Koncocoo

Best History of Ireland

The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero
This is masterly work.” — New York Times Book Review In this exciting and illuminating work, National Book Award winner Timothy Egan delivers a story, both rollicking and haunting, of one of the most famous Irish Americans of all time. A dashing young orator during the Great Hunger of the 1840s, Thomas Francis Meagher led a failed uprising against British rule, for which he was banished to a Tasmanian prison colony for life. Meagher’s rebirth included his leading the newly formed Irish Brigade in many of the fiercest battles of the Civil War. Afterward, he tried to build a new Ireland in the wild west of Montana—a quixotic adventure that ended in the great mystery of his disappearance, which Egan resolves convincingly at last. “Without a shadow of doubt this is one of the finest Irish-American books ever written….What Egan has done is restore the reputation and uncovered a host of details on a man I would venture to say had no peer in our history of Irish America….Egan’s take on Irish-American history gives this book a breadth and significance that would be very hard to match.” — Niall O’Dowd, Irish America "This is marvelous stuff. Thomas F. Meagher strides onto Egan's beautifully wrought pages just as he lived — powerfully larger than life. — Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat, Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics. Egan's impeccable research, uncomplicated readability, and flowing narrative reflect his deep knowledge of a difficult and complex man." "Meagher lived life full-tilt, with old-fashioned honor as well as courage and dash, so inspiring Egan that the prose flashes and flares . — Booklist, starred review. "Just in time for St. Paddy's Day comes this sensational bio." The author tells Meagher’s exhilarating story with an Irishman’s flair for the tragic, poetic and dramatic . Egan combines deep reporting with masterful storytelling to chronicle this bigger-than-life figure.” -- Dallas Morning News. You may not have heard the name Meagher, but after reading Egan’s excellent biography, you’ll never forget it." Timothy Egan is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter, a New York Times columnist, a winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in non-fiction, and the author of seven books, most recently Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher.
Reviews
"Although he died relatively young, Meagher's live sweeps through some of the key events in Irish and American history. While many of the priests who were his teachers and his parents cautioned patience in the face of British occupation - which meant lesser British lords living on lands that had previously belonged to the Irish who eked out lives in enforced poverty, Meagher constantly asked why the Irish put up with it. Egan's attempt to gain respect comes together with his repudiation of Southern slavery is the book's longest section - and the one that will be of the greatest general interest (if one of my other friends asks, I'll simply tell them that it is a book on one of the Civil War's most colorful military leaders) - tells of Meagher's not insubstantial role in the American Civil War, where he became commander of the famed Irish Brigade, which brought a degree of respect and acceptance they had not achieved before. The final chapter of Meagher's life shows him and his wife going to North Dakota - which was far wilder and more rustic than when Teddy Roosevelt visited it a couple of decades later - as governor of the area. If one sees Meagher as a Quixote, always tilting against windmills, the vigilantism in the territory was more than he could oppose, and it might possibly have led to his mysterious death only a couple of years after the end of the Civil War. But the sheer scope of the story of Meagher, who was renowned for his ability to sway his fellows and in a land where great oratory made people the equivalent of today's rock stars (albeit, without the sex, drugs, or rock and roll, though with all the fame, celebrity, and packed houses where they spoke), is truly epic. Meagher stood out as one of the great public speakers of the age, and his heroism on the battlefield makes him a major, if peripheral figure in that conflict. All these aspects of Irish and American life are masterfully told, in a prose that carries us easily from one page to the next. Members of the award committee are apt to react as I did when I first had the opportunity to read this: Thomas Francis who?"
"There is also background information regarding others as well throughout the story, giving insight into those who worked in the Irish Confederation, and throughout New York at various times. The time in Tasmania actually seems a bit like a resort, even if it was away from their homeland of Ireland. There is also really interesting insight into the Irish’s perception of fighting to free slaves; as that is one of the objections that is raised by many of the Irish when drafted or paid to fight for the Union. Meagher worked to continue to instill law in Montana, even at a time when it was pretty minimally populated and had a high leaning towards an old west type of rule. I’d really recommend it, and it gives a new insight into the Civil War, especially as it addresses internal conflict within the Union and between various groups."
"I would highly recommend the audio version."
"I was aware of the potato famine but Mr. Egan really impressed me with his facts and figures."
"Of all of the books I've read on the history of Ireland, this book explains the potato famine, and what went wrong with the system of food distribution, better than any book I've read."
"This is the true story of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irishman, a scholar, a soldier, a true hero."
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How the Irish Saved Civilization (Hinges of History Book 1)
The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift, and a book in the best tradition of popular history -- the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe. Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars" -- and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. When stability returned in Europe, these Irish scholars were instrumental in spreading learning, becoming not only the conservators of civilization, but also the shapers of the medieval mind, putting their unique stamp on Western culture.
Reviews
"lost or lent my copy."
"Easy reading and riveting enough to make me purchase the book after reading two chapters."
"Very interesting, but primarily for history buffs."
"Wonderful, extremely educational."
"Very well-researched and kept my attention."
"I keep buying this book because people are so interested that I keep lending/giving them away."
"I found the information to be revealing and helped tie parts of history together that I had not given much thought."
"My favorite book this year."
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101 Things You Didn't Know About Irish History: The People, Places, Culture, and Tradition of the Emerald Isle
Complete with an Irish language primer and pronunciation guide, 101 Things You Didn't Know about Irish History is an informative reference for anyone who loves the Irish. Garland Kimmer received his Ph.D. in Irish Studies from Chapel Hill.
Reviews
"I got this as a gift for a friend who's going to Ireland for the first time."
"there's a lot of interesting trivia throughout this book+can lead the reader to many historical events to do more research on A+."
"This is a great little book (literally small) has a bunch of interesting information!"
"This well written book that answered 101 questions I might have had, or didn't know I could have answered."
"Great book of interesting facts."
"Was a gift and she loves it!"
"My dad loved this gift."
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Best History of Australia & Oceania

