This site features new titles, and older backlist titles of merit that we add from time-to-time. Some of these books I have personally reviewed in magazines and online. Given the frustration many of you have experienced attempting to find good history titles, I have hotlinked the books directly to an online bookstore -- Amazon.com. We also have links for discounted subscriptions to history magazines. For history-related board games check out the Funagain Games banner.
To make for quicker viewing of the main page we have made sections of this site separate pages. All sections are still accessible via the table of contents below.
Belyk, Robert C. Great Shipwrecks of the Pacific Coast. John Wiley & Sons 2001 [This book examines ten major maritime disasters along the Pacific coastline from Alaska to California during the eight decades between the California Gold Rush and the Great Depression.]
Brennen, Bonnie. For the Record: An Oral History of Rochester, New York, Newsworkers. [Communications and Media Studies, no. 6; Joe Wershba, foreword] Fordham Univ. Pr. 2001 ["What was it like to work for a newspaper in America in the mid-twentieth century? Brennen's annotated oral history of journalism in Rochester, New York, offers as detailed and colorful an answer as we are likely to get. Along the way, there are important insights into the Gannett chain of newspapers, from its conception and incubation in the early 1900s to the colossus it is today." -- Neil Hickey, Editor at Large, Columbia Journalism Review.]
Burgess, Colin. The Age of Stonehenge. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. 2001 [Burgess covers the history of Britain and Ireland from 3,000 BC to 1,000 BC. He argues that the people of those times were more numerous, organized, and technologically advanced than was originally thought. This book was originally published in 1980, for this new edition the author adds a short, yet critical, introduction.]
Burney, Charles & David Marshall Lang. The Peoples of the Hills: Ancient Ararat and Caucasus. [History of Civilization Series]. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. 2001 [This is a wide-ranging work on the archaeology and history of the civilizations and peoples of eastern Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, and the Caucasus. It begins with prehistoric times and ends with the Mongol onslaught in the 13th century. It was originally published in 1971.]
Ceram, C.W. The Secret of the Hittites: The Discovery of an Ancient Empire. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This is a history of the Hittites based on the dramatic discovery of Hittite cuneiform tablets at the site of their ancient capital, Hattusa, in the 1940s. Ceram was the pseudonym for the author, Kurt W. Marek, and the book first appeared in Germany in 1955 with the title, Enge Schlucht und schwarzer Berg; and in English in 1956.]
Davis, Ronald L. Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne. Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 2001 [This work on Wayne won the Western Writers of America 1999 "Spur Award" for the Best Western Nonfiction Biography. "In a virile, red-white-and-blue biography of an ostentatiously virile man, Davis examines how Wayne built and maintained the image that soon grew "to overshadow his private identity and . . . came to represent America itself." Yet he intentionally presents "a sustained life story, not [a] detailed film analysis that would undermine the thread of . . . narrative." Davis offers much detail and many tidbits. . . . Plenty has been written about Wayne and his movies, but Davis' biography is exemplary, highly informative, and eminently readable; in short, one for serious fans." -- Mike Tribby, Booklist. "[The author] has researched and written an excellent biography of a driven man. Readers will see the unfolding story of John Wayne dramatically and fully developed." -- Western American Literature. "Davis's entertaining narrative primarily covers Wayne's personal life and the day-to-day production of his films, and the extensive use of personal recollections and anecdotes adds considerable dimension to his human side." -- Library Journal. "Ronald L. Davis, a historian from Southern Methodist University, tracks John Wayne's life from his childhood in Iowa to beyond the grave. . . . Davis reveals a complex personality, both insecure and courageous, compassionate and yet unswerving in its political prejudices." -- M.D.B., AudioFile. "It is to Davis's everlasting credit that he presents the life and image of John Wayne without prejudice or rancor." -- Texas Books in Review. "Duke is our American royalty. What a fitting tribute Davis's book is!" -- Janet Leigh. "This is the most complete work on Duke that I have ever read. Davis captures Duke's image, both on screen and off. It's a real page turner." -- Harry Carey, Jr. "In 1937, when John Wayne and I played opposite each other in Born to the West (now titled Helltown), both of us would have been astonished to learn that sixty years later he would be called America's ideal American. But [the author] explains this phenomenon extremely well. His searching study is engrossing, thorough, and fair." -- Marsha Hunt. Originally published in 1998, this book is still available in a hardcover edition and an unabridged audiocassette edition published by Blackstone Audio Books and narrated by Adams Morgan.]
Devine, T.M. The Scottish Nation: A History, 1700-2000. Penguin Books 2001 [Publisher supplied info: T.M. Devine uses extensive original research to examine Scotland's urban vigor as well as describing the traditional aspects of Scottish history, covering key topics such as the Union, the Enlightenment, industrialization, the Clearances, religion, and the road to devolution. He also explores the global diaspora of the Scots, the impact of migrants, and the effect of the World Wars. Throughout, Scotland's story is set against the background of British, European, and world history. "Outstanding . . . Scottish history has been waiting a long time for a counterpart to Roy Foster's masterpiece Modern Ireland. . . . Devine has written it." -- Niall Ferguson, The Sunday Times (London). "A comprehensive, lucidly written history of Scotland, a nation that despite its small size has had a disproportionate impact on the world's intellectual and industrial development. Scotsman Devine, Professor at the University of Aberdeen, has taken on the ambitious task of chronicling the last three centuries of Scottish history. A must read for anyone interested in Scotland's history." -- Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 1999. "A tremendous study of transformation . . . Devine's strength is his huge learning in the field of social history, especially the story of the rural communities of Scotland." -- Neal Ascherson, Los Angeles Times. "His epic, forward-looking historical study is without peer, and students of Scotland's past and present will find much of value in its pages." -- Gregory McNamee, Amazon.com. "Splendid . . . will remain the standard one in its field for a long time." -- The Times Literary Supplement. Originally published by Viking in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Donoughue, Bernard & G.W. Jones. Herbert Morrison: Portrait of a Politician. [Peter Mandelson, foreword] Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This is a biography of a key figure in British political life for nearly forty years. Morrison was London's most famous city boss, a Labour Transport Minister, and he almost became prime minister. During WW II, Churchill included him in his cabinet as the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security. His career ended in 1951 as he was overwhelmed with problems and scandals during his time as Foreign Secretary, e.g., the Burgess-Maclean spy fiasco. This book was originally published in 1973, and now features a new foreword by his grandson.]
