So... what are you reading?

[The Q]

Culloden, Scotlands last battle and the forging of the British Empire. By Trevor Royle

A very interesting book the first 1/4 of the book is the lead up and the battle of Culloden. The rest of the book follows those who took part on both sides.

To someone educated in both the English and Scottish school system this book brings together many areas of history that are taught separately. Europe , north America, India etc

It shows that many of the commanding officers under Cumberland went on to fight and often win even if they got it wrong, all round the world. It also shows that within 10 years of the battle many in Prince Charlie's Army went on to fight FOR the Hanoverian government against the French and their allies in Europe, north America, and India, even some that had fought for the French Regiment of Ecosse at Culloden.

This is a suprise when you have Cumberlands' reputation today, but you find out from the book he was only in Scotland for 3 months post battle so much of the persecution and hunting down of those who did not surrender was carried out by others when he was not in command.

From many histories of the battle you get the impression that except for those around Prince Charlie few survived and most of those who did were murdered.
But this book shows for instance that those that many that surrendered did survive and were reasonably by the standards of the day treated well. Unless you had been a deserter from the Hanoverian side or continued run or rebel

The book also shows the divisions in family's, one section of
Prince Charlie's Army was surrounded and the commanding officer surrendered ...
To his son in Cumberland army, there were also many cases of brothers on opposing sides.
Officers from Cumberlands' and a odd one from prince Charlies' Army then spread around the world creating the beginnings of British Empire, India, Canada and the Treacherous Americans who refused to pay their taxes for getting rid of the French.

[Pegasys]

Scotland's Storybook

ThomasRhymer260_tcm4-649173.jpg

http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/...book/index.asp

A magical new collection of Scottish tales, legends, folk and fairy stories for all of Scotland’s children, young people and big folk. Wondrous tales and translations by Scottish storytellers Tom Muir and Martin MacIntyre with new illustrations by artist Kate Leiper. With special thanks to Dr Donald Smith and all at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh.

[LANCER1562]

At the moment I am reading All Creatures Great And Small by James Harriot

[Tarheel]

At the moment I am reading All Creatures Great And Small by James Harriot

I love his entire series. My mom worked with doctors in the 1960's that used the same "vet" techniques that Herriot employed (except with people).
My favorite chapter involved the rubber calf birthing suit.

[LANCER1562]

That whole chapter about the rubber calving suit had me cracking up!
I've just found the series available on youtube.com

[GMan]

The Photographer's Truth but Ralph Josiah Bardsley.

[The Q]

Dogs of Courage, by Clare Campbell
One thing I didn't know until I read this book was that until 1939 the police forces in the UK had no dogs, come to that officially neither did any of the His Majesties armed Forces except for the odd Regimental Mascot.

In 1939 the metropolitan police force got Two Labradors..
This was part of a campaign by various people who realised how useful they could be.

Of course in 1939 when the war broke out they switched to trying to get the military to use them. This book is the story of their efforts along with the stories of many of WW2 dogs in combat. There are also a few references through to the present day.

I found this book and quite informative I can recommend it.

[The Q]

Conjuror on the Kwai, the incredible life of Fergus Anckorn by Peter Fyans.

The subject of this story was the youngest member of the magic circle in 1936 at the age of 18, today he is still with us and the oldest member of the magic circle.
He came to my attention earlier this year when Lance Corporal Richard Jones won Britain's Got Talent with his magic act and involved Fergus in the act. They had met at Richard's joining of the magic circle.
The first third of the book details his life before being posted to Singapore as Gunner Anckorn of 118 Field Regiment.
At the fall of Singapore he had just been badly wounded and was in Alexandra Military Hospital, he was one of the few to survive the massacre of the patients and staff by the Japanese troops, probably because he was covered in blood and beetroot juice and they thought he was already dead ( you'll have to read the book to find out about the beetroot juice). After some time recovering in Changi jail/ prison camp he was the sent like many men up the jungle to work on the railway, including on the famous bridge on the river Kwai.

Post war, he was tapped on the shoulder while walking down the street in London, by the surgeon who had saved his hand in Singapore, the surgeon who was bayoneted 4 times by the Japanese in the hospital, asked how it was, and on learning he still had problems, carried out further surgery giving him back full use of his hand. Enabling Fergus eventually to become a professional magician appearing on TV in the 1960s.

I found this a good book with a slightly different angle on the war with a man determined to survive using all his skills...

[GMan]

Ancient Futuures Helena Norberg-Hodge

[Beckyinma]

Historic Fiction and Historic Fantasy are favorite genres of mine. Outlander book 5, the Fiery Cross, Diana Gabaldon. That's what brought me here, and made me dig more into my ancestry more.