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Yes, they are.

I would like to find a book on ancient Roman and a book on ancient Greek history. I want it to be history, not historical fiction, but preferably not a scholarly, very dry work. And I want it to be written recently (so, no ancient history texts). It can be a combined Greek and Roman history, if there is such a one, but I want a good overview of what happened. I'm particularly interested in the Roman Republic and Senatorial period.

Secondly, where would I go to review a book mentioned in this thread? A while ago I asked for a book on Mary I and then I mentioned a book my professor suggested. I read it and said I'd tell you all how it was.

Thanks in advance.

Hello Lori,
it's of course always a question of taste but I suggest you try Adrian Goldsworthy's books on Roman history. He is an excellent historian and he can write.
Best,
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I found by very readable. It's about the collapse of the Roman Republic.

I would agree with both Andre and Susanna's excellent suggestions, Adrian Goldsworthy and Tom Holland are both great writers. If this is your first venture into ancient Greek & Roman history I would suggest Tom Holland first.

by Tom Holland
Review:
"Dramatizing ancient history--that is, amplifying the historical record's often fragmentary evidence with unknowable detail and inferred emotion--is always a gamble. Done well (think Herodotus), the long dead come alive, and readers are inclined to overlook their suspicions about what liberties the author may be taking with the story's veracity. Done poorly, one risks profaning history and literature alike. In dramatizing the Persian Wars--Athens' most glorious hour and the beginning of its decline into imperialism and hubris--Holland acknowledges the risks and strides boldly forward. The result is an ambitious contemporary retelling of an epic tale that, framed as a conflict between East and West, quietly subverts certain other recent histories' parallels between empires past and present. It has its awkward moments, mostly due to a predilection for melodramatic phrasing; for better or worse, its parallels to modern events are subtle and often implicit. But ultimately, one suspects that Holland's engaging narrative would do Herodotus proud - and it may even prompt readers to find out for themselves." - Booklist

by Tom Holland
Review:
"After a palace coup demolished the reign of King Tarquin of Rome in 509 B.C., a republican government flourished, providing every person an opportunity to participate in political life in the name of liberty. As Holland, a novelist and adapter of Herodotus' Histories for British radio, points out in this lively re-creation of the republic's rise and fall, the seeds of destruction were planted in the very soil in which the early republic flourished. It was more often members of the patrician classes who had the resources to achieve political success. Such implicit class distinctions in an ostensibly classless society also gave rise to a new group of rulers who acted like monarchs. Holland chronicles the rise to power of such leaders as Sulla Felix, Pompey, Cicero and Julius Caesar. Some of these leaders, such as Pompey, appealed to the masses by expanding the republic through military conquest; others, like Cicero, worked to reinforce class distinctions. Holland points to the suppression of the Gracchian revolution-a series of reforms in favor of the poor pushed by the Gracchus brothers in the second century B.C.-as the beginning of the end of the republic, providing the context into which Julius Caesar would step with his own attempts to save the republic. As Holland points out, Caesar actually precipitated civil wars and helped to reestablish an imperial form of government in Rome. With the skill of a good novelist, Holland weaves a rip-roaring tale of political and historical intrigue as he chronicles the lively personalities and problems that led to the end of the Roman republic." - Publishers Weekly


After that you could look at Adrian Goldsworthy's many books on Roman history, from the Punic Wars (my favouite) to the fall of the Roman Empire.

by Adrian Goldsworthy
Review:
"The three Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage from 264 to 146 B.C. irrevocably changed the course of ancient history. Carthage, with her empire centered in North Africa, was humbled and then destroyed. Before the wars, Rome's power was limited to the Italian peninsula; by the end of the wars, Rome was the dominant power in the Mediterranean and was poised on the brink of even greater imperial expansion. Goldsworthy is an Oxford graduate and clinical scholar with particular expertise in Roman military history. His survey of this pivotal conflict is a masterful account that will appeal to both specialists and general readers who appreciate a superbly told story. Goldsworthy explains complicated military moves in easily understood language, and he conveys the vast scope and carnage of the wars with both insight and objectivity. His portraits of some of the key players, including Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, and Fabius Maximus, are both informative and thought-provoking. This story, of course, has been told before, but rarely as well." - Booklist

A good introduction to ancient history is the work of Michael Grant: The Etruscans (1980), History of Rome (1978), The Classical Greeks (1989). The books are scholarly but spritely, indeed ideal for the reader who wants serious information but not heavy work going through footnotes and complete sources.