The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero
This is masterly work.” — New York Times Book Review In this exciting and illuminating work, National Book Award winner Timothy Egan delivers a story, both rollicking and haunting, of one of the most famous Irish Americans of all time. A dashing young orator during the Great Hunger of the 1840s, Thomas Francis Meagher led a failed uprising against British rule, for which he was banished to a Tasmanian prison colony for life. Meagher’s rebirth included his leading the newly formed Irish Brigade in many of the fiercest battles of the Civil War. Afterward, he tried to build a new Ireland in the wild west of Montana—a quixotic adventure that ended in the great mystery of his disappearance, which Egan resolves convincingly at last. “Without a shadow of doubt this is one of the finest Irish-American books ever written….What Egan has done is restore the reputation and uncovered a host of details on a man I would venture to say had no peer in our history of Irish America….Egan’s take on Irish-American history gives this book a breadth and significance that would be very hard to match.” — Niall O’Dowd, Irish America "This is marvelous stuff. Thomas F. Meagher strides onto Egan's beautifully wrought pages just as he lived — powerfully larger than life. — Daniel James Brown, author of The Boys in the Boat, Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Olympics. Egan's impeccable research, uncomplicated readability, and flowing narrative reflect his deep knowledge of a difficult and complex man." "Meagher lived life full-tilt, with old-fashioned honor as well as courage and dash, so inspiring Egan that the prose flashes and flares . — Booklist, starred review. "Just in time for St. Paddy's Day comes this sensational bio." The author tells Meagher’s exhilarating story with an Irishman’s flair for the tragic, poetic and dramatic . Egan combines deep reporting with masterful storytelling to chronicle this bigger-than-life figure.” -- Dallas Morning News. You may not have heard the name Meagher, but after reading Egan’s excellent biography, you’ll never forget it." Timothy Egan is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter, a New York Times columnist, a winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in non-fiction, and the author of seven books, most recently Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher.
Reviews
"Although he died relatively young, Meagher's live sweeps through some of the key events in Irish and American history. While many of the priests who were his teachers and his parents cautioned patience in the face of British occupation - which meant lesser British lords living on lands that had previously belonged to the Irish who eked out lives in enforced poverty, Meagher constantly asked why the Irish put up with it. Egan's attempt to gain respect comes together with his repudiation of Southern slavery is the book's longest section - and the one that will be of the greatest general interest (if one of my other friends asks, I'll simply tell them that it is a book on one of the Civil War's most colorful military leaders) - tells of Meagher's not insubstantial role in the American Civil War, where he became commander of the famed Irish Brigade, which brought a degree of respect and acceptance they had not achieved before. The final chapter of Meagher's life shows him and his wife going to North Dakota - which was far wilder and more rustic than when Teddy Roosevelt visited it a couple of decades later - as governor of the area. If one sees Meagher as a Quixote, always tilting against windmills, the vigilantism in the territory was more than he could oppose, and it might possibly have led to his mysterious death only a couple of years after the end of the Civil War. But the sheer scope of the story of Meagher, who was renowned for his ability to sway his fellows and in a land where great oratory made people the equivalent of today's rock stars (albeit, without the sex, drugs, or rock and roll, though with all the fame, celebrity, and packed houses where they spoke), is truly epic. Meagher stood out as one of the great public speakers of the age, and his heroism on the battlefield makes him a major, if peripheral figure in that conflict. All these aspects of Irish and American life are masterfully told, in a prose that carries us easily from one page to the next. Members of the award committee are apt to react as I did when I first had the opportunity to read this: Thomas Francis who?"
"There is also background information regarding others as well throughout the story, giving insight into those who worked in the Irish Confederation, and throughout New York at various times. The time in Tasmania actually seems a bit like a resort, even if it was away from their homeland of Ireland. There is also really interesting insight into the Irish’s perception of fighting to free slaves; as that is one of the objections that is raised by many of the Irish when drafted or paid to fight for the Union. Meagher worked to continue to instill law in Montana, even at a time when it was pretty minimally populated and had a high leaning towards an old west type of rule. I’d really recommend it, and it gives a new insight into the Civil War, especially as it addresses internal conflict within the Union and between various groups."
"I would highly recommend the audio version."
"I was aware of the potato famine but Mr. Egan really impressed me with his facts and figures."
"Of all of the books I've read on the history of Ireland, this book explains the potato famine, and what went wrong with the system of food distribution, better than any book I've read."
"This is the true story of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irishman, a scholar, a soldier, a true hero."
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Best History of England