Fawcett, Col. P.H. Exploration Fawcett. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. 2001 [This is the account of legendary British explorer Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett's ten years of travels in forests and deadly rivers in search of a lost city. As Fawcett disappeared in Brazil's unexplored Matto Grosso in 1925, the book was put together by his son, Brian Fawcett, from manuscripts, letters, and logbooks. It was originally published in 1953. ". . . a book of great power. . . . should be read by everyone." -- Daily Telegraph.]
Freely, John. Inside the Seraglio: Private Lives of the Sultans in Istanbul. Penguin 2000 [This book was originally published in 1999. "Wonderful . . . rich with anecdotes and first-hand accounts." -- Mail on Sunday. "An astonishing era that deserves to be more widely understook. . . . Freely provides a fascinating, easy-to-follow overview, beautifully researched and riveting in its detail." -- Christopher Fowler, Independent on Sunday. "A richly-coloured, highly-entertaining book that I wished I'd had to hand when I strolled around the Topkapi." -- Lawrence James, The Times.]
Gelling, Margaret. Place-Names in the Landscape: The Geographical Roots of Britain's Place-Names. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [Gelling, President of the English Place-Name Society, explains the derivation of English place-names and their roots in British history and and landscape. This book was originally published in 1984.]
Geyl, Pieter. History of the Dutch-Speaking Peoples 1555-1648. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is the classic account of sixteenth and seventeenth-century Netherlands that combines Geyl's two volumes: The Revolt of the Netherlands 1555-1609 published in 1932, and , The Netherlands in the Seventeenth Century 1609-1648 from 1936.]
Gilbert, Martin & Richard Gott. The Appeasers. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [Gilbert and Gott examine Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement in his dealings with Hitler. They explain how the policy was developed, how it was carried out, and why the policy proved to be a mistake. This book was originally published in 1963. "Here is a remarkable book, admirably documented and most fairly presented." -- Sir Robert Bruce Lockhart, Glasgow Herald. ". . . an extraordinary compilation of detailed facts." -- Michael Foot.]
Grant, Michael. The World of Rome: The History of the Roman Empire from 133BC to AD217. [History of Civilization Series] Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This book is a solid history of Rome when it was the world's dominant civilization. Grant breaks his study into four parts. The first is a historical sketch of the Roman Empire, the second a look at the state and society. It is followed by an examination of Roman religious and philosophical beliefs, and the final part of the book considers the great Latin writers and Roman sculpture, painting, and architecture. It features 64 plates, 45 illustrations, and 6 maps. This book was originally published in 1960.]
Gregg, Pauline. King Charles I. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1981. "The fullest and most carefully compiled biography that we are ever likely to have. She combines sympathetic understanding of his character with a dispassionate account of his career." -- C.V. Wedgwood, Telegraph. ". . . a well researched, well written biography that deserves to become the standard work." -- Christopher Hill, Guardian. "A fine book . . . so obviously the fruit of devoted labour . . . there is everything to enjoy in it." -- Rivers Scott, The Times.]
Guttridge, Leonard F. Icebound: The Jeannette Expedition's Quest for the North Pole. Berkley 2001 [Guttridge recounts the fate of the USS Jeannette and its crew which set out from San Francisco in July of 1879 with the mission of reaching the North Pole via the Bering Strait. Within two months the expedition was trapped in the ice which was to eventually destroy the ship. After two winters the crew struck out over the frozen wasteland, the survivors eventually reaching Siberia. This book was originally published in 1986. "On all levels, not least as a psychological tale of polar exploration, Icebound is a book well worth reading." -- New York Times Book Review. "This is a dramatic story and Guttridge tells it well. He has uncovered some intriguing new information, including the reason the expedition's full story was never revealed." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer. ". . . a valuable service in setting the record straight. More to the point, however, [Guttridge] has told a gripping tale uncommonly well." -- Washington Post. "A beautifully executed narrative of sacrifice for science's sake. Guttridge has researched the story well and spices it up with the gossipy details that made life on the ship the stuff of Victorian soap opera." -- Kirkus Reviews. "Guttridge unfolds a gripping story of suspense and adventure. He has ferreted out the facts about the Jeannette andthe ship's company, and the colorful characters abound." -- Publishers Weekly.]
Hayman, Ronald. K: A Biography of Kafka. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1981. "[The author] has written a full biography which any Kafka reader will want to keep." -- Neal Ascherson, Observer. "[The author], who presents Kafka's writings as a cross between shock therapy and an alternative space to the uncontrollable shapes of everyday life, gives sharp outlines to them all and brings the jackdaw of Prague sharply to life." -- Michael Ratcliffe, The Times.]
Horwitz, Sylvia L. The Find of a Lifetime: Sir Arthur Evans and the Discovery of Knossos. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [Horwitz recounts the amazing discovery of the Palace of Minos at Knossos by the dapper Victorian gentleman. This book was originally published in 1981.]