Vergennes wrote: "A good introduction to ancient history is the work of Michael Grant: The Etruscans (1980), History of Rome (1978), The Classical Greeks (1989). The books are scholarly but spritely, indeed ideal fo..."

Hello Vergennes..Welcome,

I do not know if you noticed our guidelines:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

But we have requirements for citations of books and authors which we are strict about because without them added properly the goodreads software cannot do its job and populate our site correctly.

Here are some quick instructions that one of my assisting moderators put together for newbies:

Also, as a new member of our group, try to become familiar with the "add book/author" feature when referencing books and/or authors in your posts. If you need any help, please feel free to ask. And if you need any additional help, view our how-to in the mechanics-of-the-board thread below. I have provided an example below as well. Welcome aboard!

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...


by John Keegan

by Michael Shaara

by Joseph J. Ellis

by Alexander Hamilton

The above is how they should look and be posted.

I will post yours this time:

and The Etruscans (no cover available) all by Michael Grant

Thank you for your recommendations. Have you introduced yourself yet on the Introduction thread. I know the group and the moderators would like to welcome you.

All best,

Bentley

I'm looking for an alternate history fiction book that starts with the premise that the 'Germans won World War I in the first 90 days. Anyone know of such?

I do not know of one..but Harry Turtledove does a whole bunch of these I think. I have not read any of them so I cannot vouch for them.

Harry Turtledove

Bentley wrote: "I do not know of one..but Harry Turtledove does a whole bunch of these I think. I have not read any of them so I cannot vouch for them.

Turtledove Harry" I've read a lot of Turtledove and find them entertaining but probably more appreciated by people who don't know history as he puts a lot of actual historical events in different contexts. Knnowing the history makes me keep thinking I've read this before.

Thank you Patricrk for adding the author's link.

Richard A. Lupoff

Susanna...remember our guidelines..we take them very seriously:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

Glad you noticed the problem in the database.

Hey guys, I'm looking for a book on the 1917 Russian Revolution. I know that's sortof a big topic; I'll take recommendations for anything that's in that general area. It can be an overview or a more narrow look at some aspect or another. I'm easy! Thanks in advance.

Hi Alex,

Two very good books that I enjoyed covering this subject were:

by W. Bruce Lincoln
Reviews:
"Shortly after the Soviet Union withdrew from WW I, the Red Army confronted the Whites, staunch opponents of communism who were aided by an interventionist militia led by the U.S., Britain and France. Millions died in the civil war of 1918-1921, as battles, epidemics, mass starvation and executions racked the nation, and as the Cheka, or secret police, sent countless people to death in labor camps. Anti-Semitic massacres swept the Ukraine. In this gripping, revelatory history, readers grasp the human cost of the civil war and its permanent impact on Soviet consciousness. Lincoln ( In War's Dark Shadow ; Passage Through Armageddon ) uncovers fanaticism, terror and elitist politics among both Reds and Whites, peopling his canvas with memorable figures including a truculent Lenin, stormy poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and Aleksandra Kollontai, champion of women's rights and sexual liberation." - Publishers Weekly

"The final volume in a trilogy encompassing events preceding the tsar's fall ( In War's Dark Shadow, LJ 5/1/83), the Russian Revolution ( Passage Through Armageddon, LJ 9/15/86), and the civil war. Covering 1917-21, this weaves together military, political, and social history to describe the Bolshevik triumph over internal conflict to defeat the disparate White opposition and uncertain Allied forces which attacked from all sides. The strength of this and preceding volumes is Lincoln's ability to convert complex, confusing events into lively, compelling human drama, comprehensible to a wide readership. Lincoln employs a wealth of primary sources and contemporary scholarly research, but his survey is aimed at the general reader and beginning student. He succeeds quite well. More popular and expansive than Evan Mawdsley's The Russian Civil War (Allen & Unwin, 1987), this is recommended for general and undergraduate collections." - Library Journal

