What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Finished "Verdun to the Vosges" by Gerald Campbell, who was as he says "Special Correspondent of The Times".

He was sent to the eastern frontier at the start of WWI, and published this book at the beginning of 1916.  So only a little over a year into the war.

It is a propaganda book, berating the Germans for their atrocities and for the war.  Some interesting accounts of localized combats, but in a story mode, since he was not directly involved.  Very much for the French and a bit down on the English for getting in so late (and he doesn't like the labor strife and strikes in England that happened).

It is similar to the 1870 book I finished a bit ago (see above).  It puts a lie to "...a position of arbiter of Europe..."

Reprint published by The Naval and Military Press and the National Army Museum.

[Leman]

A Terrible Glory - Custer and the battle of the Little Bighorn by James Donovan. Rattles along, much k]like his book on the Alamo (see above).

[kipt]

Finished "Journals of Field-Marshall Count von Blumenthal for 1866 and 1870-71".

As it says it is his journal for the two wars noted.  He was COS for the Third Army in the FPW.

Interesting character and as he says, did not suffer fools (or others) lightly.  A thorough soldier.

Liked it.

[d_Guy]

Finally read Emile Zola's The Downfall (La Débâcle) with little or no knowledge of the FPW. Zola's descriptions of terrain and movement of troops on the grade scale are as image envoking as any I have read. He also capably drills down to the highly limited view of events by various individuals. Almost makes me want to do this period.

[Roy]

Spartacus: Swords and Ashes [fiction based on the TV series].

Before that, Flashman and Madison's War [War of 1812 - North America]. Wasn't as good as the previous books about Thomas Flashman, imho.

[Leman]

D Guy - go for FPW - the Pendraken range is second to none.

[d_Guy]

D Guy - go for FPW - the Pendraken range is second to none.

Oh Lordy, maybe just maybe

[kipt]

Finished "The Journal of Military History", Volume 79, No. 3, July 2015.  Some of the articles in this volume are:

"Manifesting Awe: Grand Strategy and Imperial Leadership in the Ming Dynasty"
"The Demise of Stonewall Jackson: A Civil War Medical Case Study"
"Air Power and the Battle of the Atlantic: Very Long Range Aircraft and the Delay in Closing the Atlantic "Air Gap""

Along with 82 pages of recent military book reviews.

It is published 4 times per year and always has something of interest.

[Last Hussar]

The Woman who died a lot, by Jasper Fforde.

[Tawa]

Pathfinder - by David Blakely.

[Steve J]

Osprey Essential History of the American Civil War (all four volumes published as one). So far an excellent read with just the right amount of detail for a complete newbie like myself.

[mollinary]

'An Invincible Beast - the Hellenistic pike-phalanx at war' - a 500 page tome on how the phalanx actually worked, including a lot of experimental archaeology with reconstructed arms and armour. Incidentally £10 cheaper from Amazon than direct from the publisher.

Thanks for the tip. Just got mine from Amazon, along with his book on hoplite warfare. What is not to like about 500 pages on PIKES!   

Mollinary

[Chad]

Just finished "Marengo and Hohenlinden. The rise of Napoleon". Highly recommended as a read and a source of wargame info.

About to start "Eagles over the Alps". Suvorov's 1799 campaign.

Chad

[Techno]

Just started listening to 'The Storm' by Clive Cussler.

Modern 'Boys own adventure story'......Good fun.

Cheers - Phil

[Leman]

Not Henry perchance?

[Roy]

Just read Hyena Dawn by Christopher Sherlock.

Quite enjoyed it, and it read very much like a Wilbur Smith novel from the 70s.

[Leman]

In 1982 I was told off by the female deputy head for referring to a Wilbur Smith novel as one of those "her heaving breasts" stories. I was a teacher, not a pupil, and it was in the staffroom.

[Tawa]

Luftwaffe Fighter Ace - Norbert Hannig.

[KTravlos]

I finished the collection of alternative history stories called "Over the Top". Some good and believable ones, a couple that are just corny and problematic, and the rest meh. I do not recommend it.

[kipt]

Finished "Reminiscences of a visit to the battle fields of Sedan, Gravelotte, Spicheren, and Worth and the  bombarded towns of Thionville, Metz, Bitche, Strasburg, etc." by Lewis Appleton.  It was written more as a travel journal in 1872.  Not great but some interesting descriptions of the areas.  Too much proselytizing however; Lewis should have been a preacher.