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Walter Nugent: Habits of Empire: A History of American
Expansion
Looks at the expansion of the USA from independence to today & identifies this
in 3 stages (Empire I, the period of internal expansion, Empire II, the Pacific
and Caribbean imperialism and Empire III, post 1945.) Most focus is on I & II
and what a depressing tale he tells. It did not take long for the (thoroughly
European Great Power) diplomatic skills of duplicity and selfish ambition to
appear. Greatly assisted by an early ability to take advantage of Great Power
problems elsewhere to acqiure territory by Treaty & Dollars, the young Republic
is also quite happy to undermine states that helped it gain independence (most
notably Spain) and attack neighbours (British Canada, Mexico) in search of the
expansion of what it considered its manifest destiny. Worst of all though Nugent
shows the impact of Manifest Destiny on the native population. Pushed, shoved,
but most of all decimated by the diseases of what Nugent calls the
Anglo-European settlers they are all but wiped out to become little more than
another ethnic minority by the 20th century. At times the depth of detail of the
early Spanish wars can be overwhelming, not to say tedious, but Nugent's book
needs to be recommended reading for anyone who believes the US was isolationist
before Teddy Rooosevelt and Woodrow Wilson. As I said at the start, a depressing
read. Feb '09 (****) |
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Ian W. Toll: Six Frigates: The
Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy
A huge tome that tells the story of the origins of the US Navy (It
started with just 6 frigates...) in the late 18th/early 19th century.
Written by a journalist rather than a historian so is not quite a US
N.A.M. Rodgers but is well written and reads easily. Still it is perhaps
one for the ship anorak rather than the general reader. Interesting to
see the early potential wealth of the newly independent US: able to
build a fleet and a state capital at the same time! Equally valuable are
the links drawn at the end that connect this early growth directly to
the Monroe doctrine and Thedore Roosevelts Great White fleet. Feb '07
(***) |
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Thomas E.
Ricks: Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
Written by a veteran war correspondent this is the most depressing piece
of writing to show very clearly and exhaustively just how incompetent
and unprepared the US govt and military was/is for the Iraq war. Ricks
is very painstaking in his research and the real degree of the fiasco
becomes clearer and clearer as each page of tight text unfolds. A couple
of caveats: the book could have done with a little more editing as the
catalogue of recorded failings grows & grows (If time is short the first
200 of 440 are the most telling). Equally it needs to be remembered it
is a piece of journalism, not history (but will become a valuable
historical document iteself for its interviews) and this comes through
in places in style and presentation. Ultimately the question the reader
is left with is how little grasp of affairs & ability the US Presidency
had/has and how little (informed) leadership it provided - and how
genuinely unpleasant and ill educated key advisers were. August '07
(****)
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Christopher Bayly: Forgotten Armies : The Fall of British Asia, 1941-1945
The main value of this tome to the general reader is most likely to be the early
chapters before the war. This outlines most clearly the nature (arrogance and
decadence?) of the British presence in malaya & Burma. The forgotten armies of
the conflict are dealt with very methodically, but this makes for drier reading. Feb'06 (***) |
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Adam Hochschild: King Leopold's Ghost
Read this to find out the true horror of imperialism. The
focus is on the Belgian Congo, but it indicates clearly the role played
by the other Europeans in supporting the process. Very well written, it
reads (too?) easily and also does a great service in highlighting the
role played by the few who tried to publicise the atrocities: Britons
Edmund Morel, & Roger Casement and the African American George
Washington Williams & William Sheppard. Nov '05 (*****) |
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Joseph
Conrad: Heart of Darkness (Penguin Modern Classics)
The early 20th century novella stands up well with its account of Marlows
journey in search of Kurtz. Its allusions to Stanley & the European exploitation
of the Congo and its serving as the basis for Coppola's Apocolypse Now means
there is plenty to think about. It is a long time since I have read an annotated
Penguin classic of which this is an excellent example. Robert Hampson's
Introduction and copious notes help greatly with understanding Conrad's nuances
and probable intentions. Dec '06 (****) |
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N A M Rodger: Command of the Ocean.
A Naval History of Britain, 1649-1815
This is the second volume in the naval history and is very valuable, not just for its account of how the Royal Navy grew into the premier seafaring force of
its time but also for placing this in a general political & economic context.
Different sections on politics and society as well as naval technology and management styles show very clearly the emergence of Britain as the key imperial power.
It reads easily and appears thoroughly researched. Hardly surprising it became a (surprising) bestseller in the UK.
I look forward to Volume 3.