by Orlando Figes
Review:
"Packed with vivid human detail and incident, British historian Figes's monumental social and political history spans Russia's entire revolutionary period, from the czarist government's floundering during the famine of 1891 to Lenin's death in 1924, by which time all the basic institutions of the Soviet dictatorship?a privileged ruling elite, random terror, secret police, torture, mass executions, concentration camps?were in place. Figes dismantles any number of myths surrounding the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917, a military coup rammed through at Lenin's insistence ("hardly any of the Bolshevik leaders had wanted it to happen until a few hours before it began"). Using diaries, letters, memoirs and archival documents, Cambridge don Figes provides masterful portraits of cynical, power-hungry Lenin, driven by an absolute faith in his mission; Alexander Kerensky, weak-willed, vain democratic leader, the self-styled savior of Russia; writer Maxim Gorky, plagued by the fear?and later by the terrible realization?that the "people's revolution" was a descent into barbarism; Tolstoyan peasant reformer Sergei Semenov; and dozens of lesser-known figures. In this vibrant magnum opus, Figes illumines the manifold sources of Russia's failure to take a democratic path." - Publishers Weekly

You are awesome, Rick. Thanks! And one of those recommendations also led me to the thread specifically about the Russian Revolution, which has more recommendations and discussion. You rock.

Hi Alex, my pleasure, I hope you find a book that you really enjoy :)

Alex wrote: "You are awesome, Rick. Thanks! And one of those recommendations also led me to the thread specifically about the Russian Revolution, which has more recommendations and discussion. You rock."

Behold, the power of the goodreads software at work! This is a great example of why using the "add book/author" feature is useful.

Good point Elizabeth :)

Exactly Elizabeth, that is why we cross reference so that folks and members can have that eureka moment like Alex just did.

The Bolshevik Revolution
On the subject of the Russian Revoltuion, E.H. Carr's. history is the classic in English.

Hi Vergennes...we are so happy that you are jumping right in.

However, remember the bookcover, author's photo if available, and always author's link rule.

Edward Hallett Carr - There was no author's photo available

In the case of the edition you added: (this is what you should have added)

- (no cover available)- The Bolshevik Revolution by E.H. Carr

Check out the guidelines and especially the mechanics thread for assistance and we are always here to help you.

Bentley

Does anyone know a good one-volume history on the WWII Pacific theater? There are a lot of books on individual battles but would like to read a one volume history.

May not be quite what you are looking for, but I really enjoyed Toland's The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire. The focus is on the Japanese side of things, but you do see the American, British, etc. perspectives too.

by John Willard Toland

Thanks, Elizabeth, I will look into this book.

Bryan wrote: "Does anyone know a good one-volume history on the WWII Pacific theater? There are a lot of books on individual battles but would like to read a one volume history."

Toland is good. See attached for an essentially military history.
No cover availableThe war in the Far East, 1941-1945: A military history

Thanks Vergennes, this looks right on target.

Hi Vergennes,

You did very well with the first part of the add but when there is no author's photo available you simply add the author's link. Thank you for the recommendation Vergennes.

The war in the Far East, 1941-1945: A military history (no cover available) by Basil Collier

Hi Bryan, both books mentioned by Elizabeth and Vergennes are very good accounts and well worth the effort to read although first published some years back. Some other books to consider would be:

by Ronald H. Spector (not read)
"The best one-volume history of that complex conflict... No other presents as balanced a view or provides such terse and searching analyses not only of the great battles but of half-forgotten aspects, such as the impact of blacks and female participants on the services...No future book on the Pacific war will be written without paying due tribute to Eagle Against The Sun." - Drew Middleton, The New York Times


by Eric M. Bergerud (read)
"The South Pacific campaign of World War II set new standards for savagery in modern warfare. The ground fighting reached a peak of intensity when the U.S. Marines landed at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands while the Australians repulsed the Japanese advance across New Guinea. Battling jungle rot and malaria, the Australian Army teamed with the U.S. against the Japanese, whose battle ethos demanded they fight until victory or extermination. In Touched by Fire, Eric Bergerud, a professor of military and American history at Lincoln University in San Francisco, restores the campaign to its rightful place of importance as a diabolical struggle for survival in World War II's most heartless terrain." - Amazon Com Review

