning the photos. This is a book about the last sixteen months of the war and it is assumed that the reader is aware of or has a knowledge of events leading up to the invasion of Saipan.
This book is a must for students and veterans of the Pacific War.
Morgan, Ted. Valley of Death: The Tragedy at Dien Bien Phu That Led America into the Vietnam War. Random House. Ill; maps; notes; bib; index. 752p. ISBN: 978-1400066643. $35. February, 2010.
The story of the debacle at Dien Bien Phu has been told, with varying degrees of success, before. Bernard Fall's Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu (1985) and Martin Windrow's The Last Valley:Dien Bien Phu and the French Defeat in Vietnam (2004), are just two of them.
In Valley of Death, Ted Morgan utilizes previously classified documents and overlooked sources to present an in-depth, brutally detailed, yet readable account of the situation in Southeast Asia from 1940 to 1955, when the French decamped from the theater and their colonial empire aspirations. Morgan, whose literary accolades are prestigious, actually served in the French Army in 1956, just two years after the battles at Dien Bien Phu. He therefore had the unique opportunity of hearing first hand of what went on, from ordinary soldiers and some of the major players in the action. He is equally familiar with both French and American archival sources and has uncovered a wealth of fresh material, including the message traffic of the Chinses and Russian delegations at the Geneva Conference. Morgan includes viewpoints from both Vietnamese and French soldiers, generals, nurses and civilians as well as the political players form major powers around the globe.
The battle at Dien Bien Phu changes the course of history. The French defeat meant the end of their influence in Southeast Asia. It also marked the beginning of U.S. involvement in Vietnam in the early 1960's and that involvement cost the United States dearly in blood, treasure and standing in the ranks of world powers. Morgan's book is not to be missed for those interested in the why and how of the Vietnam tragedy.
The story of the debacle at Dien Bien Phu has been told, with varying degrees of success, before. Bernard Fall's Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu (1985) and Martin Windrow's The Last Valley:Dien Bien Phu and the French Defeat in Vietnam (2004), are just two of them.
In Valley of Death, Ted Morgan utilizes previously classified documents and overlooked sources to present an in-depth, brutally detailed, yet readable account of the situation in Southeast Asia from 1940 to 1955, when the French decamped from the theater and their colonial empire aspirations. Morgan, whose literary accolades are prestigious, actually served in the French Army in 1956, just two years after the battles at Dien Bien Phu. He therefore had the unique opportunity of hearing first hand of what went on, from ordinary soldiers and some of the major players in the action. He is equally familiar with both French and American archival sources and has uncovered a wealth of fresh material, including the message traffic of the Chinses and Russian delegations at the Geneva Conference. Morgan includes viewpoints from both Vietnamese and French soldiers, generals, nurses and civilians as well as the political players form major powers around the globe.
The battle at Dien Bien Phu changes the course of history. The French defeat meant the end of their influence in Southeast Asia. It also marked the beginning of U.S. involvement in Vietnam in the early 1960's and that involvement cost the United States dearly in blood, treasure and standing in the ranks of world powers. Morgan's book is not to be missed for those interested in the why and how of the Vietnam tragedy.
Bray, Gary W. After My Lai: My Year Commanding First Platoon, Charlie Company. University of Oklahoma Press. Ill;map. 184p. ISBN: 978-0-8061-4045-2. $16.95 March, 2010.
This short but brutally honest memoir of the Vietnam War is an important addition to the literature of that conflict. As a first person account, its focus is on the day-to-day experiences of First Platoon, Charlie Company, Twentieth Infantry Regiment and pretty much stays on point, free of all the other rhetoric associated with that war.
Lieutenant Bray, following his family's tradition of military service, arrived in-country in the fall of 1969, fresh out of basic training and Officer Candidate School. He ultimately assumed command of Lieutenant William Calley's old platoon and, although those events took place eighteen months previously and all those concerned with the massacre had rotated home, there was a certain stigma or notoriety attached to this unit. The Viet Cong placed a monetary reward on the heads of everyone in Charlie Company, placing additional stress on everyone.