Jan '06 (****)
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John le
Carre: The Mission Song
Latest novel stays in Africa like the Constant Gardener. This time the action
centres on the Congo where le Carre weaves a plot involving western government
subterfuge and mercenary activity. Not quite up to the standard of the Constant
Gardener, but a thoughtful read putting the helplessness of Africans in the face
of war & exploitation into sharp focus. This is another book I have read
recently with references to Conrad's Heart of Darkness... Dec '06 (***)
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Mike Dash: Batavia's Graveyard: The True Story of
the Mad Heretic Who Led History's Bloodiest Mutiny
This is the story of the 1629 Batavia mutiny of the Dutch East India
Company (VOC). The (eventually quite horrific) story of shipwreck off
modern Australia, mutiny, then "Lord of the Flies" type conflict between
the shipwrecked survivors is well told, and equally provides a clear
general insight into the workings of the VOC and the early routes to the
east. The final section interestingly brings the story up to the present
(despite a poor psycho-babble conclusion on the main character). There
are a few caveats however: initially the book digresses too much from
the story to talk of 17th century ships and trade in general. My edition
had a third (over 100 pages) devoted to useful footnotes, but no
numbering was given in the text - you had to look at the back in the
"off chance" there may be a footnote and a statement was founded in
history, not supposition..... Some illustrations would also be useful...
Nov '07 (***)
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casahistoria
home visit
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for updates and current topic news
Latin America
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Peter Chapman: Jungle
Capitalists: A Story of Globalisation, Greed and Revolution
Charts the economic rise and pervasive political influence of
the first globalised company - the US United Fruit Company, precursor
for the activities of today's multinationals. By building railways and
the acquisition of land rights from central American states it created
monopoly banana production and determined the politics of the region. By
the 1930's the company had created a "vast feudal state" of plantations,
worker settlements and client governments scattered across central
America. The simple Banana may have been the product, but to ensure its
continued profitability (ie keeping production costs low and free from
native involvement) United Fruit was not averse to heavy involvement in
aggressive politics. Support for coups was common, most clearly seen in
the 1929 Santa Marta massacre of 1000+ demonstrators in Colombia and the
Guatamalan coup of 1954. But Guatamala backfired - it frightened the US
government into starting anti trust procedures that would see United
Fruit shrink into "Chiquita" in the 1980's; Ernesto Guevara witnessed
the coup and it helped convince him of the need to use force to gain
national freedom; the US press, heavily manipulated by United Fruit
decided to pursue more personally investigative styles in future
(Herbert Matthews went off in search of Castro on a personal quest for
"truth" which was to give such positive press for Castro in the US).
However the author warns for today: Chiquita has admitted to paying
nearly $2 million to right-wing death squads in Colombia and Chapman
cites the example of Costa Rica, (the only central American country to
escape United Fruit and create a more welfare-orientated state) where
modern multinationals working within a free-market economy are causing
severe problems of social inequality. This book is timely and testimony
to the survival of United Fruit and how well it has continued to cover
its tracks outside latin America. May '08 (****)
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Robert Carver: Paradise
with Serpents
Carver's travel tales of Paraguay in 2001-2 see him comparing it
with amongst others, the Congo, Albania, and the one I like best: pre
partition 18th century Poland.... In places amusing, in others sadly
pathetic this is a good companion to John Gimlettes Inflatable Pig
(which has a more historical focus and which Carver is gracious enough
to praise). Carver is well read and this gives a depth to his stories as
well as allowing him to put modern Paraguay in a context with its
neighbours. Starting off an enthusiastic investigative tourist, Carver
ends desperate to leave and running for a seat on one of the few planes
out of Paraguay for São Paulo. It may be good armchair adventure but I
am not sure if this will encourage less intrepid tourists to travel far
beyond Ciudad del Este though! April '08 (***)
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Paul Blustein: And the Money Kept Rolling In (and
Out): Wall Street, the IMF, and the Bankrupting of Argentina
A readable account of the 2001-2 Argentine economic
crash and how it emerged out of the growth of the 1990's. And at the
end, where does Blustein point the finger of blame? To be sure, slack
Argentine policies throughout the period and the impetuosity finally of
Cavallo (where was President de la Rua at the time?) carry much of the
final responsibility for the eventual collapse. However he argues that
the real culprits are the international bankers - too willing to lend,
to convince the Argentine government to issue more & more bonds and to
push rates of repayment ever higher. The IMF? Blustein sees them as
being blinded by what he calls "poster-child syndrome" ie unwilling to
be tough & give unwelcome advice and support (especially post 1998)
other then more loans, when "tough love" rather than more debts was
