3 comments about Veterans: The Last Survivors of the Great War.

1. With the dawning of the new century, the memories of the Great War will be just that. The authors of "Veterans: The Last Survivors of the Great War" have painstakingly sought out those remaining men and women who fought in World War I, and uses their words and memories to paint the picture of the reality of the experience.

   The memories are grouped by chapters which makes it easy to use for quick reference or personal interest. Each chapter contains stories, quotations, and memories from soldiers who fought in the trenches, nurses, or those who waited at home. Each chapter incorporates a variety of memories, not just soldier's memories.

   As the horror of that War may fade in our memories, this book will serve to remind us of what was endured by so many as told in their own words.




2. Having watched the television documentary series, reading the book was a welcome addition and a possession that I will always treasure.

   As the years go by, these veterans now in their 90's and many aged 100 plus, are becoming fewer and fewer.

   Their experiences so excellently documented here are a fitting epitaph to those no longer able to tell their incredible stories.

   The vivid recollections of the experiences in the trenches, at the front, going over the top and seeing so many of their comrades slaughtered are heart-rending.

   The individual accounts of these heroes portrayed here relate to one of the most catastrophic and traumatic conflicts in history. A conflict that will soon be beyond living memory. These personal stories are a priceless memory and testament of what occurred in order that we might live in freedom.




3. Like other books by Richard Van Emden, this collection was totally enjoyable. The author, similar to Brown, Macdonald, Arthur and others, has the great ability to allow the reader to nearly experience the Great War through the eyes of those who fought it. The emotions, fears, feelings of those soldiers and civilians are captured in a magnificent way in this book.

5 comments about For the Cause of Liberty: A Thousand Years of Ireland's Heroes.

1. Golway's summary of 1,000 years of Irish history provides a very good overview of the highlights of Irish history. It is a great introduction for someone just starting their study of Ireland's rich history. For those who have delved into the history already, it is an enjoyable read. Golway just skims the surface, though. The collection is far from complete in any of the eras it covers.



2. Evaluating Golway's book in terms of its subtitle-- a thousand years of Ireland's heroes-- I think this selection is fantastic. As a semi-biographical profile of many prominent, legendary, and simply amazing Irish revolutionaries, this book does exactly what it should. Golway discusses such notables as Brian Boru, the O'Neill family, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, Arthur Griffith, O'Donovan Rossa, Kevin Barry, Richard Mulcahy, the leaders of the Easter Rising, Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Kevin Barry, Bobby Sands, Countess Markievicz, Bernadette Devlin, and many more. Other reviewers have summarized quite well what the book is; I would like to provide readers with an idea of what the book is not. This would make excellent supplementary reading for anyone with an interest in Irish history. However, Golway does focus on elements of biography and therefore does presume a fair bit of knowledge on the part of the audience. If you are looking for a good starting point in learning about Irish history, I would not suggest this title. On the other hand, if you already have a general working knowledge about Ireland, these biographies would very, very much enrich your experience. Bottom line: buy it for the biographies and consider any Irish history you pick up along the way an added bonus.



3. Golway has a very easy to read writing style. He gives seemingly very intimate details about each person he talks about, and also gives you alot of background information that you might miss in other books. In some parts of it, you can almost imagine that the heros of old are still alive and fighting for freedom.

   He covers more about history 1850 onwards than previously, but he gives fair time to both of them. A fascinating book for anyone who wants to know about Ireland, or the history of Revolutions in the world.




4. I'm part Irish-American and I knew some about the conflicts between the British and the Irish. After reading For the Cause of Liberty, I now realize how little I knew.

   The book provided an excellent history of the Irish struggle. The information on the Irish heroes (both Protestant and Catholic) who fought the British was very readable. I never knew that the French had a hand (or tried to) in the rebellion in the late 1700's. The extent of the savagery and despicable behavior that the Irish endured was very effectively presented. Overall, an excellent book.




5. I have long been interested in Irish history but could never quite grasp the centuries of convoluted struggle with Great Britain. This book was invaluable in deepening my understanding of some of the bigger events and figures and I happened to read it shortly before viewing the film The Wind That Shakes The Barley so that I was able to enjoy it with greater sympathy and understanding.Good supplements to this are How The Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill and Ireland:A Novel by Frank Delaney.

No comments about Tragic Knowledge: Yeats's Autobiography and Hermeneutics.

No comments about A Royal Affair: George III and his Troublesome Siblings.

1 comments about Nicholas II: The Life and Reign of Russia's Last Monarch.

1. Warth titles this work "The Life and Reign of Russia's Last Monarch." But it must truly be noted that not a great deal of substance is given to Nicholas II's early life, prior to ascending the throne. Chapter one devotes little time to exploring the early life of Nicholas II. The rest of the book seemed very comprehensive, especially regarding the subject of the Russo-Japanese war. The Stolypin era was also fitting of an entire chapter dedicated to it. Although, I would have liked to have more detail on Rasputin and the role that his association may have ultimately played with the tsar's downfall, it was overall a well written biography of Russia's last tsar. If anything a human side of Nicholas is shown, even if that human side is riddled with stubborness and general distrust in the majority of his advisors.

5 comments about The Path to Power.

1. Sure, I have a personally inscribed copy, and consider this book one of the greatest treasures of my library, held along with the cherished memory of meeting Lady Thatcher. But, as you know by now, I can remain completely objective. This is a wonderful book.