A Column of Fire (Kingsbridge)
Europe is in turmoil as high principles clash bloodily with friendship, loyalty and love, and Ned soon finds himself on the opposite side from the girl he longs to marry, Margery Fitzgerald. The shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country's first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions and invasion plans. With Elizabeth clinging precariously to her throne and her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies and courageous secret agents, it becomes clear that the real enemies - then as now - are not the rival religions. Washington Post "Fans of Follett's epic sagas The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, set in the Middle Ages in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, will be thrilled by this latest installment." A Column of Fire is absorbing, painlessly educational, and a great deal of fun.” —The Washington Post “Follett’s historical epics, including this one, evoke the Romantic adventures of Alexandre Dumas. “Fans of Follett's epic sagas The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End , set in the Middle Ages in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, will be thrilled by this latest installment.” —New York Post “[Follett is a] master of the sweeping, readable epic.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer. As always, Follett excels in historical detailing, transporting readers back in time with another meaty historical blockbuster.” — Booklist “An immersive journey through the tumultuous world of 16th century Europe and some of the bloodiest religious wars in history. Ken Follett is one of the world’s best-loved authors, selling more than 160 million copies of his thirty books. Follett’s first bestseller was Eye of the Needle , a spy story set in the Second World War.
Reviews
"We waited three years for a new Ken Follett novel and almost ten for the next, the third, book of his Kingsbridge story. If you know novels by Ken Follett, you know what you get: Tension, entertainment, a lot of well researched knowledge – and unfortunately a little black and white where you expect more gray. Two things first: Ken Follett gets back to Kingsbridge, his fictional town in England, for the third time, ten years after “World Without End” and 28 (!). It plays in Modern History, right after the reformation by the German monk Martin Luther (these days exactly 500 years ago). But there are evil villains, sexist and racist, very bad according to these our values and these guys giving him a hard time. But experience told us that the world is gray and evil characters are more interesting if they are complicated. Because Follett is such a good writer that you never lose track, also there are so many persons and plots."
"It's the greatest book I've ever read and it unearthed my passion for historical fiction. Even IF you're not into historical fiction, it's impossible that you wouldn't love this book or its series or any of Ken's novels."
"Centered in Elizabethan England and peopled primarily with English characters, it portrays the conflicting views (not all that many when you come down to it) between Catholics and Protestants and the ensuing horrible bloodshed through much of the 16th century. Evil Pierre, whose entire being is permeated by greed rather than religion, conspires with supporters of Catholicism in France (who are power-hungry rather than religious believers), triggering multiple episodes of bloodshed. A host of other characters, some historical and others fictional, take the reader from the coronation of Elizabeth to the Guy Fawkes plot and hopefully remind readers that religious (and racial, too, for that matter) differences are really superficial and that a great deal more unites people than divides them."
"That they seem too modern is periodically reinforced by the inclusion of words and phrases such as "dreamboat," "talking trash" and "puke,"--somewhat jarring to come across."
"Oh yeah, and the pain in my wrists from balancing this thing which I would have forgiven except for the cardinal sin: Column of Fire was just plain boring."
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Best History of Italy

The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944 (The Liberation Trilogy Book 2)
In the second volume of his epic trilogy about the liberation of Europe in World War II, Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson tells the harrowing story of the campaigns in Sicily and Italy. The Italian campaign's outcome was never certain; in fact, Roosevelt, Churchill, and their military advisers engaged in heated debate about whether an invasion of the so-called soft underbelly of Europe was even a good idea. Amazon Best of the Month, November 2007 : Topping a Pulitzer Prize-winning effort is tough; finding originality in a World War II narrative is even tougher. Atkinson surpasses his Pulitzer-winning An Army at Dawn in this empathetic, perceptive analysis of the second stage in the U.S. Army's grassroots development from well-intentioned amateurs to the most formidable fighting force of World War II. The battles in Sicily and Italy developed the combat effectiveness and the emotional hardness of a U.S. Army increasingly constrained to bear the brunt of the Western allies' war effort, he argues.
Reviews
"The Italian campaign cost a great number of lives, and Atkinson doesn't disrespect their sacrifice; however, I had a difficult time connecting with the flow of events - the terrain, the battles, and the personalities of the different "players" - American, German, and Italian...I thought the sidelight on Mussolini was great, but too short...and the disposition of troops and the campaign after Rome / D-day was non-existent - although the Italian campaign continued to the end of the war..."
"I knew of the slow progress Allied forces made in awful winter conditions, with the Germans holding out for months and months from brutal attacks amid heavy Allied losses. I was filled with an immense respect for those men, many of whom were scarcely a year or two older than I was at the time in '43 and '44. Imagine my shock of recognition, and my gratitude for Rick Atkinson magnificent second World War II book, "The Day of Battle: The War In Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944". Having seen that beautiful and awfully forbidding terrain, I found his descriptions more than adequate, they are unmatched in their narrative power to inform and to engage the reader emotionally and spiritually in recalling what mere human beings, on both sides, were able to will themselves to accomplish in a great moral cataclysm."
"We see clearly the command friction between U.S. and British civilian and military leaders along with the rigors faced by the common troops involved in the ground war and a slight glimpse at the first real use of heavy bombers in providing tactical air support to overwhelmed ground forces along with the travails faced by naval forces supporting the operations."
"All aspects of the conflict from the strategy, tactics, the politics, logistics and the daily grind on everyone, from the multi-star generals to the dog face infantry trooper on the line, is exceptionally well researched and the picture painted with vivid clarity."
"If I have any qualms it is the length of it and the sheer incompetence of our allied commanders, especially in North Africa and Italy."
"As I read the text, I would like to follow along on the maps, but having a kindle makes that difficult."
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Best History of France

