The Korean War – one of the most brutal wars regarding the extreme cold in which it was fought and the massive numbers of enemy soldiers thrown against American and U.N. forces. On Desperate Ground by Hampton Sides revisits the heroic withdrawal (“fighting in another direction”) of the First Marine Division in the brutal cold… Continue reading
The Horseman’s Song by Ben Pastor is another installment in the mystery series of Wehrmacht Officer Martin von Bora–this book is a prequel to the following five books in the series. This latest is set in Spain, 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. Bora investigates the murder of poet Garcia Lorca. I have not read… Continue reading
Fox News’ Harris Faulkner has written a book that may help all of us in living a more complete life – 9 Rules of Engagement: A Military Brat’s Guide to Life and Success. The book is filled with practical advice that Faulkner has used to find success. Her advice comes from growing up as a… Continue reading
Most Americans have a fairly good understanding of the American Old West. However, few have that same understanding of the history of the West in Canada. J. Edward Chamberlin brings some clarity on the subject in The Banker and the Blackfoot: An Untold Story of Friendship, Trust, and Broken Promises in the Old West. Chamberlin… Continue reading
Prohibition – most people think this American experiment in outlawing alcohol sales and consumption was an abysmal failure. Not only did it encourage otherwise law abiding citizens to break the law, but it also spawned modern organized crime in this country. One of the early crime bosses was George Remus in Cincinnati. Bob Batchelor chronicles… Continue reading
Brooks brings to life the time period. Her descriptions of London are real and vivid and helps the reader to easily visualize the scenes. She also captures the life of a mid-level noble family – the extravagance and pressures of keeping up appearances.
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World War I is known mainly as a war that decimated Europe, especially western due to the length of the trench warfare. However, few Americans realize that their ancestors fought not only in Western Europe, but also above the Arctic Circle in northern Russia. James Carl Nelson addresses this topic in The Polar Bear Expedition…. Continue reading
I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on the Civil War, but periodically I am surprised by an event that I have not read about. This is the case with Timothy Smith’s The Real Horse Soldiers. The book is a great narrative and analysis of the Union raid led by Colonel Benjamin Grierson. Smith describes the strategic… Continue reading
My favorite Civil War author, Eric J. Wittenberg, has recently written a book on the Union mounted force’s delaying action on September 18, 1863 at Chickamauga in Holding the Line on the River of Death. Wittenberg is my favorite author because he details the actions of individual units, but also gives a great overview of… Continue reading