No comments about The Cannoneers: Gi Life in a World War II Cannon Company.

1 comments about Skoda Heavy Guns: 24Cm Cannon M. 16, 38 Cm Howitzer M. 16, 42 Cm Howitzer M. 14, 42 Cm Automobile Howitzer M.16, 42 Cm Automobile Howitzer M. 17, Gasoline-Electrical ... tr (Schiffer Military/Aviation History).

1. I Purchased this book a little over a year ago because little else was available on this subject. I found that the presentation of the material was good and in chronological order from the development of the guns until their use in the the two world wars. Skoda Company history is presented as well but mostly in the context of it's realtion to weapon construction. This book is substantially aided by the numerous photos, illustrations and drawins throughout the book that help give the reader a feel for what the guns looked like and who was most responsible for their development. Recommended for anyone interested in Artillery, the Austro-Hungarian Army and the Skoda Company

3 comments about The Wit and Wisdom of Robert E. Lee.

1. It was with great disappointment that I read in 15 minutes a book whose title had promised so much. A small, thin book to begin with, "Wit and Wisdom" is heavy on white space between too few quotes. The quotes that are collected herein appear to have been collected carelessly with little concern for their merit. The truly memorable sayings contained in this book can be counted on one hand and can be had for free with a good search engine on the internet. This is one of the few books that ever saddedned this Librarian.



2. Devereaux Cannon, Son of Confederate Veterans, expert historian, and true believer in the "cause" and its great leader Robert E. Lee, has chosen a wonderful selection of quotes that reveal the multi-faceted General Lee. He has captured Lee the leader, Lee the strategist, Lee the man, Lee the parent, Lee the commander and the many other Robert Lee's that we know and recognize as the greatest loved of American military commanders. One quote truly stands out, as General Lee speaks across the generations to us today: "The consolidation of the states into one vast republic, sure to be aggressive abroad and despotic at home, will be the certain precursor of that ruin which has overwhelmed all those that have preceded it...I grieve for posterity, for American principles and American liberty."

   Excellent book.




3. This great book, not only has great quotes, but gives you the primary source for each one. Some are from his letters to his daughters, Wife, or his Generals. The primary sources also include the day, month and year. ( Talk about historical accuracy!)

   Just this short book of quotes, shows Lee as an intelligent person, father, husband, Leader and Gentleman.

   Every Civil War buff, and every Southerner should have a copy.
   I keep a copy at my desk for inspiration.

No comments about The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson.

No comments about From the Cannon's Mouth: The Civil War Letters of General Alpheus S. Williams.

4 comments about Cannons: An Introduction to Civil War Artillery.

1. A friend of mine recently recruited me into his Civil War re-enactment unit. It was an artillery unit and this book was my introduction to Civil War artillery. Dean Thomas writes an excellent introduction starting his readers with organization and drill. Many readers may have known that sponging the barrel cooled it, but they may not have thought about the added effect of extinguishing any smoldering cartridge bags. Thomas then leads his readers through ordnance and types of cannons (where, when, and how used), and concludes with implements used with the cannons. To top it all off Thomas supplies his readers with a lavish supply of actual Civil War photographs.



2. While this might look like a simple kids book/pamphlet on the cover, there is far more inside this extremely well illustrated guide. The author does a fine job providing a wide overview of the most important cannons of the ACW, textual summaries of each and sufficient details of their fundamental stats. The amazing part is how much the author has fit between a mere 72 pages. This work is very inexpensive and should prove useful to anyone touring Civil War battlefields, interested in Civil War gaming, reenacting, or curious about civil war cannons.



3. A nice basic little book on this subject that might suit a child or anyone with a little bit of interest in the subject and can not find better books in the library or find a good source on the internet.



4. For someone who (like me) knows next to nothing about Civil War artillery, this little book is a gem. Generously illustrated with both photographs and line drawings, Thomas' book provides basic information about battery crews, the "anatomy" of cannons, limbers, and carriages (including the surprising fact that artillery batteries carried portable anvils for quick repairs in the field), the manufacture of both cannon and projectiles, and a typology of projectiles (solid shot, shell, case shot, canister, and grapeshot) as well as cannons, howitzers, rifles, and mortars.
   
   What struck me especially about Thomas' discussion is the vicious killiing power of Civil War artillery. Solid shell, when used against soldiers, was fired so as to ricochet for maximum physical and psychological effect. Case shot, canister, and grapeshot could rip apart not only individual soldiers but entire columns and files of men. And these weapons were used in unimaginable quantities. Thomas ends his book with a "Summary of Federal Purchases" of artillery. Between 1 January 1861 and 30 June 1866, for example, the army purchased slightly under 3 million projectiles for smoothbore guns, just over 3 million for rifled guns, 6.5 million pounds of grape and canister shot, almost 10 million pounds of cannon powder, and nearly 8 million pounds of mortar powder. Trying to translate these figures into an appreciation of what all this did to human bodies and hopes and families is impossible. But really: we ought always to try, lest we forget the true cost of war.