Katz, Friedrich. The Ancient American Civilizations. [History of Civilization Series] Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is an account of the ancient American civilizations beginning with the first peoples thirty-five to fifty thousand years ago, through the Aztec and Incan empires up to the Spanish Conquest of 1517. Katz especialliy examines the structure and evolution of the two empires, as well as the life and thought of its inhabitants. This book was originally published in 1969 with the title, Vorkolumbische Kulturen, and it first appeared in English in 1972.]
Kee, Robert. The Green Flag: A History of Irish Nationalism. Penguin Books 2001 [This book was originally published in 1972. "Beautifully objective and thorough." -- Sunday Times. "Sympathetic . . . also highly intelligent and critical . . . Mr. Kee writes out of a long affection for this country, but he remains, in the best sense, an outsider, and he brings to the most volatile ingredient of our history the detachment which his subject so desperately needs." -- Irish Times. "Excellently structured . . . Kee's survey is particularly impressive for his stirring word-picture of the great Irish figures who made much of the history he relates." -- Boston Globe. "If there had been more Englishmen with Kee's perception part of our tragedy would never have happened." -- Irish Independent. "A remarkable work which is a delight to read." -- Irish Catholic. "The narrative skill with which the author handles the various strands of this most complicated of historical subjects is masterly." -- Daily Telegraph. "Industry, insight, and massive research . . . enjoyably written." -- The New York Times.]
Kenyon, John. The Popish Plot. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is the dramatic account of one of the most incredible outbreaks of mass hysteria in English history. In the fall of 1678, Titus Oates and his followers convinced both Parliament and the public that a Jesuit/Catholic conspiracy was afoot. The conspiracy was designed to assassinate Charles II and replace the Protestant establishment with Catholicism. The author critically examines what plotting really had, or had not, occurred; how the anti-Catholic paranoia led to the imprisonment of hundreds of Catholics and the execution of twenty-four; and what long-term damage the hysteria inlicted on England. This book was originally published in 1972. "With the technical mastery of a seasoned professional, the sureness of touch of one steeped for more than twenty years in seventeenth-century material, and his own special brand of mordant wit, he re-tells in vivid detail an extraordinary tale of human credulity, knavery and follly." -- The Times.]
Lacey, Robert. Sir Walter Raleigh. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1973.]
Levi, Anthony. Cardinal Richelieu: And the Making of France. Carroll & Graf 2000 [Publisher supplied info: From a leading expert in French studies, a fascinating new biography of the man who unified France and defined its cultural destiny. The story of Cardinal Richelieu casts a man of ruthless ambition in an extraordinary drama that sweeps across the map of seventeenth-century France. In compelling detail, it explores the intrigues and exposes the schemes that enabled Richelieu, a man whose steely intelligence matched his fierce determination, not only to fulfill his dreams of social prestige, personal wealth, and political power but also to realize his vision of a France unified as much by its culture as by its king. In 1585, the year of Richelieu's birth, France was defined only by its geography. Feudalism and religion divided loyalties, the populace shared no common language, from region to region customs varied enormously. By the time Richelieu died in 1642, however, the efforts of this eminent cardinal and consummate statesman had molded France into national and cultural unity. A favorite of Marie de Medici, Richelieu was made a cardinal in 1622 and two years later became the first minister of Louis XIII's council. In the next two decades, he oversaw the creation of the French Academy and a national theater, the establishment of the protectorship over the Sorbonne, the construction of magnificent public buildings, and the amassment of a priceless collection of art, all of which have continued for more than three centuries to attest to Richelieu's genius and to stand as this towering political figure's most enduring legacy. "[I]n this absorbing and often surprising biography, Levi gives Richelieu well-deserved credit for molding France into a modern nation-state. . . . Of course, in foreign affairs, his statecraft made France the greatest power in continental Europe. This is an interesting portrait of an admirable, but not very lovable, historical giant." -- Jay Freeman, Booklist.]
Lewis, Alfred Allen. Ladies and Not-So-Gentle Women. Penguin 2001 [This book was originally published in 2000. "Engrossing . . . the group biography of four New York women [Elisabeth Marbury, Anne Morgan, Elsie de Wolfe, and Anne Vanderbilt] whose lives became intertwined as they pioneered new roles for their sex." -- The New Yorker. "Compelling . . . thoroughly enjoyable." -- Chicago Tribune.]
Ley, C.D. Portuguese Voyages 1498-1663: Tales from the Great Age of Discovery. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2000 [This book was originally published in 1947.
Lofaro, Michael A. Davy Crockett's Riproarious Shemales and Sentimental Sisters: Women's Tall Tales from the Crockett Almanacs (1835-1856). Stackpole Books 2001 [Publisher supplied info: Conceived as a marketing device by nineteenth-century publishers hoping to gain a share of the lucrative almanac market, The Crockett Almanacs became the best-selling and longest-running series of comic almanacs published in the United States before the Civil War. Michael Lofaro explores one of the Almanacs' most entertaining and intriguing aspects: the adventures of backwoods women. Their portrayals, which range from the heroic to the satiric, from the comic to the sentimental, create uproarious laughter and provoke serious commentary-often in the same tale. "[This] is a fabulous collection of tales. Full of rough humor of antebellum America, it offers incredible insights into the attitudes and popular culture of that era. Lofaro's excellent introductory essay and clever organization of the stories immeasurably add to the value of this important book. This is a superb work of scholarship that is also just plain fun to read." -- Paul Hutton. "Lofaro has gathered together the Crockett tales dealing with women, or backwoods "shemales," whose physical characteristics and exploits resemble exaggerated males of outrageous and humorous strength and courage. . . . The tales themselves, organized and presented by topic, are great fun, but it is the intelligence of the format and the sophistication of the analysis that raise this collection above the merely amusing and make it a revealing study of the imagery of 19th-century women." -- Bonnie Collier, Library Journal.]
