Currently Reading

[Leman (Andy)]

Currently reading 'King Arthur's Wars' by Jim Storr. Now here's a man who has little truck with traditional archaeologists, and doesn't mind saying so, often commenting on their findings as '....... and they were wrong!'

The book's subtitle, 'the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England,' is actually the more appropriate, given that the existence of Arthur is impossible to prove, or otherwise. What is interesting is the way that Storr brings a military eye to archaeology (he is an ex-British Army Officer) identifying various defensive earthworks, and their facing, in the south-east of England. He concludes from this that the Anglo-Saxons took over 200 years to fully subdue England. It was not the walk over we are often presented with, and in fact many of the earthwork dykes were built by the Saxons to hold on to what they had and keep the British out. What is even more interesting is that most of these dykes from the 5th and 6th centuries show the influence of Roman engineers and that there was a great deal of intermarriage between, particularly, Saxon men and British women. Evidently some Britons worked quite happily alongside the Saxons. One of the earliest successful Saxons, Cerdic, had a British name, as did his son, Cynric.

Storr also believes that many mistakes have been made in the past by the misinterpretation of place names. He makes the case that this often happened because earlier archaeologists were trying to get the facts to fit their hypotheses. Again he states that they are usually unable to examine the lie of the land with a military eye. This is turning out to be a fascinating read, although he does do things that a regular academic writer would not, such as putting in little asides of a personal or family nature. A bit odd, but, given the rest of his work, is easily forgivable.

[pigsticker]

I'm not reading this yet but thought this review would be of interest to Square Bashers interested in the German revolution of 1918–19: Founding Weimar: Violence and the German Revolution of 1918-1919 by Mark Jones.

http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/review/2070?utm_source=Reviews+in+History&utm_campaign=1a3b15bab0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_02_23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f24f670b90-1a3b15bab0-516729141

Ray

[Sean Clark]

Almost a Miracle - John Firling

An excellent account of the AWI....if a little American centric. Loving it so far.

Chicken hawk

An account of a helicopter pilots experiences during the Vietnam war. Fascinating.

Both highly recommended.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Chickenhawk is an excellent book.

[Leman (Andy)]

Now reading Guy Halsall's 'Worlds of Arthur.' Having destroyed any reliance on 5th and 6th century literary works he is about to embark on the archaeological evidence (if any). Looking forward to this bit.

[Sean Clark]

Like the sound of that Leman. Let us know how it goes.
.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Am trying hard to finish "Cambrai 1917" by Bryn Hammond before next Saturday's mega-game at Nothe Fort.

It was a little bit slow in the initial chapters as it sets the scene relative to the earlier battles of the Somme and at Ypres, but rattles along very quickly when it starts to discuss Cambrai itself, using extensive quotes (from letters and diaries) of those present.

Very atmospheric and quite moving with its "first-hand account" style of narrative.

[Leman (Andy)]

Just finished 'On four fronts with the Royal Naval Division 1914-1918' by Geoffrey Sparrow, who was once of the medical officers. some interesting insights about the activities of the naval land troops and the Royal Marines in Belgium, Turkey, Salonika and France.

[martin goddard]

Currently listening(almost reading, sorry) tommies radio 4. Today they did  easy Africa with the Germans ranging around. Detailed how askaris were usually press ganged.

[Andoreth]

I am currently reading "Historically Inevitable: Turning Points of the Russian Revolution" a collection of essays on "What ifs"  before, during and after the revolution. Lots of opportunities for WW1 alternative games.

[Leman (Andy)]

Currently reading the latest Wargaming in History title, Koniggratz. Beautifully presented, although I am most unlikely to tackle any scenarios using their rules as the units are enormous, e.g. Saxon infantry unit of 12 bases.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Just finished Antony Beevor's "The Battle for Spain".

A long, detailed, very useful historically but ultimately quite depressing read. No fault of the book itself, but this period of history is very sad - particularly towards the end when Republican forces are thrown time and again in piecemeal fashion into doomed battles and mini-campaigns that have no hope of success, in a bid to support some equally doomed propaganda efforts.

Also to see how frequently no quarter was expected or given, with the mass execution of prisoners of war.

I probably shouldn't have been surprised by any of this, but it does bring home in some pretty gory detail quite what a tragic period of history this was.

[martin goddard]

I got stuck with the large length and amount of names!!

[Leman (Andy)]

Part way through Quintin Barry's 2nd volume on the Franco-Prussian War, which covers the much longer republican phase (and consequently this volume is much thicker). Quite a detailed account, including some very small skirmishes as well as the bigger encounters. Prince Frederick Charles is not emerging with much credit in the carpe diem department, meanwhile de Paladines appears to be a much better general than I suspected, but beset by amateurish political interference. One minor quibble is that the maps appear to be contemporary C19th, with a terrible, tiny hand written style font. I am having to use a magnifying glass to read them. I have just interrupted it to re-read Square Bashing in conjunction with Walter Schnaffs for an upcoming game next Friday.

[Leslie BT]

Busy reading Once a Warrior King, a biography about the small US units working at the jungle outposts close to the Cambodian border.

Will pass it on to Martin next.