Bray had a wonderful opportunity when assuming command and he took every advantage of it – a steadfast, reliable and savvy non-commissioned officer to lean on while learning the ropes. After My Lai is a poignant story of an infantry platoon in a no-win situation with only each other to rely on. In its honesty, it reveals what combat will do to change your life forever.
This short but brutally honest memoir of the Vietnam War is an important addition to the literature of that conflict. As a first person account, its focus is on the day-to-day experiences of First Platoon, Charlie Company, Twentieth Infantry Regiment and pretty much stays on point, free of all the other rhetoric associated with that war.
Lieutenant Bray, following his family's tradition of military service, arrived in-country in the fall of 1969, fresh out of basic training and Officer Candidate School. He ultimately assumed command of Lieutenant William Calley's old platoon and, although those events took place eighteen months previously and all those concerned with the massacre had rotated home, there was a certain stigma or notoriety attached to this unit. The Viet Cong placed a monetary reward on the heads of everyone in Charlie Company, placing additional stress on everyone.
Bray had a wonderful opportunity when assuming command and he took every advantage of it – a steadfast, reliable and savvy non-commissioned officer to lean on while learning the ropes. After My Lai is a poignant story of an infantry platoon in a no-win situation with only each other to rely on. In its honesty, it reveals what combat will do to change your life forever.
Morgan, Helen. Blue Mauritius: The Hunt for the World's Most Valuable Stamps. Overlook Press. Ill; notes; bib; index. 336P ISBN: 978-1-59020-278-4 $15.95 January, 2010.
One of the world's most widespread and popular hobbies, enjoyed by children and presidents, is stamp collecting. Like every hobby, philately has its rarities, forgeries, myths and legends. One of the rarest of stamps is the subject of this excellent book by Helen Morgan.
Mauritius is an island nation that lies off the coast of Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean, more than five hundred miles east of Madagascar. It is renowned for being the only known home of the dodo, a flightless bird related to pigeons and doves, extinct since the mid-to-late 17th Century. Successfully invaded by the British during the Napoleonic Wars, Mauritius was the first British colony to issue postage stamps beginning in 1847 with two stamps, a red one-penny and a blue two-penny. Perhaps only one thousand of these stamps were produced in the first printing; and only twenty-seven of these are known to survive. They carry the legend “Post Office” instead of the more common and proper “Post Paid”. It is not clear why they carry the former rather than the latter.
Morgan's book details the history of these small iconoclastic colored squares of old paper. But this is not just a book on stamp collecting. Reading like a detective novel, it traces the history of these stamps through various collector's hands to exclusive auction houses and postal museums. At auction in 1993, two examples on cover sold for a record four million dollars, adding validity to the statement made in 1862 that stamp enthusiasts are “hopelessly but harmlessly insane.”
After reading this book, one can't help but be tempted to take another look-through at the old letters stored away in the attic.
One of the world's most widespread and popular hobbies, enjoyed by children and presidents, is stamp collecting. Like every hobby, philately has its rarities, forgeries, myths and legends. One of the rarest of stamps is the subject of this excellent book by Helen Morgan.
Mauritius is an island nation that lies off the coast of Africa in the southwest Indian Ocean, more than five hundred miles east of Madagascar. It is renowned for being the only known home of the dodo, a flightless bird related to pigeons and doves, extinct since the mid-to-late 17th Century. Successfully invaded by the British during the Napoleonic Wars, Mauritius was the first British colony to issue postage stamps beginning in 1847 with two stamps, a red one-penny and a blue two-penny. Perhaps only one thousand of these stamps were produced in the first printing; and only twenty-seven of these are known to survive. They carry the legend “Post Office” instead of the more common and proper “Post Paid”. It is not clear why they carry the former rather than the latter.
Morgan's book details the history of these small iconoclastic colored squares of old paper. But this is not just a book on stamp collecting. Reading like a detective novel, it traces the history of these stamps through various collector's hands to exclusive auction houses and postal museums. At auction in 1993, two examples on cover sold for a record four million dollars, adding validity to the statement made in 1862 that stamp enthusiasts are “hopelessly but harmlessly insane.”