5 comments about Rapid Fire: The Development of Automatic Cannon, Heavy Machine-Guns and Their Ammunition for Armies, Navies and Air For.

1. Very informative, easy to read text - not too dry or technical. Great photos & diagrams. Really helps to understand the auto loading mechanisms of many different weapons, their performance data, specifications. Glad to have this in my collection, definately recommend it.



2. This book is a very well written history of large caliber automatic weapons. It gives a good coverage of the mechanisms and characteristics of the weapons, but it's real importance to me is it's well illustrated gallery of the rounds used in the weapons, complete with specifications of the rounds and the weapon and country using them, something that is rare to find in other works.In a library of over 1000 volumes on weaponry, this is one of the most used references I have.



3. An excellent review of automatic weapons for the technically inclined. There is little or no operational history involved, but this book's detailed development histories of weapons and their ammunition is more comprehensive than anything I've seen since Johnson's books from the '40s. If you are into the details of automatic weapons and the ammunition they fire, you must have this book. If you are looking for operational military history of how these weapons were employed, this is not for you.



4. This book sets a standard that would be hard to beat. The author knows his subject and the production is superb. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the field covered, and to others as an example of how a book should look.



5. It is immensely informative but well written so that it's easily absorbed. Great book.

5 comments about 1635: Cannon Law (Ring of Fire).

1. I really enjoyed 1632, I thought 1633 was a bit marginal, and 1634 The Galileo Affair to be honest was garbage. So I promised myself I would get these out of the library instead of buying them until I was satisfied Flint was back on form. He is almost there, and I have great hopes of The Baltic War. The main problem with this book is its wordiness. It consists of little more than people discussing diplomacy until about page 300, although the is the odd brawl. The last hundred or so pages are reasonably exciting, but I almost gave up before then. Luckily the diplomacy is reasonably interesting, and the historical research is okay. Unfortunately you have to get past sentences like, "He had done no more than skirt around the possibilities with the Count- Duke Olivares back in Madrid, discussing in generalities what might be done to bring a clearly difficult papacy to heel and remove a potential problem in the way of the strategy that Madrid was evolving to play Spain back in her rightful place as the chief is power in Christendom." This is probably the worst example, but what on earth were the editors doing. One or two of the characters are also beginning to wear a little thin. But the book still has some of the advantages of the original. The people are ordinary but placed in an extraordinary position, they're not geniuses or billionaires, they're not saving the human race, but trying to make the best of the situation they're in. They make ordinary everyday mistakes facing difficult problems. If the Baltic War has fewer words and more action, I'll be back to buying them.



2. This one telegraphs its sluggish route thru various Olde Historical Names one can cheerfully Google, to produce the slowest read in the 1632 Miniverse. I'm a pleased owner/re-reader of all other books & Gazettes, up to this one. Euterpe or the Essen Steel series would make better reads. Here's hoping The First Team does better on The Next Great '32 Novel!!



3. If you can avoid this book, do so. It is boring, unreasonable, and doesn't even end well. I like this series in general, but this book stays in Rome the whole time, and swaps all the interesting plot implications for some characterization and mediocre action. Even if you have the rest of this series, this one isn't worth your time--if you can't avoid it, mine's selling cheap in the used book section.



4. Once you accept the premise in the first volume of this fun series (1632), following the many characters and how they affect history as we know it is fascinating and believeable. No wonder there are three volumes for 1634. How long can the authors keep this up? For a while more, I hope.



5. I love the rest of the books of this series, but this one falls flat and basicaly makes little sense. I had to ploww my way through it hoping for something better. Some good fight scenes at end. But Whew! the rest!

3 comments about The Flags of the Confederacy: An Illustrated History.

1. I own both this book and the matching one of the Union. Both of these books belong in any Civil War hhistorians collection. Not only is this a good book for those who have found a new interset in the Civil War, but a well informed historian will ejoy this book too. The photos of the armaments, uniforms and flags will complete any book collection on the Civil War. This and the matching Union books are must buys.



2. Devereaux D. Cannon is an expert on vexillology (the study of flags). This book offers a history, profiles, design specs and an overview of the various flags (national flags, battle flags and naval ensigns) that were utilized by the Confederacy. The book features several pages with glossy photos of the various flags of the Confederacy. It features even the little known flags. Cannon's book has inspired flag maker's to revive the old flags in addition to the 3 national flags, the battle flag and the naval ensign. This book is must have for flag gurus, Civil War buffs and southern partisans.



3. Mr. Cannon has produced an excellent compilation of the flags used by the South during the US Civil War. I highly recommend it as a history and geography teacher. As an author myself I appreciate the style of presentation he uses in this book. I also recommend his companion book, "Flags of the Union".

No comments about Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893-1945: A Revised and Expanded Edition of Hand Cannons of Imperial Japan.