What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Finished "Blitzkrieg: Myth, Reality,and Hitler's Lighting War: France 1940" by Lloyd Clark.

This is a good read.  Much detail about the opening moves and how the French couldn't cope.  Much anxiety on the German side, but a few hard drivers kept the momentum going (Rommel, Guderian for two).

[Leman]

Conn Iggulden - The Wars of the Roses series. I started and stopped with this about a year ago, but a couple of weeks back I picked it up again and really got into it. The problem is that the first couple of chapters of book one, about Margaret of Anjou's childhood, are not very gripping. However, if you persevere the book gets very much better. I am now halfway through book 2 and the Battle of St.Albans (1st) has taken place. The description is very good indeed. There are one or two niggles still. Iggulden keeps describing the bulk of English soldiers at this time as pikemen and axemen. I would have plumped for spearmen and billmen. Furthermore he seems to think that most soldiers, especially fully armoured knights, still carried shields at this time, when the vast majority no longer did. Nevertheless, the story is developing well and holding my attention. As a historical novel I'd give 8/10.

[DaveH]

Just started Tank Men by Robert Kershaw, before that been reading Thud by Terry Pratchett and the Rogue Stars rules.

[kipt]

Finished "Naval Logistics" by Vice Admiral George Dyer, a Naval Institute Press book from 1960.  Primarily current events from the 50"s, but some WWI and WW II history plus some good pictures.  However, a tough slog to get through it.

I have several books on logistics, but primarily ground forces and historical; this was different.

[Leman]

Oh dear, just when you think it's safe to go back in the water Iggulden gives the worst description of the Battle of Blore Heath ever. No cavalry charges at the Yorkist line (instead a cavalry melee  ), no Yorkist artillery, but the Lancatrians have a couple of guns, no mention of a priest firing off the Yorkist guns at night to allow Salisbury's force to slip away. I was surprised to read that the clash of arms occurred because Audley lost control of his infantry, who abandoned their high ground position and conducted a mad, Hollywood-style dash on the Yorkist position, on the opposite high ground. Now all the descriptions I've previously  read of this battle indicate that the Lancastrian archers exchanged fire with the Yorkist archers, but with relatively little effect. As a consequence the Lancastrians launched at least two, and possibly three, cavalry charges at the Yorkist line. These were unsuccessful and somewhere in these charges (the third one may have been on foot) Lord Audley was killed on the slope below the Yorkist line. At this point the Lancastrian morale collapsed, and as their army retreated they were pursued for some distance by Yorkist currours. However there were more Lancastrian troops available which is why Salisbury used the cannon ruse to withdraw and continue his march to Ludlow that night.

[cameronian]

Towards the Flame by Dominic Leven, Empire War and the end of Tzarist Russia. Really brilliant read, every bit as good as Chris Clark, an absolute find (on audio, v good narrator).

[kipt]

Finished "British Light Infantry in the Eighteenth Century" by COL J.F.C. Fuller.  This was a Xerox copy received from a friend.

Well done history up to the French Revolution.  It discusses the history of light troops and how Indians and the American Revolution sort of paved the way.  However, hard for traditionalists in the upper ranks to cope.  The lack of a good weapon was part of it.  Most of the time light troops were raised for a conflict and then quickly disbanded afterwards.  No lessons learned by doing that.

I enjoyed it (and a quick read).

[KTravlos]

Finished Pieter M.Judson's "The Habsburg Empire: A New History"
A very very good book.

My very political biased (I filed it under the Political Propaganda label in my blog) book review/reaction can be found her
http://blog.irstohasmoi.com/2017/01/book-reaction-habsburg-empire-new.html

That said it tired me out. So for a break I am reading Book 3 of Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Endurance.

Next big book is Peter McPhee "Liberty of Death: The French Revolution".

[mollinary]

Finished Pieter M.Judson's "The Habsburg Empire: A New History"
A very very good book.

My very political biased (I filed it under the Political Propaganda label in my blog) book review/reaction can be found her
http://blog.irstohasmoi.com/2017/01/book-reaction-habsburg-empire-new.html

That said it tired me out.

Great Review, more than enough to make me get a copy!

Mollinary

[cameronian]

Reading Duffy's The Army of Maria Theresa, marvellous.

[KTravlos]

"Reading Duffy's The Army of Maria Theresa, marvellous."

A exquisite book.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sorry, when I see Duffy I think: https://youtu.be/y7ZEVA5dy-Y. 

[kipt]

Finished "When Britain Goes to War: Adaptability and Mobility" by Liddell Hart.  A giant discussion of his belief in a mechanized, armored, force.  He discounts infantry, other than something he calls "tank marines", which would eventually become armored infantry.

He relates the experiments of the mech force for the various years, 1932 to 1935.  Interesting.

[lowlylowlycook]

Finished "Naval Logistics" by Vice Admiral George Dyer, a Naval Institute Press book from 1960.  Primarily current events from the 50"s, but some WWI and WW II history plus some good pictures.  However, a tough slog to get through it.

I have several books on logistics, but primarily ground forces and historical; this was different.

What are your favorite books on logistics?  I have Supplying War and book about Alexander the Great's logistics but otherwise haven't found much that seems interesting.

[kipt]

I will check tonight and give a list.