What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Re: Foch like Swartzenberg. Foch never mentions him, only Napoleon. Foch was too energetic to compare him to the Austrian. That was Foch's great strength; never give up, push on, attack.

Although when he was generalissimo his army group commanders didn't alway do what he proposed (not really ordered). They were being more practical as to what could be done.

[Terry37]

Two thirds of the way through "Journal of the Plague Year", an omnibus of three novella's  by three different authors about the world being hit by an apocalyptic plague. I didn't realize until I got to the second one that they are all tied to the same plague, but from different perspectives/locations. it's really kind of cool and makes for a intriguing read.  Not enchanted with a lot of the language, but I know today's society is more liberal than I am about that - and I've taught myself to just read through the words I don't care for, which does not affect the story at all. Obviously the first write sets the stage and the others pick up enough to build their stories on. Obviously some discussion before hand.

I am however very much enjoying the stories and they are well feeding my post apocalyptic hunger.

Additionally, there is a second omnibus of three more stories, titled "End of the End" that continues to plight of the world after the plague. I'll be reading it next. Maybe there will be a third!!!

Terry

[Leman]

'After Sedan' by Quintin Barry. Rattles along at a good pace with plenty of interesting detail. For some reason I had thought his work was quite dense, but this is a very good read. My only quibble is the use of original C19th maps - I need a magnifying glass to read them. They are also obviously of German origin, so Mulhouse is rendered as Mulhausen, Wissembourg as Weissenburg etc.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Probably because the French didn't take maps of the area on campaign...

[Leman]

Indeed they didn't, but Fermer's book, on the same subject, has clearly drawn maps produced specifically for his book.

[kipt]

Finished "Tanks in the Great War" by Fuller.  This is a very good book, describing the start of the tank service by someone who was involved the whole time.

Some AAR's from individual tanks and good descriptions of the operations side of the British battles, from the tankers view point.  He talks tactics and writes extremely well - always interesting.

Highly recommended for tankies.

[Roy]

Star Trek Enterprise: Broken Bow.

[kipt]

Finished "Armies on Wheels" by S.L.A. Marshall, 1941.

Mechanization from an American point of view.  He does dispute earlier discussions (by Liddell Hart and others) that tanks and wheels would show armies getting more professional and smaller, which comments I was glad to see.  He praises J.F.C. Fuller and who wrote the forward.

Obviously a lot of discussion of the early German assaults and victories; not France but Crete, the desert against the Italians, the Balkans, Greece and the beginning of the Russian campaign.

He had a quote I like: "The widespread distrust of military power among free men is in this sense a renunciation of their birthright, since whatever liberties they now possess have come to them by the wise use of it".

Interesting (but not riveting) because WWII was happening as he wrote.

[SV52]

The ramblings of Marcus Aurelius and for light relief Don Quixote man of La Mancha.

[Fenton]

I am looking forward to the new Terry Gilliam film  The man who killed  Don Quixote

[KTravlos]

Physical Copy books: Finished a collection of three parliamentary speeches of Eleferios Venizelos (from his 2nd Rpeublic premiership period) for my Salvation and Catastrophe project , the academic part (greek language).

Going through the Army History Directorate "A Concise History of the Campaign in Asia Minor 1919-1922" for the OOB project within Salvation and Catastrophe (english language)

Halfway done with number "100 Days" of the Aubrey-Maturin series.

Reading some italian articles for the 19th century Facebook Group theme work.

Kindle
Still going slowly through Radetzky's Marches. Bought Volume 4 of Legend of Galactic Heroes, but will read when done with number 19 of the Aubrey-Maturin Series

Started German Army in the Spring Offensives of 1917, but this is as dense as Radetzky's Marches. This will take a time.

It is very hot here and I have no AC. So despite the tons of work I have to do, I am going slowly.

[fsn]

"Women at war in the classical world" by Paul Chrystal.   