All the Light We Cannot See
A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II. Werner is a German orphan, destined to labour in the same mine that claimed his father’s life, until he discovers a knack for engineering. Yes, there is fear and fighting and disappearance and death, but the author’s focus is on the interior lives of his two characters. Never mind that their paths don’t cross until very late in the novel, this is not a book you read for plot (although there is a wonderful, mysterious subplot about a stolen gem). It is through their individual and intertwined tales that Doerr masterfully and knowledgeably re-creates the deprived civilian conditions of war-torn France and the strictly controlled lives of the military occupiers.High-Demand Backstory: A multipronged marketing campaign will make the author’s many fans aware of his newest book, and extensive review coverage is bound to enlist many new fans.
Reviews
"It has been a while since I have found a book that I wanted to read slowly so that I could soak in every detail in hopes that the last page seems to never come. When reading the synopsis of this novel, I never imagined that I would feel so connected to a book where one of the main characters is blind and the other a brilliant young German orphan who was chosen to attend a brutal military academy under Hitler's power using his innate engineering skills. I was invited into the pages and could not only imagine the atmosphere, but all of my senses were collectively enticed from the very first page until the last. In most well-written books you get of a sense of what the characters look like and follow them throughout the book almost as if you are on a voyage, but with this novel, I could imagine what it was like to be in Marie-Laure's shoes."
"On the other hand, as the author describes it, “It’s also a metaphorical suggestion that there are countless invisible stories still buried within World War II.” Add in a newly blinded French girl who is forced to leave her familiar surroundings, and you’ll soon find yourself in literary heaven. There are lessons about the brain, sitting inside the darkness of our skull, interpreting light; there are lessons about coal having been plants living millions of years ago, absorbing light, now buried in darkness; lessons about light waves that we cannot see—all applicable as the story unfolds. The author also includes connections to the song Clair de Lune, the book 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, and a fictional story about a priceless diamond called the Sea of Flames, whose owner “so long as he keeps it, the keeper of the stone will live forever.”. I cannot proclaim loud enough how much this book means to me; I have been left awe-inspired."
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Best History of Germany

The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb
Mr. Bascomb’s research and, especially, his storytelling skills are first-rate.”— The Wall Street Journal “Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb’s The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing.” — Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the Killing series. In 1942, the Nazis were racing to complete the first atomic bomb. All they needed was a single, incredibly rare ingredient: heavy water, which was produced solely at Norway’s Vemork plant. Based on a trove of top-secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, The Winter Fortress is an arresting chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skis, perilous survival in the wild, Gestapo manhunts, and a last-minute operation that would alter the course of the war. "Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb's The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing." –Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the " Killing " series. "Neal Bascomb's The Winter Fortress is a riveting, high-action World War II thriller with nothing less than the fate of Planet Earth on the line. In The Winter Fortress , Neal Bascomb brilliantly tells the extraordinary true story of arguably the most important and daring commando raid of WWII: how an amazing band of men on skis made sure Hitler never got to drop the ultimate bomb." “Brilliantly written, The Winter Fortress cinematically captures a commando team’s efforts to destroy one of the most important secret facilities in World War II. Bascomb’s riveting prose puts the reader into one of the more daring missions of the war and the Allies’ efforts to sabotage a crucial aspect of Germany's nuclear program. "This well-told and deeply researched account sheds light on an aspect of World War II that is little known or remembered, creating a valuable history that will be beneficial for most collections." "Bascomb, a WWII historian and former journalist, thrillingly recounts the commando effort to destroy the Norwegian Vemork hydroelectric plant . A fascinating read about how a small group of Norwegians refused to submit to the brutal occupation of their country and contributed significantly to Allied victory." “Bascomb brings this overlooked tale of wartime nuclear sabotage to life while taking care to explain the science behind the story.” -- Scientific American. .Bascomb interweaves the stories of Hitler’s ‘Uranium Club’ and of atomic chemist Leif Tronstad, who directed the Allied operation, with the thriller-esque tale of the commandos who put the plant out of action in 1943."
Reviews
"I learned a part of World War II history I knew nothing about."
"May freedom loving people always be as ready to sacrifice as these Norwegian patriots."
"This book was a little bit hard for me to get in to but once I did it was a page turner."
"Someone without that might find it a bit dry if they got hung up on heavy water and fission designs and missed the resistance story."
"The book is well written and reading about the hardships they suffered before and during the raid, you almost feel like you are with the patriots."
"Maybe too much detail,but still very interesting."
"Later, allied bombing struck the heavy water plant and limited production of heavy water."
"The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb A great story and well-written."
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Best History of Greece