needed by the country it had over-promoted as the free market success of
the 1990's. Sept '07 (***)
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Robert
Harvey: The Liberators
Sympathetic & comprehensive narrative of the latin American Wars of
Independence. Gave a new appreciation & respect for the social values of Bolivar
and San Martin especially. Unfortunately, all were unappreciated in the ensuing
states that they fought for - in particular by the criolla landowning families
who undermined their reforms thus creating the years of chaos that followed -
very much to the present. A worthy reference on the period but too heavy on
military details for the general reader and limited on recent Spanish language
scholarship. Aug '06 (***) |
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Patrick Wilcken: Empire Adrift
Did you know the Portuguese Royal Court all up-sticked and headed for Rio during
the Napoleonic Wars? This explains the why's and how's. A good read, describing
the growth of Rio - as well as the duplicitous role of Britain. This may have
been where Britain first began to influence latin American internal politics
through the back door. Jan'06 (***) |
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David Sinclair: Sir Gregor Macgregor and the Land That Never Was
Story of a 19th century Scots fraudster, Gregor MacGregor and his scheme to make
a fortune selling land in a non existent country in central America. The tale is
an interesting one covering the MacGregors exploits in the Americas (where he
fought alongside Miranda and Bolivar) and Europe as well as in Britain, but more
judicious editing (especially of the independence campaigns MacGregor actually
fought in) with a greater use of footnotes might make it both more useful to
historians and efficient to read. Nov '06 (**) |
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Peter
Nichols: Evolution's Captain
The story of Robert FitzRoy who took Darwin around the world. FitzRoy's life is
shown as tragedy, from his early attempt to "civilise" the natives of Tierra del
Fuega to his realisation that having facilitated Darwin produced the massive
attack by Science on his own fundamentalist beliefs. Written not by a historian
with an understanding of the sea but by a yachtsman with a sound grasp of the
history this is a very readable account - although the paperback is much in need
of a good map of Patagonia! Sept '06 (***) |
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Tomás
Eloy Martínez: The Tango Singer
A short but intriguing novel set in 2001 from Eloy Martínez, a writer whose work
battles between history and literature. Whereas 'Santa Evita' (****) and The 'Perón
Novel' (****) saw history dominant, here it is the literary side that provides
an (ale-gorical?) framework for an almost mystical search through the horrors of
Argentina's recent history. Best read if you have a knowledge of Buenos Aires
and Borges - and a map handy!. July '06 (***) |
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John Gimlette: At
the Tomb of the Inflatable Pig
Ostensibly a travel book, this was the surprise bestseller of 2003. It
has a silly title, and a surreal cover (even more so in the US) but it
is a knowledgeable voyage through the 19th and 20th century history of
the Guarani homeland.
In this grimly amusing book Gimlette reveals the horrors and absurdities
of the past as well as the present, but reading between the lines he has
an affection for this blighted country, incarcerated in the centre of a
continent and the pawn of its larger and stronger neighbours - whose
politicians though are no brighter than those of Paraguay. Pobre paraguayos.... |
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casahistoria
home visit
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for updates and current topic news
Russia/USSR
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Simon Sebag Montefiore: Young Stalin
This has to be read by anyone who seriously wants to understand what made Stalin
tick. The account of his youth and formative years (up to Oct/Nov 1917) clearly
indicates the impact of growing up in the wilds of (still lawless and gangster
riddled) Georgia and the Caucasus. Sebag Montefiore's account does more though -
it explains perhaps the ease with which the USSR slid into oligarchy and
lawlessness in the 1990's - because of a general underlying tradition of
violence, but also the dangers of faith schools and the risks of encarcerating
enemies of the state in similar places. Stalin? More educated and culturally
rounded than I had thought, but presents as not a pleasant character at all -
easy to understand his purges and ruthlessness as later USSR leader. Equally
repugnant seemed to be his inclination towards impregnating teenage girls at
least half his age - one of whom was only 13, (he was in his 30's......) Very
readable nonetheless. |
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Ryszard
Kapuscinski: Imperium
This is a volume of essays dating from 1939 to the fall of Gorbachev by the
Polish journalist. In them, Kapuscinski writes clearly and shows a sharp sense
of observation of the workings of the Soviet Empire as he finds it in his
travels during the period. Although we are well aware now that the former USSR
was not a monolith but made up of many different nationalities and Soviet
Republics, his writing from the 1980's from the Soviet "stans" reminds us that
this was also the case at a time when the west tended to consider the USSR as
one uniform state. In many ways the best is at the start and finish - a masterly
description of the 1939 Soviet occupation of eastern Poland from a boys account
and an analysis from the time by an easterner of the fall of Gorbachev. Not
quite history writing, but a good resource for historical study of the period.