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1473856604/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[kipt]

Finished an absolutely fascinating book "Memoirs of an Unconventional Soldier" by MG J.F.C. Fuller, 1936.  About his life before and in the army.  He became a staff officer with the tank corps in WWI and talks about the troubles with GHQ and other generals.

This may be where the "lions led by donkeys" originated (but he doesn't say that).  He says Haig was a gentleman but stuck on cavalry and infantry.  All else, airplanes, artillery and tanks were just support weapons.  Fuller came up with many tactical ideas (with diagrams in the book) for small actions (raids) and large, saying it would save on infantry.  No avail.

Very interesting reading; enjoyed it so much I bought another for a friend of mine for his birthday.

[Terry37]

Taking a break from the Post Apocalypse waiting on a new order for Amazon to arrive, so started a sci-book titled "Red Hope" by John Dreese. It's about the first manned mission to Mars, and is in most respects very plausible. It's been an excellent read so far and in two days I'm half way through it. Cannot wait to get to the end to see what happens, but will be sad to have it end - which is my usual dilemma with a book I really enjoy.

Terry

[kipt]

Finished "Great Captains Unveiled" by Liddell Hart, reprint 1967.

Chapters on Jenghiz Khan and Sabutai, Marechal de Saxe, Gustavus Adolphus, Wallenstein and General Wolfe.  All interesting and a bit out of the norm of my readings.  Nothing stood out as spectacular but an easy read.

[Terry37]

I finished "Red Hope" and found it to be an excellent read. Thought provoking and reflective of current society in many aspects.

I have now started reading "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" the only book for any of the Mad Max movies I know of. Wasn't sure what to expect as it is taken basically from the screen play. But I find it a great read and much more revealing than just watching the movie, as is pretty normal with most books that movies are taken from. Once I finish it I'll go back and watch the movie again and see how many details I've previously missed I can see.

Terry

[Dr Dave]

"Not mentioned in dispatches" - Goose Green reassessed. It's a remarkable work examining the different command styles and doctrine within 2 PARA as well as the battle itself. Whilst "H's" courage isn't in doubt, his leadership style is.

Painted my British, just got the Argies to do next.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

You know, I've heard from more than one veteran that they thought H was not in the right place, and it was a foolish move.

[fsn]

From "Pusan to Panmunjom (Memories of War)" by Gen Paik Sun Yup

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005CWHLBM/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o03_?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The memoires of Gen Paik of the Korean War.

Not the kind of book I normally read. I'm not into the high level histories, I prefer the stories from the tank turret, and so I found my interest waining as Paik became less a front line general and more a political one. Having said that, he is very engaging, and I will forgive him his constant name dropping as these are his memoires. The book did give me a flavour of the Korean War through the eyes of a South Korean. The lack of equipment at the start and how Paik pulled his 1st Division into being a credible fighting force by appealing to the US generals for US units to be attached.

In some ways it's a very emotional book. He is quite candid and unashamed about times he was taken to tears and how he almost lost it when the Chinese attacked. He also captures the desire of South Korean soldiers to unite the peninsula into one country and their frustration with Eisenhower's desire to end the war.

There will be a few things about the book that will stick in my mind. Paik's attempts to convince Americans that the Chinese were present in force by bringing them a Chinese prisoner. The prisoner admitted to being Chinese and gave his unit number quite happily.
"He's Korean" said the Americans. "Been living in China."
"He speaks Chinese and not Korean."
"Been there a long time and learned the language."
"He doesn't even look Korean."
"Yellow skin, sort of funny eyes ... no he's Korean all right".

I paraphrase, but the sentiment is there.

The other phrase that will stick in my mind is when Paik moved from the rather elite 1st ROK Division to command ROK II Corps. "I felt" he said "like a city boy been transplanted to the country." He must have felt that all the good work he had done with 1st Div would have to be repeated twofold with II Corps. 

For anyone interested in the Korean War, this is a great book. Thank you Sunray for the recommendation.

[fsn]

"Women at war in the classical world" by Paul Chrystal.   

Very disappointing.