After reading this book, one can't help but be tempted to take another look-through at the old letters stored away in the attic.
Potholm, Christian P. Winning at War: 7 Keys To Military Victory Throughout History. Rowman & Littlefield. Notes; index. 304p. ISBN: 978-1-4422-0130-9 $39.95 January, 2010.
In an interesting look at the separate factors that determine success at war, Potholm has defined what he calls a “template of Mars”, which is composed of seven variables: technology; sustained ruthlessness; discipline; receptivity to innovation; protection of military capital from civilians and rulers; the centrality of superior will; and, the belief that there will always be another war. This is the framework on which one can understand war, what it takes to be successful at war and to determine whether or not the leadership has properly prepared the country for success in war when all else fails. Some of these variables are well known: technology, discipline, ruthlessness, innovation and a centrality or unity of superior will have been part and parcel of the practice of successful warfare for centuries. Two of the variables of the template, protection of military capital and the belief that there will always be another war are innovative and somewhat controversial.
Potholm takes these “7 Keys to Victory” and applies them across the spectrum of military history. He illuminates each of his variables to specific events. To use just two examples: protection of capital resulting in a victory for the Athenians at the Battle of Salamis in 480BC; and the belief that there will always be another war was actually what made a Hun a Hun and contributed to their success at conquest.
An interesting and stimulating read.
In an interesting look at the separate factors that determine success at war, Potholm has defined what he calls a “template of Mars”, which is composed of seven variables: technology; sustained ruthlessness; discipline; receptivity to innovation; protection of military capital from civilians and rulers; the centrality of superior will; and, the belief that there will always be another war. This is the framework on which one can understand war, what it takes to be successful at war and to determine whether or not the leadership has properly prepared the country for success in war when all else fails. Some of these variables are well known: technology, discipline, ruthlessness, innovation and a centrality or unity of superior will have been part and parcel of the practice of successful warfare for centuries. Two of the variables of the template, protection of military capital and the belief that there will always be another war are innovative and somewhat controversial.
Potholm takes these “7 Keys to Victory” and applies them across the spectrum of military history. He illuminates each of his variables to specific events. To use just two examples: protection of capital resulting in a victory for the Athenians at the Battle of Salamis in 480BC; and the belief that there will always be another war was actually what made a Hun a Hun and contributed to their success at conquest.
An interesting and stimulating read.
Boylston, James R. and Allen J. Weiner. David Crockett in Congress: The Rise and Fall of the Poor Man's Friend. Bright Sky Press. Ill; appendices; bibliography; index. 340p. ISBN: 978-933979-51-9. $29.95 October, 2009.
For those of us who grew up on the Walt Disney version of “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier”, his service in Congress was merely an interlude between fighting Indians and dying heroically at the Alamo. At least we who could sing the song knew he was in Congress. Starting in his own time, the Crockett myth has grown to obscure the real man so much that it has turned a well-known historical figure into an unknown.
David Crockett in Congress is the first book to focus primarily on Crockett's political career, complete with all extant letters, political circulars and selected speeches. It reveals a politically savvy and shrewd man who stood on principle rather than on party policy, always an advocate for those who elected him and usually at odds with the Andrew Jackson political machine. First elected in 1827, Crockett was a strong supporter of poor squatters rights, which immediately put him at odds with the Jacksonians who worked endlessly from then on to unseat him. Losing his seat in 1831, he was reelected from another Tennessee district in 1833 and, although he saw active campaigning in the earlier Creek War, Crockett became an advocate for Indian rights and fought against Jackson's policy of Indian removal. Serving until 1835, Crockett decided he would not sit through the Van Buren administration and decided to begin a new life in Texas, where opportunities were plenty.
This book is an outstanding addition to the Crockett literature, illuminating an unknown and misrepresented period of his life. It reveals the man to be more than the myth; a public servant whose morals and ideals should serve as the standard for all elected officials to live up to. It is also a beautifully produced item; heavy stock paper with a plethora of illustrations, many of them in color and is modestly priced. Truly a masterpiece.