Maggio, Theresa. Mattanza: The Ancient Sicilian Ritual of Bluefin Tuna Fishing. Penguin 2001 [This book was originally published in 2000. "Full of grace and glory . . . should be cherished by anyone who wants to understand the fragile, always ethereal relationship between man and the sea." -- Los Angeles Times. "Brave and imaginative." -- The Washington Post.]
Marsden, Kate. On Sledge and Horseback to Outcast Siberian Lepers. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. 2001 [Marsden, a very determined Victorian lady, recounts her difficult journey across 2,000 miles of the Siberian wasteland to the leper colonies of Yakutsk. This nurse's trip, from 1890-1892, was originally published in 1892 and an informative introduction by Eric Newby was added in 1986.]
Mitchison, Naomi. Among You Taking Notes . . .: The Wartime Diary of Naomi Mitchison 1939-19145. [Dorothy Sheridan, ed.] Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [Mitchison, a noted left-wing intellectual, kept this diary at the request of the social research organisation, Mass Oberservation. She spent most of WW II in the fishing village of Carradale on Kintyre. This book was originally published in 1985.]
Morris, John. The Age of Arthur: A History of the British Isles from 350 to 650. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is the classic account of the British Isles from the fourth to the seventh ceturies. It was an age when the Pax Romana collapsed and the Roman Britain slowly transformed into Great Britain. England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland began to emerge from the Roman ruins. There was a historic Arthur, now shrouded in legend, but Morris makes clear that despite the legends, his was a pivotal time, "his victory and his defeat turned Roman Britain into Great Britain. . . . The history of the British Isles is funnelled through the critical years of Arthur's power and of its destruction, for thence came the modern nations. . . . The age of Arthur is the foundation of British history. . . . In name he was the last Roman Emperor; but he ruled as the first medieval king." This book was originally published in 1973. "From the resources of a mind vastly learned in the documents of the Arthurian age, John Morris has created more than the most devoted of Arthurian enthusiasts could ever have hoped for. He has done this in a style of great elegance, enriched by telling epigrams. . . . Winston Churchill would have loved this book." -- Times Literary Supplement.]
Meyerson, Harvey. Nature's Army: When Soldiers Fought for Yosemite. [Development of Western Resources Series] Univ. Pr. of Kansas 2001 [This is a rather different take on military history. It chronicles the U.S. Army's role as a constabulary force in Yosemite, America's first national park, from 1890 until the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. He goes on to elaborate how the "Old Army" governed the Yosemite and protected the natural resources. They built many of the trails and roads still being used today. The Army guarded against encrouchment from homesteaders and ranchers, and they proved tenacious in tracking various trespassers through the rugged terrain. It provided a role model for the future park rangers to such an extent that they still wear khaki uniforms. And part of the early Sierra Club's most ardent membership was drawn from members of the cavalry who had served in Yosemite. "Compelling and well written, this is a superb contribution to both military history and the history of environmentalism and the West." -- Russell F. Weigley. "A lively, readable, and, for many, surprising story. These army officers not only rigorously carried out their task of protecting Yosemite but, in the process, demonstrated a clear understanding of and genuine sensitivity to the environment." -- Edward M. Coffman. ". . . a lively account of a little known chapter in American history." -- Publishers Weekly. "A major contribution to our understanding of preservation efforts in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries." -- Donald J. Pisani. "Unravels the mystery of how the U.S. Army came to work with the Sierra Club to lay the foundations for Yosemite National Park and the National Park Service. . . . A gripping, probing, and enjoyable story." -- Michael McCloskey, former chairman, Sierra Club. "A wonderful read with heroes on every page." -- MGen. Bill Nash, USA (Ret.)]
Obolensky, Dimitri. The Byzantine Commonwealth: Eastern Europe, 500-1453. [History of Civilization Series] Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [Obolensky offers a comprehensive historical account of the relations--political, diplomatic, ecclesiastical, economic and cultural--between the Byzantine Empire and the peoples of Eastern Europe. He shows how during the early Middle Ages there developed a community of nations which began to share a common cultural tradition. Obolensky calls this international community the "Byzantine Commonwealth." His work features 93 pictures and ten maps. This book was originally published in 1971.]
Oldenbourg, Zoe. The Crusades. [Anne Carter, trans.] Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [This is a massive history (650 pages) of the three first Crusades, and Frankish Syria and the kingdom of Jerusalem up to the time of its conquest by Saladin. It was originally published in France in 1965 and was translated by Anne Carter.]
Ollard, Richard. The Image of the King: Charles I and Charles II. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2000 [This is a look at the political and personal character of the two kings, and the representation of that character, during their own time and thereafter. This book was originally published in 1979. "Remarkable and immensely readable. . . . A just yet compassionate study of two complex, muddled, fissured human beings caught in the most difficult of crafts -- kingship. . . . It should not be missed by anyone interested in the Stuarts or in the personalities of Charles I and Charles II: indeed any reader will be greatly stimulated by it." -- J.H. Plumb, New York Review of Books. "Original, witty, and enjoyable." -- Christopher Hill, Guardian.]
Oman, Carola. The Winter Queen: Elizabeth of Bohemia. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1938. "The fullest and best informed biography of Elizabeth which has yet appeared in the English language." -- C.V. Wedgwood, Spectator. "It is as easy to read and absorbing as a novel, and has the advantage of scholarly documentation." -- Times Literary Supplement.]