by Meirion Harries (read)
"This is a well-written, comprehensively researched survey of the Imperial Japanese army--its fighting power and mentality. The Harrieses ( Sheathing the Sword ) describe an ethos based on service to the "Japanese way," embodied in the emperor. The book argues convincingly that the Russo-Japanese War marked the zenith of the army's popularity and efficiency. Over the following three decades it fell victim to its own myths. The soldiers increasingly advocated transforming Japan into a self-sufficient garrison state through total physical and psychological mobilization. This ideology, however, was not translated into operable strategy. Unable to conquer China, the army embarked on war with the West as well. This reckless advance into the unknown involved missed opportunities and repeated mistakes from Bataan to Imphal. Spirit and willpower were expected to compensate for material weaknesses. Unreflected decisions were made at all levels of planning and command. Eventually the gap between the samurai way and modern high-tech warfare became obvious even to true believers. But by the time of Japan's WW II surrender its army had unrepentently inflicted death and destruction throughout the Pacific on a scale that continues to assert Japan's status as an outsider among Western-style democracies. This first-rate analysis will appeal to general readers and specialists alike." - Publishers Weekly

by Dan Van Der Vat (read)
“Fast-paced, meticulously researched...has all the elements of a spy thriller.� - The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Belongs on the bookshelf of every American who contemplates the meaning of the greatest sea war in history.� - The New York Times Book Review
“A vivid account of the greatest naval battles ever fought and a thoughtful analysis of why war came...marked by fresh insights and new material.� - Stephen E. Ambrose
“An unsparing indictment of Japan's culpability in bringing about the Second World War....It blows away the rubbish....Van Der Vat writes with clarity and understanding.� - The Chicago Tribune

Great stuff, Bentley, thanks so much.

Books on the history of New England Schooners

W. M. P. Dunne

John Robinson

Joseph E. Garland

Charlemagne - any recommendations?

Hi Erick,

I have read a few books on Charlemagne but to be honest I don't think I have read anything great yet but there are a few that may interest you:

by Derek Wilson (read)
Publishers blurb:
The greatest of medieval monarchs, Charles the Great (742-814) towers over every notion we have of national heroes and semi-mythical champions. His military conquests exceeded those of Julius Caesar. He had the sagacity and dedication to public service of a Marcus Aurelius. In ruthlessness, as in dedication to personal culture, he was reminiscent of Augustus. Yet, Charlemagne was a semi-civilised barbarian chief, with no knowledge of classical culture. This looming monolith was a man of contradictions: a champion of the Christian Church who sat loose to its rules; an enthusiast for scholarship who never learned to write; a great conqueror whose empire barely survived his own death; a pietist (later canonized) who freely indulged his animal passions and sired a score of bastards; and an affable companion and a tyrant who could order the execution of 4,500 prisoners of war. His life and achievements form an enthralling narrative. But, that is only the beginning. Charlemagne was a phenomenon and phenomena do not die. Later, European leaders from Frederick Barbarossa and Charles V to Louis XIV, Napoleon I and Hitler took Charlemagne as their model. His growing mythology inspired the Crusades, fed the concept of chivalry, bolstered absolutist regimes, excited nineteenth-century liberals, and emerges today among those who claim Charles the Great as the founder of European unity. Charlemagne is one of the most remarkable figures in European history: only by understanding him in all his complexity can we begin to understand Europe today.