For those of us who grew up on the Walt Disney version of “Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier”, his service in Congress was merely an interlude between fighting Indians and dying heroically at the Alamo. At least we who could sing the song knew he was in Congress. Starting in his own time, the Crockett myth has grown to obscure the real man so much that it has turned a well-known historical figure into an unknown.
David Crockett in Congress is the first book to focus primarily on Crockett's political career, complete with all extant letters, political circulars and selected speeches. It reveals a politically savvy and shrewd man who stood on principle rather than on party policy, always an advocate for those who elected him and usually at odds with the Andrew Jackson political machine. First elected in 1827, Crockett was a strong supporter of poor squatters rights, which immediately put him at odds with the Jacksonians who worked endlessly from then on to unseat him. Losing his seat in 1831, he was reelected from another Tennessee district in 1833 and, although he saw active campaigning in the earlier Creek War, Crockett became an advocate for Indian rights and fought against Jackson's policy of Indian removal. Serving until 1835, Crockett decided he would not sit through the Van Buren administration and decided to begin a new life in Texas, where opportunities were plenty.
This book is an outstanding addition to the Crockett literature, illuminating an unknown and misrepresented period of his life. It reveals the man to be more than the myth; a public servant whose morals and ideals should serve as the standard for all elected officials to live up to. It is also a beautifully produced item; heavy stock paper with a plethora of illustrations, many of them in color and is modestly priced. Truly a masterpiece.
Shomette, Donald G. Flotilla: The Patuxent Naval Campaign in the War of 1812. Johns Hopkins University Press. Illustrated; notes; bibliography; index; appendices. 520p. ISBN: 978-0-8018-9122-9. $38.00 May, 2009.
With the exception of “the rockets red glare” and Andrew Jacksons' victory at the Battle of New Orleans, the War of 1812 is largely unknown to everyday Americans. As the 2ooth anniversary of the second war with Britain approaches, we will see a spate of new and updated, reissued books.
Flotilla, by Donald Shomette, is just such a book. Expanded and updated from a similar work published by him in 1981, this is more than a campaign history with its day to day recounting of events. It is a rare look at the complex nature of the naval war and its impact on the inhabitants of Tidewater Maryland and the nation's capitol at Washington, D.C.
Within less than a year of the commencement of hostilities in the War of 1812, the British Royal Navy successfully blockaded the Chesapeake Bay and began to send raiding parties over the entire area of the waterway, burning and pillaging everything to hand. The virtual non-existence of a United States Navy practically guaranteed British dominance in the area.
Enter American Revolution naval hero Joshua Barney, Baltimore native, and his plan for a Chesapeake Flotilla, consisting of gunboats and war barges capable of navigating the eight thousand miles of intricate tidal shoreline. Shomette details the construction and manning of the flotilla, the political intricacies surrounding the U.S. Flotilla Service (formed to build a viable coastal defense force), and the valiant efforts of American sailors in a losing cause. Despite their improbable victory at St. Leonard's Creek, the flotilla was ordered destroyed by a panic-stricken government in 1814; the men would go on to fight heroically at Bladensburg and Fort McHenry.
Shomette details all of this with meticulous research in archives on both sides of the Atlantic. Of especial interest is the involvement of African Americans from the area who served in the Royal Colonial Marine Corps.
With the exception of “the rockets red glare” and Andrew Jacksons' victory at the Battle of New Orleans, the War of 1812 is largely unknown to everyday Americans. As the 2ooth anniversary of the second war with Britain approaches, we will see a spate of new and updated, reissued books.
Flotilla, by Donald Shomette, is just such a book. Expanded and updated from a similar work published by him in 1981, this is more than a campaign history with its day to day recounting of events. It is a rare look at the complex nature of the naval war and its impact on the inhabitants of Tidewater Maryland and the nation's capitol at Washington, D.C.
Within less than a year of the commencement of hostilities in the War of 1812, the British Royal Navy successfully blockaded the Chesapeake Bay and began to send raiding parties over the entire area of the waterway, burning and pillaging everything to hand. The virtual non-existence of a United States Navy practically guaranteed British dominance in the area.
