What are you currently reading ?

[kipt]

Finished "Lincoln"s Loyalists: Union Soldiers From The Confederacy" by Richard Nelson Current.

60 years reading abut the ACW and did not know how many southern Unionists there were.  The book talks about each southern state and their contribution, as well as how the men were able to join (obviously the Confederacy would try to deny them that chance.

As for numbers, the author gives these figures: Tennessee, 42,000, Virginia and West Virginia, 30,000, Arkansas, 10,000, Louisiana, 7,000, North Carolina, 5,000, Alabama, 3,000, Texas, 2,200, Florida, 1,500 and Georgia 400.  In addition, bout 2,700 rebel prisoners were recruited.  104,000 is a lot.  These are the white soldiers and there were many black soldiers as well.

He takes exception to Livermore's "Numbers and Losses" as do other more recent authors.

Interesting.

[kipt]

Also finished "This Mighty Scourge: Perspectives on the Civil War" by James M McPherson.

Good book.  His major headings are

I     Slavery And The Coming Of War
II   The Lost Cause Revisited
III  Architect's Of Victory
IV  Home Front And Battle Front
V    Lincoln.

This author does a good job.

[kipt]

Finished an interesting book given to me.  "Pen, Sword, Camisole: From the ribald, outrageous acts of lusty old men, a tale of courage, laughter and truth" by Jorge Amado, translated by Helen R. Lane.

It takes place in 1940 Brazil, where the prestigious Brazilian Academy (of 40 members) has lost one to death.  A colonel, head of the new state security (trained by the Gestapo in this new far right government by coup) sees the vacant chair as his right, based on his meager literary talents (members must be published) as a somebody in the state.  He is the only candidate.  Members rebel and essentially draft a general (also published, but who does not agree with the regime and is therefore on the retired list) who does all the correct things (presents to the members, personal visits to ask for their vote, attending the various lectures).

After much trial and tribulation, the colonel perishes and then the members become disillusioned with the general.  The members (the lusty old men in the title) have waged a guerilla campaign against the colonel and then decide to do the same to the general.

While not my usual read, it was entertaining and quick.

[Techno]

I've just read (oh..alright...listened to) about two/three dozen Sherlock Holmes' stories, while I've been pushing putty around.
I'll be back to all the Agatha Christie's CDs soon......It's that, or listen to H2G2.....Dr Who...Lord of the rings....Old Harry's game....Bleak expectations....Or re-listen to the umpteen borrowed stories from the local mobile library....Blank knows when I'll ever get the chance to return the 'books' from the library.

(I've got loads of others I could listen to.....But I can't be arsed bothered......But.....I just can't listen to the radio...too depressing.

Hey Ho. 

Cheers - Phil

[Steve J]

Radio 3 a good alternative or BBC Sounds to catch up on some excellent programmes from Radio 4 and the World Service. Does take some effort though.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Techno
Dorothy L Sayers is a fine, but underrated, writer.

[fsn]

Oooh! Loves me some Sayers (and I don't mean greasy sausage rolls.)

You could also try Raffles by Horning, or Father Brown by Chesterton or Arsene Lupin by Leblanc.

Or you could try listening to books on YouTube on the Kindle.

Go on Phil ... click on one. Go on. Try it. It'll change your life. It'll cost you nothing but some time. You know you want to.  

[DaveH]

Kazuo Ishiguro The Buried Giant - not finished it yet but its an interesting take on Arthurian legend and memory.

Recently finished Ambrose Bierce The Complete Supernatural Stories - got it as a freebie on Kindle. Some good stories, but I wouldn't read more than a couple together as they could be a bit samey.

[FierceKitty]

Just finished the complete Moleworth books. It's been a while since I laughed so hard.

[paulr]

Caught, like a Treen in a disabled spaceship

[Techno]

Oooooh.....I might give the HP Lovecraft one a go !
Pretty sure I've listened to some Sayer's stories already....and enjoyed them.
Most of the ones I borrowed back in January, seemed to be by James Patterson (+ sidekicks).....Those were good fun.

Thanks, Nobby.

Cheers - Phil

[FierceKitty]

Caught, like a Treen in a disabled spaceship

but treen spacesips brake down al the tim as any fule kno chizz chizz

[kipt]

Finished "1862" by Robert Conroy, a historical fiction book.  The American Civil War, but this time the south has been joined by the British.

Fast read; combat, sex, all the good stuff.  And the good guys won again - sorry to the British Pendraken audience.

