dxboon
[Elite User]
12454
I'm not a huge non-fiction reader...
...but I do enjoy books about the American Civil War. The Killer Angels, by the late Michael Shaara is one of my favorite books of all time. It is remarkably poignant and insightful. I suspect that I feel a connection to that era in American history because I grew up near some of the most famous battle sites of the war, and spent many a summer's day looking for old bullets at Bull Run. One of my most memorable Civil War related adventures was when my college pals and I decided to pay our respects to General Stonewall Jackson's arm, which had to be amputated and was laid to rest in Chancellorsville, Virginia. It's hard not to feel connected to the war when you grow up by Jefferson Davis Hwy. and the local high school is named for Robert E. Lee. 
Cheers,
Daos
When I'm in a quiet mood
My favorite pasttimes are reading and surfing the internet. Just thought I share a few of my readings with the PuristS community. My favorite subject is military history - esp British history, and the early explorers of Africa. My library collection refle...
Fascinating ...
I'm not familiar with the subject, but WOW!! I don't think I've read that many books in my life.
Many of the books are
like a reference work. I will lookup a specific event or historic figure to read about. I've read only about half of my books all the way thru.
Nice collection!
A very impressive collection of books indeed. The Last Lion is indeed a fine biography, albeit unfinished, since the third volume has yet to be published. It surely would be interesting to strike up a dialogue with you about the first half of the twentiet...
The ones that comes to mind right away
are the West Point Military History Series. I have Acient and Medieval Warfare, and The Dawn of Modern Warfare. Found these two at Barnes and Nobles about 12 yrs ago. John MacDonald's Great Battlefields of the World covers famous battles in its various st...
I think...
....I already recommended him, reading your post above, you wrote "how men respond to the training and dangers of war". So I definitely suggest you seek out Paul Fussell's books: The Great War and Modern Memory and Wartime: Understanding and Behaviour in ...
Thank you for the suggestions!
Thank you for the suggestions! So many books, so little time. I don't even have time to read through my watch books. And unfortunately, those coffee table books aren't very convenient to be taken along on trains and airplanes.
No problem, Patrick.
I usually get through a book per week. The only time I can find is when I should be sleeping.
Very nice collection
I too like military books and history also. I don't have my large collection any more but I still have my old news papers. Though it's old history, it's still full of adventure, courage, grief and valor. Two of my daughters love history also but my younge...
Yes, Helen, plus the two
shelves below that. Most of the ones on the second and third shelves cover 1900 thru 1950. But my prized collections are the ones on the top shelves. Some are from the 1890's, ranging up to 1920's.
Russel Braddon.
Is a personal favourite of mine. I think I have about 4 copies of The Naked Island, a couple of Cheshire, VC and a few of his novels. From the American perspective, I rate Paul Fussell highly.
Thanks. I'll have to give these authors
a try. Sounds interesting. Thank you for the recommendations.
If you enjoyed...
...All the Queen's Men (per one of your photos) then I think you'll appreciate Braddon's other books. The Naked Island is about his experiences as a POW in Malaya. Cheshire VC is a short biography of Leonard Cheshire, the youngest RAF Group Captain, obser...
peace and quiet....
We really use our library but I should start using the room more often to catch up on some reading. Frederick, do you belong to a book club? -MW
Yes, I belong to . . . .
a very large club called the internet. LOL I just search Ebay, Amazon, or Bookfinder for books that looks interesting. Before the popularity of the internet, I was buying military books from a dealer in NJ, and African explorations from a dealer in Agoura...
I'm not a huge non-fiction reader...
...but I do enjoy books about the American Civil War. The Killer Angels, by the late Michael Shaara is one of my favorite books of all time. It is remarkably poignant and insightful. I suspect that I feel a connection to that era in American history becau...
i love reading books...
... i also love collecting antique books, especially those with hard-cover books, very classic. i remember one time i went to London for work, i intentionally looked for old book shops and some shops like OxFam to look for antique books. i bought one book...
There are some very interesting treasures
to be found out there. I picked up a book on the 300th anniversary of the Grenadier Guards at Camdon Locks (name?) flea market just north of London. One of my many treasured books. Glad you like to haunt the out-of-the-way places, just like I do. Enjoy. F...
first book visible on left in 2nd pic is the 2nd regiment i served in
i joined the Army in 1980 as a 'junior soldier' my trade being musician. i first went to the Lifeguards, part of the household cavalry, as a trombone player, but after about 3 years i was fed up with all the total B*****it that goes with being a London ba...
another point of interest. historical moment tomorrow
operation dynamo, the small ships rescue of troops from Dunkirk is being re enacted tomorrow, the 70th anniversary, with many of the original small ships taking part. obviously there wont be 300,000 soldiers to rescue or a load of bombs going off, but its...
That's very interesting, Graham
Thank you for that info'. It's so intersting to hear personal accounts involving some of these units. You must have been pleasantly surprised to see that book in my picture.
another piece of interest Frederick...
another piece of interest Frederick is that the book next too it is about the 17th/21st Lancers who, shortly after i left the army were amalgamated(i can spell it today) with the 16th/5th Lancers to form the Queens Royal Lancers. the british cavalry regim...
All the pomp and ceremony
is very tough on the troops. You spend so much time polishing the brass, the white leather belts, etc, etc, etc. But there is so much pride in the units, hard to fault tradition. I know I could never do that. My hats off to them.