Enter American Revolution naval hero Joshua Barney, Baltimore native, and his plan for a Chesapeake Flotilla, consisting of gunboats and war barges capable of navigating the eight thousand miles of intricate tidal shoreline. Shomette details the construction and manning of the flotilla, the political intricacies surrounding the U.S. Flotilla Service (formed to build a viable coastal defense force), and the valiant efforts of American sailors in a losing cause. Despite their improbable victory at St. Leonard's Creek, the flotilla was ordered destroyed by a panic-stricken government in 1814; the men would go on to fight heroically at Bladensburg and Fort McHenry.
Shomette details all of this with meticulous research in archives on both sides of the Atlantic. Of especial interest is the involvement of African Americans from the area who served in the Royal Colonial Marine Corps.
Danisi, Thomas C. and John C. Jackson. Meriwether Lewis. Prometheus Books. Illustrated; appendix; notes; bibliography; index. 424p. ISBN: 978-1-59102-702-7. $28.98 May, 2009
Best known as one-half of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806, which explored the uncharted territory west of the Mississippi River, Meriwether Lewis' life was surrounded by myth and mystery, no doubt stemming from his premature death in October, 1809, just three years after the successful conclusion of the expedition. Not much else is really known of his life, neither before nor after the trek to the Pacific.
Authors Danisi and Jackson have produced the first full length biography of Lewis in fifty years and it focuses on his early and later life with the famous expedition sandwiched in between the two. This gives tremendous insight into why Lewis was chosen to lead the exploration and how he continued his career afterwards.
Meriwether Lewis' lifelong mentor was Thomas Jefferson. The two were native Virginians and near neighbors who shared like scientific interests and, when the time came, Jefferson obtained for Lewis an army appointment. Lewis later became the President's personal secretary and, came in close proximity to those learned friends of Jefferson's who founded the American Philosophical Society. It wasn't long after the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France that the idea of an exploratory expedition be launched and Lewis was given a crash course in just about every relevant subject in the natural sciences. What is evident is Jefferson's involvement, much more so than is generally known.
After the expedition, Lewis, who would have been happy to write up and publish his journal notes and remain a noted natural scientist, was thrust into the position of governor of the Louisiana Territory by his friend/mentor/boss Thomas Jefferson. The Territory at that time, rife with Spanish and American intrigue, was no place for a neophyte and, subsequently, Lewis was quite possibly out of his league as a politician/soldier.
Finally, the authors make a convincing case for the cause of Meriwether Lewis' early death. Using medical documentation, the authors reveal him to be suffering from terrible bouts of malaria, overwhelming pain and a desire to be quit of it all. So his death may not have been murder, nor suicide.
This is an excellent study of a misunderstood hero and of the early national period in U.S. History.
Best known as one-half of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806, which explored the uncharted territory west of the Mississippi River, Meriwether Lewis' life was surrounded by myth and mystery, no doubt stemming from his premature death in October, 1809, just three years after the successful conclusion of the expedition. Not much else is really known of his life, neither before nor after the trek to the Pacific.
Authors Danisi and Jackson have produced the first full length biography of Lewis in fifty years and it focuses on his early and later life with the famous expedition sandwiched in between the two. This gives tremendous insight into why Lewis was chosen to lead the exploration and how he continued his career afterwards.
Meriwether Lewis' lifelong mentor was Thomas Jefferson. The two were native Virginians and near neighbors who shared like scientific interests and, when the time came, Jefferson obtained for Lewis an army appointment. Lewis later became the President's personal secretary and, came in close proximity to those learned friends of Jefferson's who founded the American Philosophical Society. It wasn't long after the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France that the idea of an exploratory expedition be launched and Lewis was given a crash course in just about every relevant subject in the natural sciences. What is evident is Jefferson's involvement, much more so than is generally known.
After the expedition, Lewis, who would have been happy to write up and publish his journal notes and remain a noted natural scientist, was thrust into the position of governor of the Louisiana Territory by his friend/mentor/boss Thomas Jefferson. The Territory at that time, rife with Spanish and American intrigue, was no place for a neophyte and, subsequently, Lewis was quite possibly out of his league as a politician/soldier.