   If you are at all interested in Torys, conservatives, or strong female leadership, this is a must read. I found the discussion fascinating, although, yes, as an attention span challenged American, a tad tedious in spots. However, it's well worth the effort.

   Also look for "Downing Street Years", for additional writings by Lady Thatcher.




2. In this book, the prequel to her more successful (and essentially more interesting) volume entitled 'The Downing Street Years', Margaret Thatcher gives us a glimpse into her life, and the events and people who shaped her, basically, who made her who she is.

   You'll learn about her time at university, her early days in politics from a personal standpoint (for instance, she used to do her own ironing to press dresses immediately before going out, as she couldn't afford to have them pressed, and other small details like this abound), early days in the government and then leading up to the time in opposition prior to the elections of 1979.

   Thatcher also adds a postscript to this book, completed after the account of her time as Prime Minister, in which she gives her prescriptions for a better Britain and Europe (in some ways, she might agree that her stance on the Eurocurrency is a la Nancy Reagan, i.e., 'Just say No!'). She has a few swipes at John Major, the man she helped into power, perhaps hoping to be able to be an active and effective agent from behind the scenes. Major retaliates a bit in his own autobiography.

   In all, unless you're REALLY into British politics or Thatcher personally, this book could be easily missed. Read 'The Downing Street Years', and, as I've seen you can often pick this book up for some bargain-bin price, buy it so as to have the set. And you might peruse a chapter here and there.

   It does have a good style of writing, but goes on quite a bit. Historians will appreciate it, but I often wonder if politicians think that most will actually read through all this material, considering they are invariably written when the author is off the centre stage?




3. How did a young woman from nowhere (Thatcher describes her childhood background in the kindest way possible but it was the last place you'd expect to find greatness) rise to become a politician and then Prime Minister of Great Britain? Baroness Thatcher tells the story of her life with humor and restraint. She never uses being a woman as a crutch or excuse and although she obviously loved her husband and children the main focus of the book is what was going on in her head. Tough, stubborn and bold she slowly pushes forward through school, through a legal career, through the back benches and finally when the chance for the highest office in the land comes her way she pounces on it.

   Path to Power is excellent reading for those who find Parliment to be incomprehensible, for those who wonder if an American woman can ever be another Thatcher and for those who simply like a Horatio Alger story. Now, is it a bit dry? Yep, it certainly is but you didn't really expect gooey girl talk from Margaret Thatcher, did you?




4. A Decent Memoir, June 28, 2004
   
   This was a decent read, though I think that Lady Thatcher hastily wrote it as a prequel to the more celebrated "Downing Street Years." That being said, it was interesting to read about her rise from backbencher to Conservative Party leader. In grabbing the reigns of Tory leadership, she toppled a mindset that accepted Britain's economic decline as being part of "the natural order of things." She also offers insights on the European and international scenes during the middle to late 1970s. On this, she criticized the idea of detente as being a recipe for disaster. The memoir ends with Britain's so-called Winter of Discontent, which propelled her into Downing Street.



5. Just how did the grocer's daughter end up on No. 10 Downing Street? Grit, conviction, and her famous steel backbone combined with an razor sharp wit to boot. Lady Thatcher rivals Sir Winston Churchill as being one of the greatest international leaders of the 20th century. This is her own account of the path she took to topple decades of Labour Party Socialism that crippled Britain. But what do you expect from someone who would let nothing stop her? At 17 the young Margaret Roberts was refused recommendation by her headmistress to receive a scholarship to Oxford University. The reason was that she did not complete three years of Latin. Margaret went directly to the Admissions office and challenged the entrance exam. She crammed three years of Latin into three months and sat as an independent. Margaret aced the test and studied chemistry at Oxford before becoming a tax lawyer and politician. Thatcher stood up to the coal miners, stood up to the unions, and stood up for Britain. She earned the title Iron Lady by taking a stand and never bending in the name of popularity. Her wrath was to the debilitating social welfare state what Churchill's "Bulldog defiance" was to the Axis powers during WW2.

2 comments about The Diaries of John Dee.

1. The Diaries of John Dee edited by Edward Fenton has really impressed me as a student of philosophy and history. The author was able to take a portion of John Dee's diaries and not only modernize the wording and name of places but also translate some of the Greek and Latin passages. Hence it creates a down to earth but yet scholarly edition of John Dee's Diaries. What really impressed me about this book were the references at the end of the chapters. Not only does Fenton list numerous sources where to gather more information but also goes a bit more in detail about what is going on in the life of Dr. John Dee. At the end of the book there is a "biographical guide." This part of the book is not only interesting but also invaluable. It lists all the major characters that were involved in John Dee's diaries and shows when they were born, died, and gives a brief description of the person. The only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was the author's attitude towards Edward Kelly. Edward Fenton often portrays Kelly as a trickster (which he may very well have been) but seems to add his opinion at the wrong times when there appears to be no real evidence suggesting his opinion. Other than that one minor flaw I recommend this book to the student, teacher, casual reader, philosopher, & even to the mage. It has made a great addition to my library & again I highly recommend this book.



2. The very good working book to work with spirits. Recomendet

No comments about Charles and Diana: Portrait of Marriage.

No comments about Gurney, Ireland, Quilter and Warlock (English Solo Song).

No comments about The Harbor Boys: A Memoir.