Orlando, Leoluca. Fighting the Mafia: And Renewing Sicilian Culture. Ecounter Books 2001 [This is the memoir of one man's fight against the Mafia. The author was a member of an honest faction of the Christian Democratic Party that wanted to end the corruption and violence associated with the Mafia in Sicily (which some called "an Italian Lebanon"). He and his colleagues struggled against the mob, sadly a significant number of them were brutally murdered by the Mafia (Orlando has been a traget of assassination a number of times). However, by mobilizing the Church (in tandem with Pope John Paul II's condemnation of the Mafia), the schools, and the general public, Orlando has persevered in the battle, and is now mayor of Polemero--Sicily's capital--having received over 75% of the 1993 popular vote. In 2000, he received the Bayard Rustin Human Rights Award from the American Federation of Teachers. "Orlando offers a different perspective on the Mafia. . . . Cogently, dispassionately and engagingly, Orlando . . . analyzes the Mafia's decades-long reign. Equally important, he recounts the struggle to preserve the civic life of a great European metropolis. The Mafia has benefited from a perverse claim of being an "honored society," yet Orlando exposes a starkly different reality." -- Publishers Weekly. "Orlando is well qualified to tell the story of the fight against the Mafia in Italy, having been involved in Sicilian politics for well over 20 years. . . . Throughout, Orlando demonstrates what it is like to live constantly in danger; for many years, he and his family were never seen in public together, even sitting apart in church. This first-person account is captivating and well written." -- Sarah Jent, Library Journal.]
Overbye, Dennis. Einstein in Love: A Scientific Romance. Penguin 2001 ["Lyrical and precise in its re-creation of time and setting, clear and engaging in its presentation of scientific matters, this is the story of an adventure that changed the world. . . . Overbye is blessed with a novelist's grasp of character, transcending easy judgment . . . at last, their [Albert and Maric] flawed and luminous selves." -- Thomas Pynchon. "The book provides what is arguably the best nontechnical account to date of the genesis of the idea of the special theory of relativity." -- Washington Post Book World. ". . . meticulously researched and beautifully written . . . [Overbye] humanizes a legend and reminds readers that even icons have dark sides." -- San Francisco Chronicle. "objective research and excellent writing. . . . Overbye's grasp of the science results in a masterpiece of writing." -- Library Journal. "This is the best account of Einstein the human being ever written." -- Robert Preston. Originally published by Viking in 2000, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Pares, Bernard. The Fall of the Russian Monarchy. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling (US) 2001 [This is an account of the Russian Revoltion from the standpoint of the Romanovs rather than the Bolsheviks. It runs from Nicholas II's accession in 1894 to his demise in 1918. The leading Russian expert of his generation, Sir Bernard Pares was attached to the Russian Army from 1914-1917 and to the British Ambassador in Petrograd in 1917, so he was on scene for many of the developments he discusses in his book. It was originally published in 1939.]
Parry, Richard. Trial by Ice: The True Story of Murder and Survival on the 1871 Polaris Expedition. Ballantine 2001 ["Vivid. . . . Suspense builds as Parry describes the events leading up to [the] 'murder,' then climaxes in horrifying detail. . . . An enticing account." -- Publishers Weekly. "Drawing on government records, survivor accounts, and hisown knowledge of the Arctic, [Parry] delivers a harrowing narrative enlivened by prose that conveys the full force of nature bearing down on man. . . . An extraordinary real-life adventure of men battling the elements and themselves, told with ice-cold precision." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review).]
Partridge, Frances. Diaries 1939-1972. [Rebecca Wilson, ed.] Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [These are the diaries of a member of the Bloomsbury Group, who was also noted for her pacifism during WW II. ". . . quietly brilliant, alive to everything, she chronicles nearly a century's experiences with sharp intelligence and tenderness." -- Jane Dunn, Observer.]
Philbrick, Nathaniel. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. Penguin Books 2001 [This book was originally published in 2000. "As both a historical companion to Moby-Dick and perhaps the most thrilling sea tale of all time, [this book] speaks to the same issues of class, race and our relationship to nature that permeate the classic works of Melville." -- Tampa Tribune & Times. "[This book] brings a wrenching tale of death and destruction magnificently to life. In addition to being and incredibly gripping tale of survival, Philbrick's book is an amazingly intimate and detailed look at life aboard a nineteenth-century whaling ship. Much as Melville did in Moby-Dick, the author takes the reader and makes him part of the crew." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Reading of the disaster in Philbrick's book, you don't wonder why Melville was captivated by it: What happened to the Essex and its men is fodder for an adventure story as nerve-wracking as the ill-fated expeditions that make modern bestsellers like The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air. It is suspensful, heartbreaking and sickening, rife with the kind of human folly and cultural hubris that allow readers to imagine how they would escape such a horrid fate, and make young novelists recklessly philosophical." -- L.A. Weekly. "A book that gets in your bones. . . . Philbrick has created and eerie thriller from a centuries-old tale." -- The New York Times.]
Rose, Kenneth. King George V. Phoenix Pr. 2000/Sterling Publ. 2001 [This key biography was the winner of the Whitbread and Wolfson Prizes. "Fascinating. . . . Sympathetic but not uncritical . . . very well written, highly perceptive and at times very amusing. . . . A superb book." -- Robert Blake. "Wonderful biography. He writes not only with enviable ease and grace but with even more enviable psychological insight. . . . This is historical biography as it should be written." -- J.H. Plumb. This book was originally published in 1983.]
Ruskin, John. The Stones of Venice. [Classic History Series] Penguin Books 2001 [Publisher supplied info: John Ruskin (1819-1900), Victorian England's greatest writer on art and literature, and the most influential art critic of the nineteenth century, believed himself to be an adopted son of Venice, and his feelings for this beautiful, melancholy city are nowhere better expressed than in The Stones of Venice, a collection of essays first published between 1851 and 1853. This abridged edition (it was originally published in three volumes in 1851-53), which contains Ruskin's famous essay "The Nature of Gothic," captures the essence of his masterpiece, offering readers a marvelously descriptive and discursive tour of the glorious city of Venice before it was transformed by postwar restoration. As Ruskin wrote on his second visit to Venice in 1841, "Thank God I am here, it is a Paradise of Cities." A champion of Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites, Ruskin was a prolific writer. "With his pen and paintbrush, he opened the world's eyes to its most beautiful city, Venice." -- John Carey, Sunday Times.]
