What are you reading at the moment?

Almost exclusively David Fletcher.

Mechanised Force - British tanks between the Wars.
The Great Tank Scandal - British armour in the Second World War Part 1.
The Universal Tank - British Armour in the Second World War, Part 2.

Hard to find, but as good as I'd been lead to believe, an exceptionally well-reasoned and thorough investigation of how the world leader in Armoured vehicles dropped the ball so spectacularly and then fumbled to pick it up and run with again. Written in Fletcher's usual ascerbic style, with many asides & at least one unfamiliar vehicle on every page. A story that nobody else has told so well, or in such an interesting manner, & with his senior positions at Bovington over the years I suspect he was the only man to tell it.

Cheers,
Adam.
The Universal Tank is a great read Adam

 

They're crying out for re-publication mate.
The crazy prices, (particularly the Great tank scandal) driven by demand, tell me that if Bovington/HMSO reprinted them they'd be onto a winner.
It's a hell of a story, and one that's very rarely told with much objectivity.

Very true
Got out bid on Tiger tank a British view last night
can't find them for love ,or money

 

Today i have been reading google. This is because I am trying to track down about a dozen journal articles. I have authors, titles, even where and when printed. Can i find it on a site where I don't have to pay extortionate amounts of cash to get at them? Can I sod. Ergo Kitty is in a bad mood.

We need a RANT/RAVE thread.

 

Rupert Butler's history of the SS 'The Black Angels'.

 

Just borrowed 'THE SECOND WORLD WAR in photographs' by Richard Holmes from a mate. A brilliant book. All the photos are taken from the imperial war museum, and covers everything from the outbreak of war to the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima.

Got quite a bit of info too on events throughout the war. Expect some questions...

 

I read it a few years ago and much had the same thoughts on it. It seemed like they spent most of their free time looking for food. It seems they had nothing comparable to C,K, D rats or 10-in-Ones.

Just finished 'Tank Rider', (Into the Reich with the Red Army) by Evgeni Bessonov.
Very readable personal memoir of a front line junior Soviet officer's war with the 4th Tank army from '43-'45, ending around Berlin.
Far from a detailed historical study but a good personal account, a little bare bones on the who, what, when, where, why, but the man's more interested in survival and where his next meals coming from. I'd recommend it mostly as we hear so little of Soviet soldiers as human beings & it's turning up in the remaindered shops for a couple of quid at the moment.


Cheers,
Adam.

(just read that the book was triggered by the ß Ïîìíþ -- I Remember website, part of the excellent 'Russsian Battlefield', here's hoping it spawns many more as the translations continue)

 

My Father's Keeper by Stephan and Norbert Lebert.

 

Still trying to finish 'To the Victor the Spoils'. Finding it quite hard reading, not because it's not a good book but because it reveals such a different side to the British soldier in Europe compared to the image I was brought up to think of. Learning a lot from it.

 

I'm reading 'Surviving the Sword'. Not sure of the of the autors name as the book is in the van. Only chance i get to read is during my dinner break in work. Next book planned is 'Nancy Wake' by Russell Braddon.
Happy reading all
Mike

 

Good commentary on the book, much better than what I usually say. Maybe we all ought to do a better job of critiquing books and use this a model.

 

you're a tough act to follow von poop!if you're not a journalist or a librarian youve missed your calling i think..ive seldom read such good book review.

 

i was recently fortunate enough to obtain a 1st publication copy ,in mint condition, of russell braddon's "Cheshire V.C.-a story of war and peace",this ageless and honestly written biography does not contain any"dull bits"as biographies often do - a testament to a life well lived.the author covers Cheshires life from his often foolish pranks during his student days,through his extraordinary operational career to his life changing invited spectatorship of the nagasaki bomb(which of course led him to a life of religious devotion and service to humanity).some interesting quotes from a humble hero: * "i was always too busy to be frightenned,if i hadnt been busy i would probably have been scared to death." *"i was never a particularly good pilot,but i was a lucky one." *"its not my v.c.,it belongs to 617 squadron." Another recent acquisition:hank nelsons"chased by the sun", a very easy to read account of australians in bomber command.great read. Another one ill always remember(though i cant recall the author)titled simply;"treblinka",a truly graphic expose of the horrors of hitlers 'final solution'.-hard to read,but should be read. I am currently reading another biography,"i was a kamikaze"by r.nagatsuka,the author commences pilot training as saipan falls to the allies, he is torn between his duty to the emperor and his duty to the family he loves.so far has been very insightfull into the mindset of the 'men of the divine wind'.interrestingly,the fatalistic attitude of these pilots re. their chances of surviving the war,seems in some ways to mirror(inasfar as i understand)the attitude of allied bomber crews in the e.t.o. to their own survival. The japanese were a hated and often cruel enemy and i would be the last person on earth to disagree with any veteran's(particularly ex p.o.w.s)opinion on that matter,but there can be no doubting the courage and honour of the kamikaze.

 

Reading Tuesday's War by David Fiddimore at work.
Stalingrad by Antony Beevor at home.
Both excellent so far.

 

'Tommy' By Richard Holmes (about 3rd time)