Finally, the authors make a convincing case for the cause of Meriwether Lewis' early death. Using medical documentation, the authors reveal him to be suffering from terrible bouts of malaria, overwhelming pain and a desire to be quit of it all. So his death may not have been murder, nor suicide.
This is an excellent study of a misunderstood hero and of the early national period in U.S. History.
Merry, Robert K. A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent. Simon & Schuster. Illustrated; map; notes; bibliography; index. 592p. ISBN:978-0-7432-9743-1. $30.00 November, 2009.
The era of Manifest Destiny and James K. Polk's presidency is an important yet largely completely forgotten or unknown period in U.S. History. It was an epoch that resulted in the expansion of the United States to the Pacific coast through a combination of treaty and armed conflict. It stirred great debate in the U.S. Congress, various state legislatures and the news media of that time.
Author Merry brings to life the outstanding personalities of the era including Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Thomas Hart Benton, General Winfield Scott, James Buchanan and, of course, James Polk, among others and their debates and machinations over the issues of expansion, states' rights, the use of military force, slavery and American foreign policy. All of these issues resonate down to the present day. These issues then had the country in an uproar as similar issues have the country in an uproar now.
Polk, a one-term president by choice, accomplished more in four years than most presidents did in eight. Aside from making the United States a continental nation by adding the Pacific Northwest through negotiation and the Southwest and Pacific coast through conquest, he also helped create an independent U.S. Treasury and paved the way to free commerce through the reduction of the Tariff and its import taxes. All of these accomplishments were not without cost; less than four months after leaving office, Polk died, his health broken by the tremendous strain.
This is a tremendously readable book filled with unforgettable figures from the Manifest Destiny era of United States history – revealed with all of their foibles – especially the extremely devious Secretary of State, James Buchanan. This is a must for every bookshelf.
The era of Manifest Destiny and James K. Polk's presidency is an important yet largely completely forgotten or unknown period in U.S. History. It was an epoch that resulted in the expansion of the United States to the Pacific coast through a combination of treaty and armed conflict. It stirred great debate in the U.S. Congress, various state legislatures and the news media of that time.
Author Merry brings to life the outstanding personalities of the era including Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, Thomas Hart Benton, General Winfield Scott, James Buchanan and, of course, James Polk, among others and their debates and machinations over the issues of expansion, states' rights, the use of military force, slavery and American foreign policy. All of these issues resonate down to the present day. These issues then had the country in an uproar as similar issues have the country in an uproar now.
Polk, a one-term president by choice, accomplished more in four years than most presidents did in eight. Aside from making the United States a continental nation by adding the Pacific Northwest through negotiation and the Southwest and Pacific coast through conquest, he also helped create an independent U.S. Treasury and paved the way to free commerce through the reduction of the Tariff and its import taxes. All of these accomplishments were not without cost; less than four months after leaving office, Polk died, his health broken by the tremendous strain.
This is a tremendously readable book filled with unforgettable figures from the Manifest Destiny era of United States history – revealed with all of their foibles – especially the extremely devious Secretary of State, James Buchanan. This is a must for every bookshelf.
Keegan, John. The American Civil War: A Military History. Knopf. Illustrated; notes; bibliography; maps; index. 396p. ISBN: 978-0-307-26343-8. $35.00 2009.
Recognizing the fact that Sir John Keegan is one of the foremost military historians in the world, his book on the American Civil War was eagerly anticipated. After all, he started “the new military history” in 1976 with the publication of his book, The Face of Battle, with its focus on the actual experience of soldiers in battle.
In some respects, The American Civil War: A Military History fulfills some expectations. Written from an English perspective, Keegan illuminates the strengths and weaknesses of the principle commanders of both sides without seeming prejudice or favoritism. He describes McClellan as having a disabling defect as a commander and that being an overwhelming fear of failure; Grant as a clear-sighted strategist; and Lee as not really a strategist but a brilliant tactician.
Keegan states that geography is “the most important of all factors that impinge on war-making” which is especially true on this continent, with the Confederacy being the same size as most of Europe (excluding Russia). Within this framework are many errors that will leave the reader confused. Rivers are confused with others rivers; place names are located incorrectly and the difference between Keegan's viewpoint and the historical reality are as night and day.