Scaturro, Frank J. President Grant Reconsidered. Madison Books 1999 [(Although published several years ago, this book is new to this site.) Publisher supplied info: Here is the case for a sweeping reassessment of Grant's presidency. This study explores the many myths that have come to dominate history's conventional interpretation of Ulysses S. Grant's presidency and argues for the need to correct what may be the most analytically impoverished tradition in the realm of presidential history. "President Grant Reconsidered" repudiates the notion that Grant's presidency deserved the stigma of corruption, and it proceeds to argue that in the realms of both domestic and foreign policy, the Grant presidency gave rise to a wide array of achievements that tower above those of both his predecessors and successors. Far from being a bewildered, ignorant, and weak president, Grant was an unusually perceptive, enlightened, and strong president who understood politics better than his chief critics (and the subsequent historians who have almost unanimously imitated them). Where his powerful sense of the practicalities of politics appeared to escape him, it actually gave way to his even stronger sense of principle. Grant's record of achievement and courage should become a permanent fixture in studies of U.S. history.]
Solnit, Rebecca. Wanderlust: A History of Walking. Penguin 2001 [This book was originally published in 2000. "A luminous study of a little-considered but essential human capability. . . . Her portraits of famous walkers of city streets and rural byways alike--Henry Thoreau, John Muir, Aristotle, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Charles Baudelaire among them--suggest that the best thinking is indeed done, as Saint Jerome observed, by walking around; the authors remarks on the history of pilgrimage show the importance of peregrination in contemplative spiritual traditions. . . . Full of learned asides and juicy historical tidbits: a fine addition to the literature of rambling." -- Kirkus. "Delightful . . . Solnit covers all kinds of ground in her inspiring book on walking." -- Seattle Times. "Solnit is an elegant essayist . . . as a guide, she knows the path well; she is tireless and sure-footed." -- New York Times.]
Stein, Aurel. On Alexander's Track to the Indus: Personal Narrative of Explorations on the North-West Frontier of India. Phoenix Pr. (UK)/Sterling Publ. (US) 2001 [Stein, a Hungarian archaeologist who worked for the British in India, undertook a series of expeditions along the whole of the North-West frontier in the early years of the 20th century. First published in 1929, this book recounts his expeditions, and the dangers and hardships along the way, as he followed in the footsteps of Alexander the Great during his successful invasion of the region. "Gripping. Stein has a claim to be called the greatest archaeologist-explorer of all: read this and you'll see why." -- Michael Wood.]
Tanner, Karen Holliday. Doc Holliday: A Family Portrait. [Robert K. DeArment, foreword] Univ. of Oklahoma Pr. 2001 [This book was originally published in 1998. "The definitive biography of this Wild West legend." -- Roundup Magazine. "This work is extremely well-written, easy to read, fascinating, and well-researched. It is highly recommended for those interested in the actual truth concerning such a man, the western frontier of the 1870-80s, and the bigger-than-life personalities it occasionallly created." -- Denver Westerners.]
Thornton, Bruce. Greek Ways: How the Greeks Created Western Civilization. Encounter Books 2001 [In this era of rampant political correctness, ancient Greek culture has been trashed and/or distorted by multiculturalists and postmodern historians. When not denigrated, some Greek accomplishments have been awarded to other cultures. Thornton, however, convincingly shows that the Greeks not only did have a lasting, positive impact upon Western civilization, but that many have perverted what is known about Greek society and culture for nefarious PC ends. "Thornton's detailed and scholarly account of what exactly we owe the ancient Greeks is a welcome and wonderful relief. Classicists of late simply are no longer either able or willing to explain to Americans why we should revere Greek society--not merely for its values and institutions that are the foundations of our western culture, but also for its love of beauty and courage. Not so Professor Thornton, who systematically and unapologetically traces our traditions of rationaism, self-criticism, and freedom back to ancient Greece--and nowhere else. Greek Ways is magnificent writing and first-rate scholarship in the best traditions of Classical learning. We have not seen anything like it since the work of Gilbert Murray, M.I. Finley, and Bernard Knox." -- Victor Hanson. "In brief compass and clear, enjoyable prose, Professor Thornton has written a stimulating and delightful account of the remarkable and revolutionary characteristics that distinguished the Greeks of the ancient world from all societies before and since. In the process he responds with calm reason and broad and deep learning to the unhistorical, tendentious and foolish assaults launched against them as part of current political agendas. The happy result is this spendid book that allows the Greeks themselves to speak and reveal the absurdity of the modern barbarians who abuse them." -- Donald Kagan.]
Trevor-Roper, Hugh. Archbishop Laud. Phoenix Pr. (UK) 2000/Sterling (US) 2001 [This book was originally published in 1940. It was the first book by the noted historian. It covers the life of Charles I's ill-fated Archbishop of Canterbury who was executed on Tower Hill during the English Civil War. This edition contains the new preface written for the 1961 edition. "A book that is, by any standards, brilliant." -- New Statesman. ". . . this brilliant early biography." -- Guardian.]
Unger, Irwin & Debi Unger. LBJ: A Life. John Wiley 2001 [This book was originally published in 1999. "A sympathetic biography of the 36th president (1908-1973) by the Pulitzer Prizewinning historian (The Best of Intentions: The Triumph and Failure of the Great Society Under Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, 1996, etc.) and his wife, a writer and researcher. . . . A careful, comprehensive portrait of a complex figure, a man both eminently practical and deeply principled, who looms large over the middle of our century." -- Kirkus. "Few authors have attempted a one-volume life of the idealistic but controversial Lyndon B. Johnson, and none has succeeded like Irwin Unger. . . . Highly recommended." -- Library Journal.]