by Alessandro Barbero (read)
Publishers blurb:
The most important study of Charlemagne in a generation, this biography by distinguished medievalist Alessandro Barbero illuminates both the man and the world in which he lived. Charles the Great - Charlemagne - reigned from A.D. 768 to A.D. 814. At the time if his death, his empire stretched across Europe to include Bavaria, Saxony, parts of Spain, and Italy. With a remarkable grasp of detail and a sweeping knowledge of Carolingian institutions and economy, Barbero not only brings Charlemagne to life with accounts of his physical appearance, tastes and habits, family life, and ideas and actions but also conveys what it meant to be king of the Franks and, later, emperor. He recounts how Charlemagne ruled his empire, kept justice, and waged wars. He vividly describes the nature of everyday life at that time, how the economy functioned, and how Christians perceived their religion. Barbero's absorbing analysis of how concepts of slavery and freedom were subtly altered as feudal relations began to grow underscores the dramatic changes that the emperor's wars brought to the political landscape. Engaging and informed by deep scholarship, this latest account provides a new and richer context for considering one of history's most fascinating personalities.
Review:
"Barbero's lively and entertaining study provides a superb overview of the latest scholarship on the Carolingian age and constructs a compelling argument for Charlemagne's pivotal role as the father of Europe. We gain a sense of the look and feel of peasant villages, the dynamic interplay of monastic economies and long-distance trade, and the manipulation of justice by local notables. This is histoire totale at its best." - Sharon Farmer, author of Surviving Poverty in Medieval Paris; "This up-to-date account focuses on the man and his times while clearly and judiciously dealing with key historiographical issues. Barbero explores and explodes the myths that have grown up around the emperor." - Barbara H. Rosenwein, Loyola University

by Matthias Becher (not read)
Publishers blurb:
"Becher succeeds in combining a masterful account of the life stages of the 'powerful figure' and the myth of Charlemagne with a precise and impressive representation of his era." Die Zeit "A remarkably informed, informative, and admirably up-to-date 'personal interpretation' of the Frankish emperor's character, reign, and legacy...Highly recommended." Choice "An excellent introduction." Historical Association Review "More concerned to strip away layers of legend than to add to them, Becher's book may be prosaic - but there's a sense to the historical heart of things that offers excitements of its own."Michael Kerrigan, The Scotsman Charlemagne - ruler of the vast Frankish kingdom from 768 to his death in 814 and Holy Roman emperor from the year 800 - is considered the father of Europe. In this concise, insightful, and eminently readable biography, Matthias Becher provides a wealth of information about a remarkable man and his times. Becher describes Charlemagne's rise to emperor and traces his political and military manoeuvering against the Saxons, the Lombards, and others, as Charlemagne incorporated these lands into his own realm. Becher points out that under Charlemagne, jury courts were introduced, the laws of the Franks revised and written down, new coinage introduced, weights and measures reformed, and a Frankish grammar begun. Charlemagne tried to give his kingdom a spiritual basis by referring to antique traditions, says Becher, and he explores the tensions that existed in Charlemagne's court between modern ideas and traditional thinking. He concludes by discussing Charlemagne's kinship network, the evolving arrangements for his succession, the effects of his reign, and his posthumous fame.

Erick wrote: "Charlemagne - any recommendations?"

Appart from the first two books mentioned by Aussie Rick, some other books caught my attention (and got into my to-read shelf):

by Jeff Sypeck

and
Charlemagne: From the Hammer to the Cross. by Richard Winston.

The second book I mentioned must be out of print as I couldn't find it a while back.

Don't know if this is of any help but I just thought I should mention.

Good luck with your search!

Hi Manuele,

I've got a copy of "Becoming Charlemagne: Europe, Baghdad, and the Empires of A.D. 800" sitting un-read in my library somewhere, thanks for reminding me! I also liked the sound of the second book you recommended so I have just ordered a second-hand HB copy!

by Jeff Sypeck

A few months ago I saw an interesting show on the Science Channel entitled "Machines of Malice" which about ancient torture devices, etc. The show was excellent and I'm interested in learning more about these devices. Does anyone know any good books about ancient torture devices?


So far I've been given the following suggestions - any other suggestions are appreciated.

Michael Kerrigan


Jean Kellaway

Thanks,

Megan

General William Slim - WWII British General.

Hi Erick,

Here are a few suggestions that have all received very decent reviews from other readers:

by Sir William Slim

by Robert Lyman

by Ronald Lewin

by John Douglas

One book that I read recently that covers one battle during the Burma campaign, the siege of Kohima, but still offered an easy to read overview of the whole campaign was; "Road of Bones".

by Fergal Keane

Aussie Rick, thank you for helping out Erick.

I've read

(Jeff Sypeck); I enjoyed it at the time but can't remember a thing about it now, so take that as you will.