There are other errors in the text as well; errors of fact; wrong dates for some battles, wrong years for some well-known events; and outlandish claims, such as Lincoln never learned the value of visiting soldiers in the field – something the commander-in-chief in fact did almost a dozen times during the war.
Students of the American Civil War will recognize these errors and draw what value they can from the book but beginners will be misled and misinformed. This is not a good work from someone of Sir John's reputation.
Recognizing the fact that Sir John Keegan is one of the foremost military historians in the world, his book on the American Civil War was eagerly anticipated. After all, he started “the new military history” in 1976 with the publication of his book, The Face of Battle, with its focus on the actual experience of soldiers in battle.
In some respects, The American Civil War: A Military History fulfills some expectations. Written from an English perspective, Keegan illuminates the strengths and weaknesses of the principle commanders of both sides without seeming prejudice or favoritism. He describes McClellan as having a disabling defect as a commander and that being an overwhelming fear of failure; Grant as a clear-sighted strategist; and Lee as not really a strategist but a brilliant tactician.
Keegan states that geography is “the most important of all factors that impinge on war-making” which is especially true on this continent, with the Confederacy being the same size as most of Europe (excluding Russia). Within this framework are many errors that will leave the reader confused. Rivers are confused with others rivers; place names are located incorrectly and the difference between Keegan's viewpoint and the historical reality are as night and day.
There are other errors in the text as well; errors of fact; wrong dates for some battles, wrong years for some well-known events; and outlandish claims, such as Lincoln never learned the value of visiting soldiers in the field – something the commander-in-chief in fact did almost a dozen times during the war.
Students of the American Civil War will recognize these errors and draw what value they can from the book but beginners will be misled and misinformed. This is not a good work from someone of Sir John's reputation.
Hendrix, Henry J. Theodore Roosevelt's Naval Diplomacy: The U.S. Navy and the Birth of the American Century. U.S. Naval Institute Press. Illustrated; notes; bibliography; index. 288p. ISBN: 978-1-59114-363-5. $34.95 2009 www.usni.org
Navy Commander Hendrix ably portrays America's entry onto the world stage at the dawn of the American Century with superb research uncovering new information specifically concerning the back door diplomacy aptly practiced by President Theodore Roosevelt.
The United States Navy and Theodore Roosevelt have had a long history together, dating back to Roosevelt's college days at Harvard. As his honors thesis, he chose to write The Naval War of 1812, which is still regarded as one of the important books in the literature of that conflict. The authors' grasp of the mechanics of naval warfare is outstanding for a civilian. As a lecturer at the Naval War College, Roosevelt met Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, whose later work, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History was based on Roosevelt's ideas and had a tremendous impact on naval thinking worldwide. Roosevelt's appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy was the culmination of this relationship. Roosevelt's work in this capacity began the shift of American naval power to the world's stage.
Author Hendrix reviews several key events of Roosevelt's presidency that is the crux of his book. He brings to light new information concerning the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902-1903; Panama, 1903; the Ion Pedicaris/Morocco incident of 1904; the peace conference ending the Russo-Japanese War of 1905; and, finally, the sailing of the Great White Fleet in 1907. It is simply amazing that all of these crises were resolved without going to war.
This book illuminates Theodore Roosevelt's role in bringing the United States to the world stage as a power to be reckoned with through the use of diplomacy and/or armed might in the form of naval power backed up by the U.S. Marine Corps. This is a great read; highly informative and highly recommended.
Navy Commander Hendrix ably portrays America's entry onto the world stage at the dawn of the American Century with superb research uncovering new information specifically concerning the back door diplomacy aptly practiced by President Theodore Roosevelt.
The United States Navy and Theodore Roosevelt have had a long history together, dating back to Roosevelt's college days at Harvard. As his honors thesis, he chose to write The Naval War of 1812, which is still regarded as one of the important books in the literature of that conflict. The authors' grasp of the mechanics of naval warfare is outstanding for a civilian. As a lecturer at the Naval War College, Roosevelt met Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, whose later work, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History was based on Roosevelt's ideas and had a tremendous impact on naval thinking worldwide. Roosevelt's appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy was the culmination of this relationship. Roosevelt's work in this capacity began the shift of American naval power to the world's stage.