Oct' 08. (***) |
casahistoria
home visit
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for updates and current topic news
Single Party States
Giles
Tremlett: Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Secret Past
Written by The Guardians Spain reporter this is a guide to help the anglo-saxon
understand modern Spain by attempting to explain the history - ancient & modern
- that is its foundation. Tremlett, as a long term resident writes with insight
and real understanding - and at length. His best chapters are the early ones
when he explains the secretos a voces originating from the Franco era and the "amnistía
and amnesia" that followed it. He rationalises the dichotomy whereby Spains
prosecutors are the most fervent in chasing up the perpetrators of Latin
Americas military regimes whilst (until recently at least) ignoring the events
of their own right wing period. Unfortunately the book will be too wordy to be
read by most anglosajóns on the costas - tighter editing might have broadened
its appeal - and value. (Sept '07) (***) |
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Philip
Roth: The Plot Against America: A Novel
An intriguing piece of counterfactual history - FDR loses the 1940 election to a
right wing Lindbergh in league with Nazi Germany. Written in the first person
from the viewpoint of a 10 year old boy this is perceptive and emotionally
moving on a personal as well as social and political level as it charts the
gradual decline of the US into antisemitic persecution. Yes, you can see how it
might happen in a "civilised" society.... May '07 (****) |
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casahistoria
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World Wars
| |
Giles MacDonogh: After the Reich - from the fall of
Vienna to the Berlin Airlift
Any modern writer of post war Germany who mentions the names of Hajo
Holborn and Michael Balfour in the first few pages clearly has done their
reading. This book fills in the gap left in many English language histories of
postwar central Europe: from the actual end of war and its immediate impact to
the outbreak of the Cold War. Covering not just the zones of Germany, but also
Austria and the events of German speaking Europe elsewhere - the German Reich at
its largest.
The initial 100 pages or so are a harrowing account of the treatment
of the German speakers as they were invaded, occupied, looted, raped and for the
millions in the east, moved westwards. The brutality by all concerned is
meticulously documented - too much so in places - I wanted to skip on as it was
so disturbing and relentless. The Red Army is well documented by others, less so
the proportionately greater savagery of the Czechs on the Sudetenlanders
(especially grim as MacDonogh makes clear the pre 1938 Sudetenlanders were ex
Austrians, not Germans who had been unlawfully deprived of the chance at self
determination after Versailles by a nationalist Czech regime.).
Another eyeopener is the evidence that all the allies used prisoners
of war in ways similar to Speer in his use of slave labour (and often in the
face of resultant deaths). The US was especially cynical in this matter
announcing they had released all POW's in mid 1946 when in fact they released
them to be handed over to other allies: Belgium and France, for manual work. The
USSR was still returning POW's in the mid 1950's.
The early stance of the US was surprisingly tough. Outside the Soviet
Zone, the US had and maintained the hardest stance to its prisoners and civilian
population for the first 18 months. Torture seems to have been common initially
amongst all the occupiers as they sought to do the necessary and root out
Nazi's. However MacDonogh's examples indicate a direct line of war's
dehumanisation that makes treatment of Iraqi prisoners seem minor.
One issue with After the Reich
is caused by its heavy reliance on documentary sources, especially memoirs. This
had meant a skew towards recounting the experiences of the better off, in
particular the womenfolk of the German/Prussian nobility. At times this leads
perhaps to a too unconsidered appreciation of the sometime self-serving
motivation of the 1944 plotters, many of whom were close to the writers of the
memoirs used.
The final sections takes a reader swiftly but clearly through the fog
of the origins of the Cold War, only after 500 pages of the aftermath analysis
what follows has a clarity lacking in the work of many other revisionist
writers. Ultimately the emergence of the postwar west Germany is shown to be
linked closely to the creation of the European community, with Adenauer
consciously supporting a pro western & French future, even if it, as suggested,
meant sacrificing the old historic Prussian, socialist and protestant eastern,
(and at the time more slavic influenced) provinces of the old Reich.
Since the Wende, this has
been a topic occupying the history shelves of most German bookshops. MacDonogh
has done English readers a service with this account. The underlying sentiment
is that this book records the consequences of the far greater evil perpetrated
on others by the Germans - a feeling that many of those recorded reflect,
despite their misery. It is not surprising that with the opening of the east
Germans have wished to document the period, nor is it surprising that Anglo-saxon
writers have shunned it for so long.