Adults in the Room: My Battle with the European and American Deep Establishment
He consults and quarrels with Barack Obama, Emmanuel Macron, Christine Lagarde, the economists Larry Summers and Jeffrey Sachs, and others, as he struggles to resolve Greece’s debt crisis without resorting to punishing austerity measures. "Timely, fascinating and important" -- Evaggelos Vallianatos, Huffington Post. "Varoufakis’s account has the narrative drive of a rollicking detective novel .... very good, very readable, and ought to be on all the important “notable books of the year” lists." An extraordinary account of low cunning at the heart of Greece's 2015 financial bailout . [Varoufakis is] a motorcycling, leather jacketed former academic and self-styled rebel who took pleasure in winding up the besuited political class . ―John Kampfner, The Guardian " Adults in the Room is a book that anyone interested in modern European politics should read. It is a devastating indictment of [the] current state of Europe and a fascinating inside account of the logic of reformist politics and its limits and why it keeps going anyway . He delivers a truly shocking anatomy of an apparatus bent on perpetuating its own bad logic and excluding alternatives." ―Adam Tooze, Shelby Cullom Davis Chair of History and Director of the European Institute at Columbia University, and author of The Deluge. Yanis Varoufakis is the former finance minister of Greece and the cofounder of an international grassroots movement, DiEM25, that is campaigning for the revival of democracy in Europe. After teaching for many years in the United States, Britain, and Australia, he is currently a professor of economics at the University of Athens.
Reviews
"It is a work that people will turn to when they try to understand what on earth happened during our time: a riveting, compelling history of a critical act in the self-inflicted decay of European civilisation. On its own this was not significant, but as he explains in the book, it would in turn have triggered a cascade of defaults that would have undone Mario Dragi's program of Quantitative Easing. If he had, he could have forced the Troika to work with Greece on a sensible program, rather than watch them impose one which will lead to Greece becoming Europe's Somalia."
"Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis (boy, does that title ever feel inadequate given the impact he had and has!). Varoufakis is not unkind or unsympathetic to him - which should come as a big surprise to anyone who bought into the mainstream media reporting of the time, which often presented the 2015 negotiations as a cock fight between Varoufakis and Schäuble. But the mainstream media were/are not uninvolved in the Greek crisis, they have a role to play, too, in a system that, like the Soviet Union in the late 80s, will deny basic economic and political truths and pretend that all is well until the very moment of its collapse."
"The "I know I'm wrong but don't you dare say so" attitude, so forcefully portrayed and so minutely detailed in this book, is one of the reasons why larger and larger numbers of Europeans vote against what they regard as a lying, rotten, despotic establishment."
"It is a MUST READ to understand politics in Europe in the past ten years."
"A rare look at politics on a personal level, this book helps us outsiders see how things happen."
"Very well written book which explains a lot about what has happened to Greece and why."
"Excellent case of Truth telling!"
"Wonderful, very informational writing."
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Best History of Western Europe

Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles
From the New York Times bestselling author and master of martial fiction comes the definitive, illustrated history of one of the greatest battles ever fought—a riveting nonfiction chronicle published to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s last stand. In his first work of nonfiction, Bernard Cornwell combines his storytelling skills with a meticulously researched history to give a riveting chronicle of every dramatic moment, from Napoleon’s daring escape from Elba to the smoke and gore of the three battlefields and their aftermath. With historical accounts like this, who needs novels for excitement?” ( Wall Street Journal ). “Waterloo may be a well-mined topic, but this new presentation is bound to satisfy lovers of military history…. “Bernard Cornwell proceeds at a brisk canter and his descriptions of the fighting are as gripping as any in his splendid Sharpe novels.” ( The Times (London)). “Brings a shrewd military historian’s mind to his subject…thrilling to read…Cornwell’s is from start to finish a gripping account, red in tooth and claw. “As you would expect from a writer who is the acknowledged expert on the Napoleonic Wars he is superb on the tiny details as well as on the bigger picture.” ( Daily Express (London)). “Cornwell has found deserved popularity with his Sharpe series of historically accurate novels set in the Napoleonic Wars. In his first work of nonfiction, Bernard Cornwell combines his storytelling skills with a meticulously researched history to give a riveting chronicle of every dramatic moment—from Napoleon’s daring escape from Elba to the smoke and gore of the three battlefields and their aftermath. Cornwell brings to life how it actually felt to fight those famous battles—as well as the moments of amazing bravery on both sides that left the outcome hanging in the balance until the bitter end.
Reviews
"Cornwell does a great job of not only setting the strategic and operational stage, helping us understand Wellington, Blucher, and Napoleon, but also weaving in personal anecdotes of the soldiers who fought and died on the battlefield. In this Cornwell was able to rely on the original work of historians - Cornwell's strength in this book is not original research, there's nothing new historically, but what makes his book worth reading is the way he painlessly tells the tale in a very understandable manner. If you're familiar with some of the post-war finger-pointing among the allies you'll understand, after reading the book, Cornwell's conclusion that, "The battle of Waterloo was an allied victory."
"very readable account of the battle (including key events before and after). Author gives one a very good understanding of the high level strategy of the battle as well as a good understanding of the experience of soldiers involved in the battle and the weapons and tactics of the Napoleonic era.. Great use of quotes from journals and other accounts of the battles written by participants in the conflict."
"Cornwell does have a funny way of mixing past tense and present tense without any clear strategy for doing so, and he does repeat himself, but I liked his doing the latter because it kept everything straight in my mind, so I didn't have to look back in the text to reassure myself that I knew which flank we were talking about or correctly recalled some other important detail that might have got lost in the fog of the battle in my mind. So from the book I got a big picture view of the battlefield, the tactics of each side, how the columns and lines were formed and how they fought, what it felt like and looked like on the field, and the critical moments when the battle could have turned or did turn.... And also important: The account was balanced; there was none of the usual prejudice in books by many writers, even biographers, and especially British ones, against Napoleon."
"The Duke of Wellington made three winning moves: he chose the right ground to defend, he never showed fear to his men even in the face of what looked like certain defeat, and he never lost trust in his ally Blucher the head of the Prussian army. We say that the Duke of Wellington won the Battle of Waterloo, but really Blucher and the Prussians won that battle as much or more than the British."
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Best History of Eastern Europe