A good companion read might be

France's national epic and nominally about Charlemagne, although one could make the argument that it's really about the Crusades. It's a great poem.

I'm getting into the Italian Renaissance right now and would love some suggestions. I'll take general histories as well as good biographies of Michelangelo, Galileo and Da Vinci. Any ideas? Thanks y'all!

Alex,

I recently read, and recommend, The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone. It is NOT non-fiction, but it is a well researched historical fiction bio of Michelangelo. I think it gave a good feel for the times, his art, and his life. An example of the kind of research involved is that Stone lived in Italy for years, worked in a stone quarry for a while, and translated all 495 known letters of Michelangelo into English.

by Irving Stone

Interesting, Elizabeth, thank you. I enjoy historical fiction as long as it's well-researched. But in researching this book, I got the impression that it maybe tries to gloss over Michelangelo's likely homosexuality, which makes me raise an eyebrow a little bit. What did you think about the way the book dealt with that, or didn't?

...I've been thinking about that ever since I posted it, and it's sortof an interesting issue, particularly for a fictionalized biography.

Barring a statement from Michelangelo, which seems unlikely given his current condition (dead), I side with those who present the facts and the context and conclude that it's irresponsible to draw firm conclusions. (And I feel like I should clarify that I don't care whether the man was gay or not, I'm just interested in his life.)

But one can't exactly write, "Michelangelo gazed at his close friend, possibly in a gay way but maybe not," can one? So there's a real challenge for an author.

Alex, one book that I enjoyed very much dealt with the building of the Duomo in Florence during the heart of the Renaissance. It is more than just construction but goes into the political tension between the artists and purveyors and life in the area at the time. Very enjoyable.
by Ross King

I've heard good things about that book! And I've seen the Duomo, so that's a bonus. Cool idea! Thanks.

Alex wrote: "...But one can't exactly write, "Michelangelo gazed at his close friend, possibly in a gay way but maybe not," can one? So there's a real challenge for an author. "

That really made me laugh. :) Definitely one of the challenges of writing a fictionalized bio. There are so many unknowns in any person's life. In non-fiction you can mention all the possibilities and evidences of each. But in fiction, you have to pick one answer and go with it.

To answer your question, I don't remember any major homosexual references. I may have missed some subtle ones, of course.

Hi Alex,

I fully agree with Alisa's recommendation of "Brunelleschi's Dome" by Ross King, its a very good book. One very decent book offering a nice general overview of the Renaissance is William Manchester's book; "A World Lit Only by Fire: The Medieval Mind and the Renaissance".

by William Raymond Manchester
Review:
"Using only secondary sources, Manchester plunges readers into the medieval mind-set in a captivating, marvelously vivid popular history that humanizes the tumultuous span from the Dark Ages to the dawn of the Renaissance. He delineates an age when invisible spirits infested the air, when tolerance was seen as treachery and "a mafia of profane popes desecrated Christianity." Besides re-creating the arduous lives of ordinary people, the Wesleyan professor of history peoples his tapestry with such figures as Leonardo, Machiavelli, Lucrezia Borgia, Erasmus, Luther, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Manchester (The Arms of Krupp) devotes much attention to Magellan, whose globe-straddling voyage shattered Christendom's implicit belief in Europe as the center of the universe. His portrayal of the Middle Ages as a time when the strong and the shrewd flourished, while the imaginative, the cerebral and the unfortunate suffered, rings true." - Publishers Weekly

Thanks Rick! That sounds like a good one too. This club has never failed to come through for me.

My pleasure Alex, I love sharing good books with other interested people and this group is the perfect place, full of great people with a wide range of interests.

This was moved (This is the appropriate thread for request)

From Zohar:

Whenever I "drag" the family to historical field trips I make sure they have the right background and knowledge so when we look at something it is within context. The trips are much more enjoyable and now we look forward to those.

Any way, we are going to Monticello in about a month. I'd like to get my wife a book about Jefferson which will hold her interest since she's not into history as much as I am.

I'm looking for something "light", I have read America Sphinx and even though I liked it, it's a bit on the heavy side and I know she won't read it.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Also, if there are any good books about Jefferson for a five year old (my daughter)?

Joseph J. Ellis