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Max Hastings: Nemesis (US title: Retribution): The Battle
for Japan, 1944-45
Another massive tome, this time on the final 18 months of the Pacific War. An
overall synthesis, easily laid out with different theatres given seperate
chapters. I found the most useful sections to be on those areas of conflict
often less publicised in the west (& Europe. eg Burma, Australia, China, the sub
war) By contrast, Macarthurs travails through the Philippines are less
compulsive (as the man himself appears to have been). Some key points emerge:
the (very) variable quality of US military commanders (FDR seems to have given
them an almost free hand), the Japanese disinterest in technology (!!) and the
early (quite considerable) failings of the B29. March '08 (****) |
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Ben
Macintyre: Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal
A quick holiday read but no less enjoyable for that. Macintyres account of the
double agent Eddie Chapman is told well and in a sympathetic way - this despite
the many initially questionable aspects of the man himself. Chapman, Agent
Zigzag, a habitual criminal and serial womaniser/romancer became a spy for the
German Abwehr then a double agent (of considerable value) for MI5. What is still
unclear at the end is Chapman's motivation. Given the apparent complexities of
his personality that may never be clear. As Le Carre is quoted in the blurb
"meticulously researched, splendidly told and often very moving" especially in
his loyalty to old friends. August '07 (***) |
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Jonathan
Fenby: Alliance: The Inside Story of How Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill Won One
War and Began Another
Meticulously detailed this looks exhaustively (at times perhaps too much so
unless you are using this to research an essay!!) at the development of the WW2
alliance system. Several points emerge very clearly: that Teheran was probably
the key meeting - Yalta was a case of formalising what had already been decided.
Secondly, the emergence of Stalin as the main player with the support of FDR.
Equally it is a surprise how many of the leading US & UK participants were in
poor health, not just FDR but also many aides and military figures. As for
Churchill he seemed unable to get Gallipoli out of his system, but was right in
his postwar fears. For the publisher: why no maps? They would have been really
helpful to envisage the logistics of the meetings. A false economy. June '07
(***) |
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Frederick
Taylor: Dresden: Tuesday, 13 February, 1945
This is perhaps the emergent "revisionist" view of the Dresden bombing. Irving
produced the initial, horrifying, description of the mass destruction of the
allied attacks - Taylor places them in a more pragmatic wartime context, but
also looks at the history of Dresden itself and shows it to be not quite the
cultured, non-military city of the earlier histories of the bombings. Dresden
was undefended through lack of preparedness, the RAF were by Feb 1945
professional and skilled in area destruction. The need to appease Stalin remains
unanswered. Dresden had its centre ripped out - and visually still suffers
today. March '06 (****) |
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Ben
Elton: The First Casualty
Even if you are not normally an Elton fan, this is worth a read. It is a
detective mystery with a (21st century?) twist. Elton's left wing liberalism
seeps through in a provoking way - and this is one of hs novels that a teacher
might even be able to recommend to a younger student - given that the sexual
exploits/foul language are far less than usual!! Jan '06 (***) |
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Nigel Farndale: Haw-Haw : The Tragedy of William & Margaret Joyce
Tells the story of Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce), the wartime broadcaster from
Germany, later hanged for treason in Britain. Presents Joyce as a tragic figure
with strongly held (if seriously flawed) beliefs. I had not been aware of his
(and for a while dominant) role in British interwar fascism, made clear in the
book. Much writing is devoted to the time in wartime Berlin - and the
experiences of their living as a couple in an alien environment with limited
grasp of the language...... His postwar trial nonetheless is shown as a vengeful
travesty of British justice - which Joyce accepts with grace (and perhaps a
little enigmatic comfort from MI5..... - are the secret MI5 files on Joyce's
possible work with them still closed?). June '06 (***)
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casahistoria
home visit
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Women's History
Antonia Fraser: Marie Antoinette
Initially started as a holiday read and expecting to read of a weak,
dissolute queen this biography (used as the basis for the weakish Sofia
Coppola movie) soon began to reveal Marie Antoinette in a somewhat
different light. Yes, much of her pre revolutionary time in France was
spent out of touch with the country at large and largely oblivious to
the real costs of the royal establishment. Yes, she was also rather
naive and had a simplistic view of the socio-political structure.
However, Fraser shows this to be as much a result of upbringing and
Habsburg dynastic demands as because of flaws of character. Post 1789
sees a tougher, more considered MA emerge, a victim of the revolutionary
pressures produced by the Ancien Regime of which she was part.
Interestingly Fraser draws attention to the misogyny of the Jacobins as
an element of the seemingly unjust treatment & trial of MA compared with
Loius XVI. This is not so much a sympathetic account as one which makes
much use of broad context to make the position of MA more
understandable. Sept 2008 (***) |
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Antonia
Fraser: Love and Louis XIV
Fraser provides a feminine (as opposed to feminist) look at the reign of
Louis XIV. Although it presents an interesting glimpse into the court
life of the Sun King, it also reveals the dissolute and egocentric
lifestyle of a royalty and nobility whose existence depended on the
finances taken from the large tax base provided by a wealthy, absolutist
state and from subjects they had little, or wished to have little in
common with. Two points emerge ultimately: a better understanding of the
future revolutionaries of 1789 and an intriguing glimpse of what might
have been in England had such absolutism not been halted in 1642.