The Forgotten 500: The Untold Story of the Men Who Risked All for the Greatest Rescue Mission of World War II
The astonishing, never before told story of the greatest rescue mission of World War II—when the OSS set out to recover more than 500 airmen trapped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia... During a bombing campaign over Romanian oil fields, hundreds of American airmen were shot down in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia. Told in riveting detail for the first time, The Forgotten 500 is a tale of unsung heroes who went above and beyond.”—James Bradley, New York Times bestselling author of Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys “The operation’s story is an exciting tale...Evoking the rescuees’ successive desperation, wild hope, and joy, and their gratitude to the Serbians who risked their lives to help, Freeman produces a breathtaking popular account.”— Booklist “[F]ascinating…full of romance, action, and adventure...This untold story of World War II has finally been told with skill and grace.”— America in WWII magazine “Greg Freeman has written a riveting account of the greatest escape during World War II. It has been buried for too long…”—Tony Koltz, New York Times bestselling author of The Battle for Peace “[A] gripping, true-life narrative of one of the most heroic and inspiring—but virtually unknown—military operations of World War II....Freeman chronicles it with a master’s touch for detail.
Reviews
"Very inspirational."
"Good reading especially if you are a war Vet."
"We’ve read some great ones and definitely glad to add this to the collection!"
"This incredible account of WWII airmen lost behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia is finally told."
"The fact that James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, gave it high marks helped me decide to read the book."
"You will also see bits of the OSS (US secret service in WWII), the betrayal of the head of the Yugoslavian resistance and how the government played into the hands of the Communist party."
"IF YOU WANT A BOOK THAT IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE, THAT EXPOSES AN UNKNOWN ERROR BY CHURCHILL, AND RELATES A GRIPPING TALE OF SACRIFICE AND HEROICS AT A TIME WHEN OUR NATION WAS IN DIRE NEED OF SUCH, THEN THIS IS THE BOOK. I WAS ABOUT 14 YEARS OLD IN 1942-43 AND AN AVID READER OF THE DAILY NEWSPAPER WHICH ALWAYS INCLUDED SMALL MAPS OF THE BATTLE FIELDS AND PHOTOS OFOUR FALLEN SERVICEMEN."
"I regret that the author was essentially ignorant of the aircraft and weapons of WWII."
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Best History of Austria & Hungary

The World of Yesterday
The World of Yesterday, mailed to his publisher a few days before Stefan Zweig took his life in 1942, has become a classic of the memoir genre. ( Publishers Weekly ). "When I opened it, I immediately felt that rare thrill one experiences when meeting a great book. In this remarkably fine new translation, Anthea Bell perfectly captures Stefan Zweig’s glorious evocation of a lost world, Vienna’s golden age, in which he grew up and flourished.”—Ronald Harwood, award-winning author, playwright, and screenwriter. (Ronald Harwood). “The very success with which this book evokes both the beauty of the past and the fatality of its passing is what gives it tragic effectiveness.
Reviews
"In fact it is the memento of an age which begins with Vienna's golden age when Stefan Zweig was growing up and ends with the tragic destruction of the world with two world wars and of the author himself who commits suicide, outside of his beloved Austria, together with his wife before the second one ends."
"Good insights into the old world of pre-WWI Europe, specifically the Austro-Hungarian Empire."
"A book with an insight view of the first half of 20th century Austria and Germany containing many misinterpreted and little known facts by a great writer."
"Frankly, his style gets a little egotistical at times, and he apparently was the original Zelig."
"What a great autobiography and history of pre and post WW I Austria."
"In this autobiography, Stefan Zweig not only tells his life story and how he became a successful writer in Vienna, but he also paints the most vivid picture of Europe in the beginning of the century, with heart-breaking detail of the consequences of World War 1 and Hitler's rise to power on his life and the life of all Europeans."
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Best History eBooks of the Baltic States

Tiger Tracks - The Classic Panzer Memoir
The only other surviving memoir by this author is 'The Last Panther' - an astonishing account of panzer warfare in the final hours of the Third Reich - also available on Amazon. The rarely-heard voice of a World War 2 panzer crewman, now in a modern English translation.
Reviews
"Winners usually write the history of war, not the defeated."
"This is the second book I have read from a German perspective on WWII."
"This story is almost certainly not a true-to-life account if for no other reason than the author is able to describe events happening all around his tank in great detail, even though his view is restricted to the narrow field provided by the driver's vision block."
"Tiger Tracks was an interesting read, full of action, blood and guts, and historical perspective."
"I still gave this book four stars because it did provide valuable insight into the daily travails that Wehrmacht panzertruppen experienced on the Eastern Front."
"Whoever is the writer, he has a fine grasp of telling detail and a very good narrative sense. But it was like entering an online war game with no preparation; there were no details of where the action took place, for example, and there were just one too many coincidences (the Russian woman, the Luftwaffe pilot) to be credible."
"There are an even greater number of decisions and actions undertaken by persons depicted in the book, which from a military point of view are ludicrous and suicidal (I should mention here for the sake of credibility, that I am a former member of a mechanized infantry unit). Examples: - an experienced Tiger tank commander takes custody of a female Soviet prisoner and chains her up inside the tank. - A single Tiger tank takes off on it's own, at night, to track down a Soviet rocket launcher and crew. Again, despite the presence of ample German infantry in the area, the Tiger does this without any dismounts...NO. - After destroying the Russian position, the commander orders one of his tank crew to dismount and scout around. Yeah, sure... - The sheer amount of detail described by the author is simply not credible for a man whose view of the battle was limited to the vision slit of a Tiger driver. - The author claims to see a shell caroming around inside a Soviet tank turret, THROUGH THE VISION SLIT OF THE OTHER TANK'S DRIVER! - Describes fighting Soviet tanks which, by his detailed descriptions of their hull and turrets, were JS-3's. If anyone believes this author to truly be a veteran of the Eastern Front, and believes that his descriptions of the battles are accurate, then you must logically also believe that the German army was composed of tactically inept soldiers led by callous and incompetent officers, because that would be the conclusion of any military professional reading the actions taken by the protagonist and his unit."
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Best History eBooks of Spain & Portugal