Viroli, Maurizio. Niccolo's Smile: A Biography of Machiavelli. [Antony Shugaar, trans] Farrar Straus & Giroux 2000 [Publisher supplied info: Viroli brings to life the fascinating writer who was the founder of modern political thought. Niccol˜ Machiavelli's works on the theory and practice of statecraft are classics, but Viroli suggests that his greatest accomplishment is his robust philosophy of life-his deep beliefs about how one should conduct oneself as a modern citizen in a republic, as a responsible family member, as a good person. On these subjects Machiavelli wrote no books: the text of his philosophy is his life itself, a life that was filled with paradox, uncertainty, and tragic drama. Here is an extraordinary man in all his complexity and brilliance-a vivid narrative of Machiavelli's loves and friendships, the rewards and perils of being an adviser to princes, his travels and adventures, and the challenges and dangers of both his youth and his old age. Machiavelli was a charming figure who was both famous and powerless, both loved and reviled; we see him here for the first time not as an intimidating, cynical icon of European political thought but as a subtle, modern, and sagacious man whose smile captivated his friends. "Machiavellian is a pejorative term suggesting serpentine scheming and use of immoral, ruthless means to achieve desired ends; those ends usually include the maintenance of power at all costs. Inevitably, it is often assumed that Machiavelli himself must have reflected and practiced these methods in his personal and public life. Viroli . . . effectively refutes that notion in this absorbing and surprising survey of a full, eventful life. . . . In his personal life, he is revealed here as a caring, sensitive man who, contrary to expectations, was frequently ruled by his heart rather than his head. This is a compact and enjoyable look at a man far more interesting than his myth." -- Jay Freeman, Booklist.]
Weinstein, Allen & Alexander Vassiliev. The Haunted Wood: Soviet Espionage in AmericaÑthe Stalin Era. Modern Library 2000 [This is a fascinating account of Soviet espeionage against the United States during the 1930s and into the 1940s up to the beginning of the Cold War. It is based on previously secret KGB records released to the authors. "The experience of reading The Haunted Wood is rather like looking into the new edition of a book from which half the pages had previously been torn out. What emerges most sharply is proof of the guilt of certain Americans whose spying for the Soviet Union has been the subject of debate for over half a century." -- Joseph E. Persico, The New York Times Book Review. ". . . indispensable. Here is definitive evidence, a small arsenal of once-smoking guns, documenting the clandestine work of 58 American agents, including Hiss and the Rosenbergs, who worked for the NKVD (later the KGB) or its sister services. The evidence presented in The Haunted Wood ends the old did-they-or-didn't-they debate; until recently, the most basic issues about some of these people's guilt were still being argued in an endless, mind-numbing back-and-forth of denial and invective. We have left that kindergarten. A new history has begun." -- Stephen Koch, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review. ". . . deserves an honored place in the literature." -- Peter W. Rodman, National Review. "The Haunted Wood fills in a valuable part of cold war history: the Soviet Union's attempts to spy on the United States from the time of FDR's New Deal, through the Second World War, and into the 1950s. Allen Weinstein (author of a highly regarded history of the Hiss-Chambers case, Perjury) and Alexander Vassiliev (a KGB agent turned journalist) show that among the Americans caught in the Soviet orbit were many top government officials, including a Congressman from New York and a close advisor to President Roosevelt, as well as an American ambassador's daughter. . . . The greatest windfall for the U.S.S.R. during this period was the acquisition of atomic secrets. . . . Yet there were also notable failures, many brought on by Stalin's insatiable appetite for purges; defections by Chambers and Elizabeth Bentley also dealt several mortal blows. . . . Weinstein and Vassiliev make use of both American sources and Soviet archives to deliver what will surely be an authoritative account for many years. . . ." -- John J. Miller, Amazon.com. ". . . have very effectively raided the KGB archives to gather the fullest account to date of Soviet espionage in the US up to the '50s. Their account reflects not only much of what happened but also the strategies and apprehensions of the spymasters. . . . Indeed, one of the surprises is not only the high quality of Soviet personnel up to this time but the extent to which the purges, the defection of Chambers and of courier Elizabeth Bentley, and enhanced counterintelligence virtually crippled much of the Soviet operation in the 1945-47 period. The New Deal period had brought to Washington a number of able sympathizers, moving, like Laurence Duggan and Alger Hiss at the State Department, Harry Dexter White and Nathan Gregory Silvermaster at Treasury, Duncan Lee and Donald Wheeler at OSS, and Lauchlin Currie at the White House, into positions of ever increasing responsibility. The sheer volume of reports flowing out of the Treasury is extraordinary, and the work of Klaus Fuchs, the atomic spy, is in a class of its own. . . . [This] is the most able, careful and comprehensive account we are likely to have for a long time to come." -- Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 1998. "An important contribution to the history of the Cold War. . . . Packed with plenty of intriguing characters and cloak-and-dagger tales of secrecy, subversion and betrayal." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review). "Better than any Le Carré novel are the true events recounted in this fascinating new book. . . . a relentlessly powerful book and an eye opener for all readers." -- Library Journal. ". . . will transfix intelligence buffs and be closely read by professionals. The authors have skillfully synthesized the material into a narrative of what the Soviets did and didn't achieve in penetrating the U.S. government. . . . A disturbing but fascinating revelation." -- Booklist. Originally published by Random House in 1999, this book is still available in a hardcover edition.]