[monkeynut]

Now I've got some down time I've started to re read all my old Commando comics not so much high brow but great for scenario ideas and the old nostalgic trip to my youth! No 994 Riley's Rifle is today's read with cup of tea and coconut macaroon this pm! Who said retirement would be boring!


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[kipt]

Finished "1901" by Robert Conroy.  This time Germany decides they need the American territories taken from Spain.

President McKinley has a heart attack and VP Teddy Roosevelt becomes President.  The Germans land on Long Island and move somewhat inland.  The Kaiser expects the Americans to negotiate, but, of course, they don't.  Well written and a good story, easy to read.

[hammurabi70]

Finished "Lincoln"s Loyalists: Union Soldiers From The Confederacy" by Richard Nelson Current.

60 years reading abut the ACW and did not know how many southern Unionists there were.  The book talks about each southern state and their contribution, as well as how the men were able to join (obviously the Confederacy would try to deny them that chance.

As for numbers, the author gives these figures: Tennessee, 42,000, Virginia and West Virginia, 30,000, Arkansas, 10,000, Louisiana, 7,000, North Carolina, 5,000, Alabama, 3,000, Texas, 2,200, Florida, 1,500 and Georgia 400.  In addition, bout 2,700 rebel prisoners were recruited.  104,000 is a lot.  These are the white soldiers and there were many black soldiers as well.

He takes exception to Livermore's "Numbers and Losses" as do other more recent authors.

Interesting.

Interesting point and thanks for posting; I suspect most Americans are unaware of that. Certainly those Americans I have discussed the AWI with are surprised that there were many Loyalists who remained adhered to the crown, not to mention runaway slaves joining the British forces and the exertions of the Founding Fathers to get them back.

Now I've got some down time I've started to re read all my old Commando comics not so much high brow but great for scenario ideas and the old nostalgic trip to my youth! No 994 Riley's Rifle is today's read with cup of tea and coconut macaroon this pm! Who said retirement would be boring!


🐵

I have only encountered one individual who said that; everyone else is rushed off their feet.

Finished "1901" by Robert Conroy.  This time Germany decides they need the American territories taken from Spain.

President McKinley has a heart attack and VP Teddy Roosevelt becomes President.  The Germans land on Long Island and move somewhat inland.  The Kaiser expects the Americans to negotiate, but, of course, they don't.  Well written and a good story, easy to read.

Looks like some good material for an alt-history campaign there.

[KTravlos]

Finished

"Balkan Breakthrough: The Battle of Dobro Pole 1918", Richard C. Hall

This book is mis-titled. It is an ok general survey history of the Macedonia Front during the First World War with a focus on the Bulgarian point of view. The military history is at the Theater/Strategic level. It does require some prior survey knowledge of the war in the Balkans. Beyond that a good easy read, which provides some info about the Bulgarian war effort.

Finefrock, Michael M. "Ataturk, Lloyd George and the Megali Idea: Cause and Consequence of the Greek Plan to Seize Constantinople from the Allies, June-August 1922." The Journal of Modern History, vol. 52, no. 1, 1980, pp. D1047–D1066. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1881129.

Fairly anti-Hellenic, the big contribution of this article is to answer the question of why Mustafa Kemal decided to attack the Greek salinet in August 1922. It seems that the the Turkish command had good intelligence of the transfer of Greek forces to Eastern Thrace for the Greek operation against Constantinople/ Istanbul. This created a military opportunity when Greek reserves in Asia Minor were depleted decreasing the chance of plugging a breakthrough. Author chides Hadzanesti as transferring to many forces to Thrace for what was essentially a diplomatic bluff (quite clearly the Greek government did not intend to attack).

[Adamwest]

Adrian goldsworthy the fall of carthage
Really enjoying this, lots of detail about the conflict. Some unknown (at least to me) information i.e polybius using the word speirai to mean maniple in reference to the carthaginian deployment during cannae.

[hammurabi70]

Adrian goldsworthy the fall of carthage
Really enjoying this, lots of detail about the conflict. Some unknown (at least to me) information i.e polybius using the word speirai to mean maniple in reference to the carthaginian deployment during cannae.

Yes, its a great book.

[hammurabi70]

Russia in Flames by Laura Engelstein

A superb analysis of the Russian Civil War that even handedly praises and excoriates all sides as the unpleasant events proceed through the pages.  My third general book on the RCW and probably the best.  I feel that it gave a real insight into proceedings in a way that the previous ones had not.