So... what are you reading?

[David Maxwell]

Thank you so much for the recommendation. I will check it out!

Hey @David Maxwell, if you are interested in some Scottish border history, my favorite on the subject is " The Steel Bonnets" by George MacDonald Fraser. The border clans have their own very fascinating history that is definitely worth learning about.

[AlabamaCelticLass]

As I have time, intermittently, I'm working on "Periods in Highland History" by I.F. Grant and Hugh Cheape. Before that I read part of "The Highland Clans" by L.G. Pine. I would love to have time to finish them both from cover to cover! "Periods in Highland History" covers a decent amount of information about Highland dress and culture. "The Highland Clans" starts out with the history of the Pictish, Viking and Roman influences and the monarchy all the way back to King Kenneth McAlpin. I have a lot to learn, and I sometimes feel overwhelmed trying to remember it all!

[Mike_Oettle]

Richard, I would be interested to know more about Caen, Anvil of Victory, since I have read a fair bit about the Normandy landings and took especial note of Bernard Montgomery’s account, since he planned the landings and was personally in command of the landing and consolidation phases.
He was particularly upset by American newspapermen’s reports from the battle front because they had misunderstood the intent of the consolidation phase after the landings.
Montgomery’s objective was to use the British forces at the left (east) side of the front to engage the Germans fiercely so as to tie them up, and so give the US forces on the right the opportunity to break out. But the US reporters concocted stories (or might have been told them by US officers who should have known better) implying that the Brits were not playing their part in the action, so making things harder for the Americans.
Those erroneous reports have found their way into the history books, which angered Montgomery no end.
(I refer to him as Bernard Montgomery, since he was only made a viscount after these events. I cannot recall offhand whether he was already a Field Marshal.)
Regards,
Mike

[Tarheel]

"The SCOTS Peerage" Vol. 5 printed in Edinburgh 1908 and "A List of Persons concerned in THE REBELLION" also from Edinburgh 1890. I have relatives in both books but more directly to the second one listed. Genealogy research mostly but worth the time for me.

[GMan]

The Goose-Step by Upton Sinclair

[James Hood]

"1901"
Robert Conroy

"What If Germany Had Invaded America In 1901?"

Alternate history. Thick paperback devoured in 2 days while down with flu.

Weird premise, the usual alternate history format mix of one twist in history determining a major event happens. In this case, Germany deciding USA was "unworthy" of the overseas possessions taken from Spain, so a selective (New York area) invasion was done to coerce America to give up the Philippines and Hawaii and Cuba, etc., in "trade" for the Germans to leave.

The Kaiser is a crazy totalitarian absolute ruler of basically a brutal-modern-medieval "tiny empire." The German military is brutal, to be understating. American reactions and replies are not exactly chivalric, either. If you plan to read it, keep "brutal" in mind.

Throw in a couple rise-to-and-far-above-the occasion American heroes, some wome's lib, a pair of love story subplots and Teddy Roosevelt as president-saviour of the country.

You have been warned.

[quincy2]

Dead Wake The last voyage of the Lusitania. Very well done. Now at the top of the best sellers list for non fiction.

[GMan]

I too am reading the Dead Wake

[The Q]

Tower, An epic history of the tower of London, by Nigel Jones,
I've long past William Wallace, but haven't reached anyone from the 45( if there was anyone from then incarcerate there) it covers all the other uses of the the fortress over the years as well.
Very good so far if a little gruesome at times.

[Jack Daw]

"1901"
Robert Conroy

"What If Germany Had Invaded America In 1901?"

Alternate history. Thick paperback devoured in 2 days while down with flu.

Weird premise, the usual alternate history format mix of one twist in history determining a major event happens. In this case, Germany deciding USA was "unworthy" of the overseas possessions taken from Spain, so a selective (New York area) invasion was done to coerce America to give up the Philippines and Hawaii and Cuba, etc., in "trade" for the Germans to leave.

The Kaiser is a crazy totalitarian absolute ruler of basically a brutal-modern-medieval "tiny empire." The German military is brutal, to be understating. American reactions and replies are not exactly chivalric, either. If you plan to read it, keep "brutal" in mind.

Throw in a couple rise-to-and-far-above-the occasion American heroes, some wome's lib, a pair of love story subplots and Teddy Roosevelt as president-saviour of the country.

You have been warned.

Well, Teddy Roosevelt is the man.