The Last Days of the Incas
The epic story of the fall of the Inca Empire to Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in the aftermath of a bloody civil war, and the recent discovery of the lost guerrilla capital of the Incas, Vilcabamba, by three American explorers. Although the Incas fought a deadly, thirty-six-year-long guerrilla war, the Spanish ultimately captured the last Inca emperor and vanquished the native resistance. MacQuarrie, who writes with just the right amount of drama ("After the interpreter finished delivering the speech, silence once again gripped the square"), is to be commended for giving a balanced account of those events. In 1911, a young Yale professor of Latin American history named Hiram Bingham identified Machu Picchu as the nerve center of the empire. Although MacQuarrie dedicates just a few chapters to modern research, the archeologists who made the key discoveries emerge as well-developed characters, and the tale of digging up the empire is as riveting as the more familiar history of Spanish conquest. The author, who lived in Peru for five years, chronicles the adventures of Hiram Bingham, who, in 1911, discovered Machu Picchu and believed it was the Incan capital.
Reviews
"This was a well researched and well written account of the Spanish conquest of the Inca nation. The material was still interesting, just in terms of knowing the timeline of when and how some of these amazing ruins were discovered, but I think the ins and outs of the competition to publish first and the personal lives of some of the explorers might well be a different book."
"He makes it sound like a small band of Spanish on horses fended off hundreds of thousands of the Incas and there allies in one siege that last for more than a year."
"Kim MacQuarrie provides a well-written, and engaging telling of the first Spanish incursions into Peru, from the Extremadura origins of the Pizarro family, to the execution of Atahualpa and beyond."
"One such battle, puts 200 Conquistadors (and slaves) against an Inca army of 20,000 warriors the author puts you in the very heart of the battle so you can not help but feel the rising panic in your throat as you read."
"I wholeheartedly recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Frankly, in writing my own book, The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes, I found MacQuarrie's work an invaluable guide for understanding the reach and impact of the Incas into the Antisuyo, the Eastern Quarter; that is to say, the eastern slopes of the Andes leading down into the Amazon."
"This is the book to read as you land in Lima on your way to Cuzco and Machu Picchu."
"Amazing story that is stranger than fiction."
"For anyone visiting Machu Picchu it should be a must read, and it gives an eye-opening history lesson on the Spanish conquest that will get you thinking."
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Best Medieval History

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
But the surprising truth is that Genghis Khan was a visionary leader whose conquests joined backward Europe with the flourishing cultures of Asia to trigger a global awakening, an unprecedented explosion of technologies, trade, and ideas. Fighting his way to power on the remote steppes of Mongolia, Genghis Khan developed revolutionary military strategies and weaponry that emphasized rapid attack and siege warfare, which he then brilliantly used to overwhelm opposing armies in Asia, break the back of the Islamic world, and render the armored knights of Europe obsolete. In Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World , Jack Weatherford resurrects the true history of Genghis Khan, from the story of his relentless rise through Mongol tribal culture to the waging of his devastatingly successful wars and the explosion of civilization that the Mongol Empire unleashed. Apart from its inapt title, Genghis Khan dies rather early on in this account and many of the battles are led by his numerous offspring. In researching this book, Weatherford (Savages and Civilization), a professor of anthropology at Macalaster College, traveled thousands of miles, many on horseback, tracing Genghis Khan's steps into places unseen by Westerners since the khan's death and employing what he calls an "archeology of movement." Although Khan's death occurs at the midpoint of this book, the tales of his survivors' exploits and the gradual fall of the Mongol dynasties are engaging and informative. Weatherford's efforts to credit Genghis Khan and his descendants with the ideas and innovations that created the Renaissance are a bit bewildering, but readers will be left with a new appreciation of a maligned culture, and a desire to learn more.
Reviews
"Worthy insight into lasting influences of an ancient organized Asian culture developed by nomads that, forged by remarkable political and military organizational and strategic insight, exploded across continents bringing secularism with religious tolerance, trade and respect for diverse cultures."
"A fascinating and long-overdue introduction to a man who came from nowhere, killed tens of thousands, and broke down walls across the known world, establishing new connections and possibilities that nobody could have imagined."
"Weatherford weaves a spectacular narrative illustrating the rise and fall of the Mongols. "Ghengis Khan and the Making of the Modern World" is a nice introduction to an exciting historical period. I recommend it to anybody that would like a primer about Ghengis Khan, the Mongols, and some Asian history."
"Jack Weatherford strings the story of Genghis and his Mongols beautifully and argues just how influential these people were an how they have been essentially cast out from the annals of history."
"2nd book ive read re Ghengis Khan - much more in depth - only slow in couple of places - seems that women played huge role in running govt as men out busy fighting travelling - seems 2 have made for progressive innovations - many firsts listed."
"The author recognizes G Khan and his heirs as developing an implacable war machine capable of atrocities but certainly not too different from others implemented in Christian Europe and Muslim Asia."
"Amazing book."
"Filled out what little I knew of the Mongols, including modern suppression of their history."
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Best Scandinavian History