Jan'07 (***)
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Sarah
Helm: A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII
This story of Vera Atkins, responsible for sending British female secret agents
to Nazi France and her cathartic efforts to find out what happened to those who
did not return is a compelling, well crafted read. The Atkins life is full of
twists and page turning mysteries.
However in the process Helm emphasizes the
bravery of those sent to France and the amateur incompetence of those who sent
them. Equally, the transparent nature of the books structure serves as an
excellent example of how history is laboriously researched and worked upon using
a variety of sources – in this case very much like a detective thriller. March
´07 (****)
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Anonymous:
A Woman in Berlin
This diary, written by a Berlin woman in her 30's during the fall of Berlin
illustrates clearly and forcefully the real meaning of defeat. Interesting
asides on the nature of the Russian conquerors: raised in a society where they
received but could not choose they had little concept of "value", even of booty.
Most of all it reveals the commonplace nature & acceptance of rape or of
attaching oneself to an Ivan lover - for protection and survival. A very human
diary of survival in year zero. Sept '06 (****) |
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casahistoria
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English 17th
& 18th century
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Lisa Jardine: Going Dutch: How England Plundered Holland's
Glory
After an effective account of 1688, Jardine then leaves the political to explore
the artistic, architectural and scientific links that were already in place
between the Netherlands and England by 1688. These were indeed amazingly
widespread. much more than I had realised. This is knowledgeable and very well
illustrated, if a little too dry, pure "history of art" focused for me. It, like
much of the work, is also perhaps a lttle too centred on the experience and
evidence of one particular family, the Dutch Huygens household. The final
section looks at the economic ties. This is the least satisfying part of the
work. Too little is said of the reasons why, despite the connections argued for
in the book, Anglo-Dutch trade remains competitive to the point of war and
massacres of rival trade posts. Equally, too little emphasis is made on reasons
for the series of wars in mid century between the two, or (despite what is said
on the final page) on why the Netherlands declined as Englands fortunes grew.
Just like those of Scotland in the same period..... In fact Anglo-Dutch
relations and connections & links at the time seem to uncannily mirror those of
Anglo-Scottish. Only, the Netherlands escaped complete assimilation with
England. Now there's a theme for another book..... March '09 (***) |
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Claire Tomalin: Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self
A sympathetic survey of the able administrator that naval historians of the 17th
century so admire. Yet it is the personal diarist/observer that takes centre
stage. The diaries cover barely 10 years of Pepys life but include Sex, drink,
brutal (but successful) surgery, plague, fire, music, marital conflict, the fall
of kings, corruption and courage in public life, wars, navies, public
executions, and incarceration in the Tower of London. These are all treated
clearly and methodically in themed chapters, organised in a way which would have
pleased the methodical man himself. Tomalin argues that the diaries are much
more than an account of events but are a genuine piece of literary value
displaying more than ever before the personal tensions, desires and most of all
relationships and concerns of the upwardly mobile. In this sense Pepys is
presented as a flawed but essentially caring man guilt ridden after doing
something he feels remorse for. He is shown as quite modern. Like Marlborough,
Pepys is another example of how individuals accommodate to the intriguing
question of Regime change. Tomalin shows clearly how a generation that grew up
or begun carrers under Cromwell had to accommodate themselves with the
restoration of the monarchy. Pepys never seems to lose the republicanism of his
boyhood – yet has to come to terms with rising to high office due to royal
favour. However he has the honesty to stand by his Royal patrons (unlike
Marlborough and James II) even if heir lifestyle is not to his taste and he has
to ultimately resign. It is perhaps a mark of how close you get to Pepys that
there is a genuine sense of loss when he passes away at the end. This is a real
read – impressively researched, and reading like a page turner. Jan '09 (*****) |
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Richard Holmes: Marlborough: England's Fragile Genius
Richard Holmes's biography of John
Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, the early 18th century English/British military
leader is much more than the story of a single life. For non specialists of the
period like myself it gives a clear and well explained narrative of the complex
political developments of the period within which Marlborough operated. Much
more satisfying than for example the context provided by the Walpole biography
by Pearce reviewed earlier. Marlborough is shown very much as a product of being
born into the losing side of the civil war period, determined never again to be
wrong footed by political change.
There is much of related interest here: I was unaware for example of the
practice in allied forces of changing commanders on alternate days when two
leaders were of equal rank. One key thread running through is the links that are
apparent between this Churchill and his relative, the World War II leader.
Marlborough headed an alliance of many nations against the great power of the
time (France); he had to court support and bite his lip at times to keep the
alliances in place; he delegated wisely and made very good use of intelligence;
he needed to rely on materiel and financial support from elsewhere. Ultimately,
like Winston Churchill he was turned away from with victory. Holmes alludes to
these comparisons, but does not labour them. Indeed he shows Winston Churchill
as a flawed biographer of Marlborough himself. Nonetheless the similarities
between the two are eerie, leading one to speculate how much Winston Churchill
actively used the example of Marlborough's experience to determine his own
relationships with the allied leaders in World War II.
