Reading matter

[steveh11]

OK, the idea is this thread will be for suggesting books for the period and getting into the 'mood'.
First off: "Dreadnought" by Robert K. Massie. Masterful ttreatment of the later peiod, concentrating on the relationships between the Royal Families of GB and Germany, and (obviously) on Naval matters.
Steve.

 

[Tim O]

The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783
by Alfred T. Mahan

This book greatly influenced the Imperial policys of Japan, America and Germany among others.

Arguing About Slavery: John Quincy Adams and the Great Battle in the United States Congress

It shows how the debate on Slavery in the Congress greatly affected America from 1835-45.

 

[Alyosha]

The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660-1783

I've been wanting to read this for awhile, but I can't! Too many books have piled up, I am pratically swimming in them!

For recommendations, if anybody hasn't read "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad it's a philosophical book but also a neat look into the Belgian Congo. There's another book on the belgian Congo called "Leopold's Ghost" that I heard about recently, which deals with his autocratic and brutal regime there, I forget the author though.

I hope this thread doesn't become a wasteland for endless American Civil War book nominations however. Some are vey good, but there are so many and it appears that many who post in this forum are "Civil War buffs."

 

[King of Men]

Don't know if you allow fiction in here, but I'd like to suggest Harry Turtledove's "How Few Remain", about a second war between the USA and CSA, twenty years later. The US gets its butt kicked by the French and English.
Someone suggested Flashman, and I agree entirely; then there is Kipling's "Kim", not to mention the collected poems. Really gives you the feel of imperialist ambition and attitude.

 

[Syt]

Definitely John Keegan's World War One (is that the English title)?

And MacPherson's Battlecry of Freedom.

[EDIT: Forgot another one - Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front

And I might pull out Ludendorff's memoirs again. ]

 

[IEX Totalview]

I already posted this one in another thread, but I'm finding it fantastic:

"The Myth of the Great War" by John Mosier.

 

[Tim O]

 

[HJ Tulp]

I think Harry Hansens "The Civil War A History." is a great book about the ACW

 

[The Andy-Man]

'England 1870-194'

Ensor

 

[Alyosha]

Definitely John Keegan's World War One (is that the English title)?

I think its "The First World War," but a great read. I recommend that as well.

 

[steveh11]

Anyone got suggestions for the wearlier part of the period, covering the Metternich years up to the revolutions of 1848?
Steve.
(Actually i might try to dig up my old history textbooks - although they'd be 30 years old by now...)

 

[unmerged(485)]

Originally posted by steveh11
Anyone got suggestions for the wearlier part of the period, covering the Metternich years up to the revolutions of 1848?
Steve.
(Actually i might try to dig up my old history textbooks - although they'd be 30 years old by now...)

That's o.k. - the history in them is even older!