The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb
Mr. Bascomb’s research and, especially, his storytelling skills are first-rate.”— The Wall Street Journal “Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb’s The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing.” — Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the Killing series. In 1942, the Nazis were racing to complete the first atomic bomb. All they needed was a single, incredibly rare ingredient: heavy water, which was produced solely at Norway’s Vemork plant. Based on a trove of top-secret documents and never-before-seen diaries and letters of the saboteurs, The Winter Fortress is an arresting chronicle of a brilliant scientist, a band of spies on skis, perilous survival in the wild, Gestapo manhunts, and a last-minute operation that would alter the course of the war. "Weaving together his typically intense research and a riveting narrative, Neal Bascomb's The Winter Fortress is a spellbinding piece of historical writing." –Martin Dugard, author of Into Africa and co-author of the " Killing " series. "Neal Bascomb's The Winter Fortress is a riveting, high-action World War II thriller with nothing less than the fate of Planet Earth on the line. In The Winter Fortress , Neal Bascomb brilliantly tells the extraordinary true story of arguably the most important and daring commando raid of WWII: how an amazing band of men on skis made sure Hitler never got to drop the ultimate bomb." “Brilliantly written, The Winter Fortress cinematically captures a commando team’s efforts to destroy one of the most important secret facilities in World War II. Bascomb’s riveting prose puts the reader into one of the more daring missions of the war and the Allies’ efforts to sabotage a crucial aspect of Germany's nuclear program. "This well-told and deeply researched account sheds light on an aspect of World War II that is little known or remembered, creating a valuable history that will be beneficial for most collections." "Bascomb, a WWII historian and former journalist, thrillingly recounts the commando effort to destroy the Norwegian Vemork hydroelectric plant . A fascinating read about how a small group of Norwegians refused to submit to the brutal occupation of their country and contributed significantly to Allied victory." “Bascomb brings this overlooked tale of wartime nuclear sabotage to life while taking care to explain the science behind the story.” -- Scientific American. .Bascomb interweaves the stories of Hitler’s ‘Uranium Club’ and of atomic chemist Leif Tronstad, who directed the Allied operation, with the thriller-esque tale of the commandos who put the plant out of action in 1943."
Reviews
"I learned a part of World War II history I knew nothing about."
"May freedom loving people always be as ready to sacrifice as these Norwegian patriots."
"This book was a little bit hard for me to get in to but once I did it was a page turner."
"Someone without that might find it a bit dry if they got hung up on heavy water and fission designs and missed the resistance story."
"The book is well written and reading about the hardships they suffered before and during the raid, you almost feel like you are with the patriots."
"Maybe too much detail,but still very interesting."
"Later, allied bombing struck the heavy water plant and limited production of heavy water."
"The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler's Atomic Bomb A great story and well-written."
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Best Renaissance History

The Shepherdess of Siena: A Novel of Renaissance Tuscany
Raised by her aunt and uncle amidst the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, young orphan Virginia Tacci has always harbored a deep love for horses—though she knows she may never have the chance to ride. “An epic and richly textured tale of Renaissance Tuscany...If you enjoy really good historical fiction, stories that move and snap with life, stories that make you feel deeply for the characters and their struggles, then you will love [ The Shepherdess of Siena ].” — Aspen Daily News. She completed her PhD in bilingual special education and went on to work in that field, as well as teaching English as a second language and bilingual American history.
Reviews
"This epic saga of nearly 600 pages recounts the popular and scandalizing stories linked to the de' Medici royal family, the Grand Dukes of Tuscany at the beginning of their royal-ness, and how they affect their subjects, with much about one particular subject, a young shepherdess from Siena, in Tuscany. The de' Medici banking family was raised to royal status over the Tuscany Dutchy under military powerhouse Cosimo de' Medici in the 1500s. There are 102 chapters divided among seven parts in The Shepherdess of Siena: A de' Medici Princess and the Little Shepherdess - 1569-1574. The Death of Cosimo de' Medici - 1574-1576. Murder in Tuscany - 1576-1578. The Heroine of Siena - 1579-1581. Ferrara - 1581-1582. The Art of Death 1582-1586. The Reign of Granduca Ferdinando - 1586-1591. This sweeping saga covers romance, politics, gossip, power, patronage, crime, religion, sports, patriotism, royals, adventure, pathos..."
"I am addicted to Linda Lafferty's wonderful writing."
"Very well written;captivating story; good to the last page!"
"And, the drama of the de'Medici family is an amazing tale within a fabulous story."
"I bought this book with some apprehension, as I read another book of Linda Lafferty, House of Báthory, a historical nonsense, full of serious errors, with zero research on part of the author, as concerned geographical places and historical facts. This book is much better researched and depicts a good portrait of the Siena in Renaissance times, its famous Palio and the life there and surrounding towns."
"If you, like me, loved the stories of Marguerite Henry when you were a child, or you love them now, still, you will love this "grown-up" Marguerite Henry-like story - I think of it as the grown-up version of "Gaudenzia, Pride of the Palio"."
"This is a lyrical novel."
"It's the story of a girl who was also a shepherd who also loved horses and dreamed of riding in the Palio in Siena."
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