Holmes is a military historian and the prospect of page after page of the
military campaigns fought may be a daunting prospect for many. However, Holmes
does not allow these to dominate and keeps a good balance between these and the
other factors, notably his wife Sarah, that influenced the man. All in all a
well rounded and researched biography with relevant illustrations and very
helpful map (although a key to the annotation of military maps would be useful
to the non specialist) and a good read. |
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Jessica Warner: Craze: Gin and Debauchery in an Age of
Reason
Warner writes about the English (London?) gin "epidemic" of the early 18th
century. As a piece of social history it is of value, well supported and argued
(perhaps too drily though - this has the air of an academic work tweaked to do a
Sobel "Longtitude" for a mass market). What is most surprising though is the way
the argument shows that the issue was one focussed on women, and that it was the
poorest women who emerge as the biggest victims economically as well as socially
from the expansion of gin drinking as well as from its ever tighter control
(they did most of the streetside selling). The big distillers/publicans were
men.... they continued to survive, and were not locked up to the same extent.
Dec '07 (**) |
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Adrian
Tinniswood: The Verneys: A True Story of Love, War and Madness in
Seventeenth-Century England
Based on the massive 17th century Verney correspondence collection this gives a
unique insight into the trials & joys of a well to do English gentry family.
Tinniswood's Verneys are presented in a very readable narrative - a historical
soap - with well judged asides to provide context to the general reader (if a
little irritating to a specialist). Three aspects are made especially clear: the
constant presence of mortality; the impact of civil war at a family level; the
significance of social networking. Equally the book traces a clear change in the
pattern of political power: from court based patronage, to the political
corruption of early party politics and the emergence of trade based influence.
Grass roots history at its most enjoyable. Maybe there are enough later letters
for an 18th century follow up? July '07 (***)
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casahistoria
home visit
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General Interest
David Kynaston: Austerity Britain: A World to
Build
A mixture of Vox Pop (through the reports of the innovative Mass
Observation reports of the time & diarists - often the self selecting
celebs of then and now) and analysis. Very comprehensive - this covers
1945-47 only - but at times perhaps too much so, leading to a desire to
skim in places. I found the analysis chapters more interesting than the
ones populated by witness quotes. Most intriguing was the chapter on the
ideas behind state nationalisation - I had not realised the degree to
which this was seen as a top down model with no real consideration given
to the value or necessity of any employer participation. In most cases
existing managers were kept in control. (One other point: did it always
rain then? By chance the photos mostly appear to have been taken on
damp, dark rainy days. As if the time was not depressing enough...) Nov
'08 (***) |
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H.W. Brands: The Age of Gold: The Story of
an Obsession That Swept the World
Brands provides a well detailed account of the
California Gold rush of 1848-9, placing it in its national (and international)
as well as Californian context. Especially valuable are the descriptions of the
journeys taken by the argonauts (the hopeful gold prospectors) by sea (round the
Horn, across the Pacific, through the Panama isthmus) and by land across the
plains, deserts, Rockies & Sierras. Some of the dangers encountered are new to
me - for example the high mortality rate from cholera as the wagons moved west.
The destructive impact of the western migrants on the buffalo herds so vital to
the Indian tribes is also made clear. Unfortunately, the 491 pages of small,
dense type would have benefited from tighter editing. The post Gold Rush period
especially seems to take on a life of its own (which perhaps should have been a
separate book) but loses focus as a consequence of trying to cover too much.
Brands' previous book, the Reckless Decade, on late 19th century US was more
concise and all the better focused for being so. August 2008. (***)
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Charles McKean: Battle
for the North: The Tay and Forth Bridges and the 19th-Century Railway
Wars
Outlines the late 19th century railway rivalry between the
Caledonian and North British railway companies that produced the two
famous rail bridges over the Tay and Forth. Well detailed but perhaps
too focused on the minutiae of the boardroom disputes that lay behind
the first Tay Bridge. Conversely it does Bouch a service in highlighting
the role of fatigue in bringing down his Tay Bridge. Probably best read
by someone with more than a nodding acquaintance to Jute era Dundee.