Author Hendrix reviews several key events of Roosevelt's presidency that is the crux of his book. He brings to light new information concerning the Venezuelan Crisis of 1902-1903; Panama, 1903; the Ion Pedicaris/Morocco incident of 1904; the peace conference ending the Russo-Japanese War of 1905; and, finally, the sailing of the Great White Fleet in 1907. It is simply amazing that all of these crises were resolved without going to war.
This book illuminates Theodore Roosevelt's role in bringing the United States to the world stage as a power to be reckoned with through the use of diplomacy and/or armed might in the form of naval power backed up by the U.S. Marine Corps. This is a great read; highly informative and highly recommended.
Cushing, William B. The Sea Eagle: The Civil War Memoirs of Lt. Cdr. William B. Cushing, U.S.N. Rowman & Littlefield. Illustrations; appendices; index. 169p. ISBN: 978-0-7425-7053-5. $34.95 August, 2009.
This latest entry in The American Crisis Series, Books on the Civil War Era, brings to print one of the more dashing participants of the War Between the States, William B. Cushing, USN. Named by later biographers as “Lincoln's Commando”, Cushing is best known for his daring nighttime raid against a Confederate ironclad, the CSS Albemarle in late October, 1864.
Cushing was born in Wisconsin, raised in New York State and expelled from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland for a variety of reasons, among them poor scholarship and “pranks.” Personally pleading his case to Navy Secretary Gideon Welles, he was given one last chance and reinstated in the Navy as an acting master's mate just as the bombardment of Fort Sumter ended.
Cushing first saw active service at Hatteras Inlet, off the North Carolina coast, and then at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Promoted to Lieutenant in mid-1862, he was known for his personal courage and daring. In 1864, in a nighttime raid, Cushing and his volunteer crew sank the ironclad CSS Albemarle with a spar torpedo ram for which he received the thanks of Congress. As the Navy's youngest Lieutenant Commander, Cushing ended his Civil War service at the Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865. Postwar service in both the Pacific and Atlantic Squadrons eventually weakened his already unstable health and he died in 1874 at the age of thirty-two.
In The Sea Eagle, editor Carter adequately portrays Cushing in his introduction to the commanders' wartime memoirs. The addition of glossaries describing officers and ships mentioned in the text, plus contemporary articles originally published in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War flesh out the life and exploits of the dashing Cushing.
This latest entry in The American Crisis Series, Books on the Civil War Era, brings to print one of the more dashing participants of the War Between the States, William B. Cushing, USN. Named by later biographers as “Lincoln's Commando”, Cushing is best known for his daring nighttime raid against a Confederate ironclad, the CSS Albemarle in late October, 1864.
Cushing was born in Wisconsin, raised in New York State and expelled from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland for a variety of reasons, among them poor scholarship and “pranks.” Personally pleading his case to Navy Secretary Gideon Welles, he was given one last chance and reinstated in the Navy as an acting master's mate just as the bombardment of Fort Sumter ended.
Cushing first saw active service at Hatteras Inlet, off the North Carolina coast, and then at Hampton Roads, Virginia. Promoted to Lieutenant in mid-1862, he was known for his personal courage and daring. In 1864, in a nighttime raid, Cushing and his volunteer crew sank the ironclad CSS Albemarle with a spar torpedo ram for which he received the thanks of Congress. As the Navy's youngest Lieutenant Commander, Cushing ended his Civil War service at the Battle of Fort Fisher in 1865. Postwar service in both the Pacific and Atlantic Squadrons eventually weakened his already unstable health and he died in 1874 at the age of thirty-two.
In The Sea Eagle, editor Carter adequately portrays Cushing in his introduction to the commanders' wartime memoirs. The addition of glossaries describing officers and ships mentioned in the text, plus contemporary articles originally published in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War flesh out the life and exploits of the dashing Cushing.