Windschuttle, Keith. The Killing of History: How Literary Critics and Social Theorists are Murdering Our Past. Encounter Books 2000 [I have just started reading this book and will report on it shortly. Publisher supplied info: According to Keith Windschuttle, history today is in the clutches of literary and social theorists who have little respect for or training in the discipline. He believes that they deny the existence of truth and substitute radically chic theorizing for real knowledge about the past. The result is revolutionary and unprecedented: contemporary historians are increasingly obscuring the facts on which truth about the past is built. Windschuttle offers a devastating exposé of these developments. This fascinating narrative leads us into a series of case histories that demonstrate how radical theory has attempted to replace the learning of traditional history with its own political agenda. "[Windschuttle's] diagnosis of the current malaise in the historical profession is sharp and well worth attention. . . . If we allow history to die, we will lose this precious resource. Keith Windschuttle deserves high praise for opening our eyes to the danger." -- Sean McMeekin, Salon. "The clearest discussion yet of why the theories of cultural history now in fashion can never adequately explain what happened in the past. A triumph of learning, logic, and lucidity." -- Mary Lefkowitz. "[Windschuttle] nails his colors to the mast in the first paragraph of The Killing of History." -- Harriet Ritvo, The Boston Globe. Originally published in 1996, Windschuttle has added a new preface and afterword to this edition.]
Brownell, David. Peter and the Wolf Coloring Book. Bellerophon Books 1992 [The illustrations are drawn from Nicholas Benois' famous ballet at La Scala in 1947. They not only tell Prokofiev's story, but also highlight the musical instruments. For children in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2.]
Dodge, Bill, Kathleen Duey, Karen A. Bale & Bill Dodge. Survival: Titanic April 14, 1912. [Survival! Series, Bk. 1] Aladdin Paperbacks 1998 [Reading Level: Ages 8-12. Publisher supplied info: Faced with natural disaster, ordinary people find untapped depths of courage and compassion. Each book in this new series from the author [Kathleen Duey] of the "American Diaries" series and her collaborator Karen A. Bale, combines meticulously researched history and a fast-paced story of survival against incredible odds, sure to appeal to both girls and boys. On board the "Titanic", a young boy and his friend struggle to survive the greatest sea disaster of all time.]
Gormley, Beatrice. Back to the Titanic! [Travellers Through Time Series, Book No. 1] Apple 1994 [Reading Level: Ages 9-12. Publisher supplied info: For 9-12 year olds who have just seen the movie, this is a terrific extension of that experience. Using their great-grandfather's invention of a way to travel through time, Matt and Emily, along with Matt's best friend, Jonathan, travel back to the Titanic and try to save the great ship from disaster.]
Knill, Harry. Pirates. [Greg Irons, illustrator] Bellerphon Books 1985 [An illustrated history of the famous pirates suitable for coloring. Opposite the picture of each pirate is is text by contemporaries, e.g., Daniel Defoe.]
Penner, Lucille Recht. Westward Ho!: The Story of the Pioneers. [Bryn Barnard, illus.; Picture Landmark Books Series] Random House 1997 [Publisher Provided Info: (This edition has library binding.) Every spread in this beautiful book offers arresting images of famous stories about the epic westward expansion of the United States. The brief, riveting text delivers all that the pictures promise--drama, mystery, illuminating facts of 19th-century life, and much more. Full color. Recommended for children in grades 1-2.]
Penner, Lucille Recht. Westward Ho!: The Story of the Pioneers. [Bryn Barnard, illus.; Picture Landmark Books Series] Random House 1997 [Publisher Provided Info: (This edition has trade book binding.) Every spread in this beautiful book offers arresting images of famous stories about the epic westward expansion of the United States. The brief, riveting text delivers all that the pictures promise--drama, mystery, illuminating facts of 19th-century life, and much more. Full color. Recommended for children in grades 1-2.]
Platt, Richard. Spy. [Geoff Dann & Steve Gorton, photographers; Eyewitness Books Series] Knopf 1996 [Photographed in full color. Publisher supplied info: Go under cover to investigate the intriguing world of espionage. From spies of Genghis Khan to the real inspiration behind James Bond to the history and operations of secret service offices around the world, this volume reveals all the fascinating tools, disguises, and tricks of the trade. Reading level: Ages 9-12.]
Simmons, Clara Ann. John Paul Jones: America's Sailor. Naval Institute Pr. 1997 [This is an illustrated biography of Jones intended for children.]
Stewart, George Rippey. The Pioneers Go West. [Landmark Books Series] Random House Juvenile Books 1997 [Publisher Provided Info: In the spring of 1844, eleven covered wagons headed west from Council Bluffs, Iowa. Some 50 men, women and children made up the caravan, and a young man named Mose Schallenberger kept a journal of the trip. From Mose's notes, George Stewart has drawn firsthand information about the events of the journey, from dangerous encounters with Indians and buffalo to the group's near-starvation. Here is the story of these brave pioneers who miraculously succeeded in bringing the first covered wagons to California. Recommended for children, grades 7-9.]
Wallace, Jim. Terror on the Titanic. [Frank Bolle, illus.; Choose Your Own Adventure Series] Bantam Books 1997 [Publisher supplied info: It's April, 1912, and you are a passenger onboard the Titanic, considered unsinkable. But four days into the voyage, the ship hits an iceberg and begins descending into the icy water. There aren't enough lifeboats for everyone. What should you do? Think quickly--the decisions you make mean life or death.]
Weinberg, Karen. A Cherokee Passage. [Windows to the Past Series] White Mane Publ. 1995 [This novel tells the story of Ela, a thirteen-year-old Cherokee girl in 1736. her world changes forever when she and the chief's daughter are kidnapped by Catawba Indians. When they attempt to flee to safety, it is up to Ela to protect her, and the new friends she makes along the way. This story provides a sense of the culture of the Cherokee people, and the emotions of a girl rapidly passing into adulthood.]
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This page was launched on 25 November, 1997. Last updated 31 January, 2002.
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