Knowing Dundee I found this of interest, but the lay reader might not. A
health warning is perhaps needed on the jacket. One last point. Good to
see so many illustrations, but the maps are terrible. March '08 (**)
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Ben Elton: Blind Faith
Set in a flooded, overcrowded and globally warmed future this is
a cutting, clever, satire on present face-booked, celeb and fame
obsessed society from the writer of Black Adder. I do not usually
include Eltons on this list, (with one exception) but this one is a
worthwhile addition. A quick read and amusing but thought provoking. In
addition to Elton's usually socially perceptive concepts, this one has
the added advantage of having a worthwhile ending and less of the
gratuitous sex, rock 'n roll..... Feb '08 (****)
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Frederick Taylor: The
Berlin Wall: A World Divided, 1961-1989
An interesting narrative of the history of the Berlin Wall by
the author of Dresden. Like that earlier work much attention is given to
context (although the potted history of the pre 1961 Cold War period is
perhaps too potted). The Wall remains the focus, especially in the
1960's highlighting as it does the hypocrisy and lack of will of the
western powers and the federal republic to support their rhetoric with
action towards the east (which was probably the wise course...) But the
most satisfactory chapter is perhaps the final one with insights and
perceptions available only to a writer with a genuine affection and
knowledge of the east gained through personal association. Useful also
to anyone seeking an accessible, and general history of the GDR. One
final point - in my (hardback) edition there are a surprising number of
typos, signs perhaps of too swift editing. But why? Dec '07 (***)
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Ronald
Wright: A short history of progress
This is a concise primer for all who want to see just how fragile human life &
society really is. Wright shows clearly just how brief our “civilised” existence
has been and also how easily it could end. He does this by looking at key
previous civilisations: Sumer, Rome, China, Mayan America and Easter Island.
Clear, sobering lessons are drawn out for us to be learned if we are not to
over-farm, pollute or destroy the present. He concludes with an Argentine
saying: “Each night God cleans up the mess the Argentines make by day” but makes
it clear that we are now at the point where God alone cannot clean up our mess.
We can help ourselves, but only if we act now. Excellent detailed footnotes
develop the brevity of the presented arguments – and provide suggestions to a
variety of further background reading. This should be a compulsory matriculation
present for all school leavers…… Oct ´06 (*****)
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N.A.M.
Rodger: Safeguard of the Sea : A Naval History of Britain Vol 1 660-1649
Monumental (691 pages!!) first volume in the excellent Naval History of Britain.
Likely to be used more as a reference than as a a book to read (unlike the very
readable Vol II) this has much of interest and value. Debunks the rounded
military leaderships of William I & Edward I. It shows very clearly the
emergence of naval structure & power in Elizabethan times - and the origins of
the English pirate stealing from the Spanish pirate.... More surprising perhaps
is the real contribution Charles I's Ship money made to the Navy Royal. One
quibble, despite claims to the contrary it is very anglocentric; Scottish marine
developments are crucial but are generally en passant. May '06 (****)
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J.G.
Ballard: Kingdom Come
An intriguing premise as always with Ballard - in this case his previous
preoccupations with group psychology and behaviour focus this time on suburban
shopping mall society. He creates a scenario plausible in contemporary England
where motorways grid up at weekends as people go off to shop en masse in huge
shopping centres. Unfortunately the plot is flawed by a rather confused
portrayal of the central character. Worth a read, but not Ballard's best. Dec
'06 (**)
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William
Golding: The Inheritors
This fifty year old follow-up to Lord of the Flies stands up well. Uses the
clever device of being (largely) seen in the first person through the eyes of
the slow, but well meaning neandertals as they make catastrophic first contact
with our less personable and more agressive ancestors, homo sapiens. At times
this methodology makes for a difficult read but the story of this first genocide
as homo sapiens searched for expansion and power is just as true today as it was
in the post Nazi world, unfortunately. Nov '06 (***)
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Carlos
Ruiz Zafon: The Shadow of the Wind
An enjoyable read. Has a touch of Susskind's Perfume about it as this neo-gothic
story within a story unfolds in dark post civil war Barcelona. Ideally needs to
be read fairly swiftly as the characters are numerous and the twists keep
coming. The English translation is worth remarking upon – flowing and with a
good turn of phrase (“the heavens were weeping” to describe rain at a funeral).
I do not know if the translation is accurate, but it reads as if it were not
one…. Oct '06 (***)
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S D
Levitt & S J Dubner: Freakonomics
This amusing & interesting read reminded me of the best of my Economics lessons
so many years ago. We did little to no maths but much on the quirky reasoning
behind many Economics theories and their outcomes. (our grades were not good,
but they probably were the lessons I learned most from.) This book is full of
these - it applies Economics reasoning to modern social issues. I liked the
connection between the Ku Klux Klan's demise & Superman. Everyone who is not yet
a parent and wants to be one later should read chapters 5 & 6 before they are.
If you are already one it is too late to read them.... A little too US focussed
perhaps and at times lends itself to speed reading (!) but a worthwhile read.
Oct '06 (***)
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v07.07
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