Tag Archives: History

book review, Educational, History, Non-Fiction, Political Science, Politics, Social Policy

THE BYZANTINE WORLD WAR – Review

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A LITERCURIOUS BOOK REVIEW

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Title The Byzantine World War
Author Nick Holmes
Publisher Matador (May 23, 2019)
Format Kindle, Paperback
Pages 233
Language English
ISBN # 1789017580 (ASIN: B07S7DGSGH)

AUTHOR

Nick Holmes is a graduate of Cambridge University with degree
in history. He was entranced by the ancient walls that circle Istanbul, Turkey and became intrigued with Byzantium following a trip to the region. The juxtaposition of the modern and the ancient engaged him and surprised him. The massive escarpments over a thousand years old decorate the city with imposing battlements. Hagia Sophia, a key location in the events that transpire in his book still stands in testament to the events of the past that still color our world today. Holmes finds the important role of Constantinople and the fulcrum around which Europe and the Near East pivot to be a wonderful backdrop of the events that took place so long ago. Nick posits the importance of the period beginning in 1068 that leads to the first, of several, Crusades and its effect on modern history.

AUDIENCE

If you are the kind of person that loves to read history books that are not dry and stuffy, but engaging and conversational, then look no further. The Author, Nick Holmes, shares a style of writing not so different from Simon Winchester or Erik Larson. Well-constructed, and set in an important time in world history, Holmes posits his opinion on the what, when, and how of the now distant history. The Byzantine World War, is a perfect fit for teenagers or adults bookshelf, and is a must read for anyone who enjoys intelligently constructed concepts set against the context of tumultuous times.

SYNOPSIS

The Byzantium World War is set at a time when the power of Rome was beginning to ebb and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) was beginning. Some of the Key locations of historic importance include; Anatolia, Byzantium, The Middle East, The Balkans, The Caucuses, and North Africa. The timeline is 1068-1097 and this book is written almost as a thriller in its style. The range of characters is extensive, and Holmes does a masterful job in recreating them and their foibles for the modern audience. It is  a must read for all those who want to extend their knowledge of pivotal historic events, and for those who enjoy their history made three-dimensional and easily consumed.

CONCLUSION

This book is a great primer for those who are looking to increase their knowledge of the rise of Turkey in the form of the Pax Ottomana, and the fall of Pax Romana. The book is written in an easily accessible style, in a clear, chronological order, and illustrated with images, maps and detailed timelines. It is an engaging look at past events that still have influence over our period of history. I would like to see a more extensive referencing and bibliography, as well as the addition of some footnotes. That said, I did enjoy the fact that the key players in the book are listed at the rear for examination. I really enjoyed reading this book and I have no hesitation in recommending it highly. It is a rare treat in the world of dusty, dry history books that such a pleasantly written, brief but comprehensive volume comes along. Although I received this book for review; I loved it so much, I bought a copy for my library.

★★★★

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks go out to the following: NetGalley, Matador
Publishers, and Amazon Digital Services LLC, for affording me the
opportunity to read this rare gem.

Hi there, our records show you are a frequent visitor to Litercurious and I wanted to say a personal thank you for your patronage. Thank you for liking and sharing our posts. Please feel free to reblog any or all of the reviews. I look forward to your valuable input again in the near future.

Abduction & Kidnap, African American Studies, Biography, Black & African American History, Black American & African Studies, Black and African American Biographies, book review, History, Non-Fiction, Politics, Slavery, Social Policy, True Crime

STOLEN – Review

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LITERCURIOUS BOOK REVIEW

Title Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery
and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home
Author Richard Bell
Publisher 37 Ink (October 15, 2019)
Format Kindle, Hardcover, audiobook         
Page 247     
GenreBlack and African American History, Biographies & Memoirs, Black & American African Studies, African American Studies
Language English     
ISBN # 1501169432     

AUTHOR

Richard Bell is the author of Stolen. He currently teaches Early American History at the University of Maryland.

TARGET AUDIENCE

In a word; humanity.

SYNOPSIS

The time is 1825, the place Philadelphia, North America, and a small group of free black boys are about to be kidnapped. They are about to be transported as slaves to serve the needs and wants of a slave hungry South and its human Grissom for the Cotton Kingdom Mill. The real story, however, relates to the titanic strengths and fortitude exhibited by the 5 boys placed in the untenable excruciating predicament of having lived free and taken as slaves under the threat of violence. Despite the seemingly overwhelming odds, the boys seek ways to escape their bondage and return home. To discover if they manage to escape and the consequences of the events affecting their lives you will have to read it yourself. At its worst, this is one example of mans’ inhumanity to man. At its best, this is a call to the resilience of spirit and the power of unity in the face of extremes of privation and enormous adversity.

CONCLUSION

Masterfully written, flawlessly researched, and a tale of 5 free men abducted and taken on a journey of epic proportions. This is a work for our times; lest we forget. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My sincere thanks go to: NetGalley, and 37 Ink for affording me the opportunity to review “Stolen.”

book review, History, Military History, Non-Fiction, Politics, Social Policy

THE DEVIL’S TRAP – Review

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A LITERCURIOUS BOOK REVIEW

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Title The Devil’s Trap
Author James W. Bancroft
Publisher Frontline Books (February 19, 2020)
Format Hardcover
Pages 248
Language English
ISBN 10/13 1526718014 / 978-1526718013)
WARNING – This book is not suitable for children.

AUTHOR

James W Bancroft has almost 23 years of writing experience with more than a hundred publications and articles in a variety of subjects. Most of his works are based in Victorian Military History and non-fiction. He edits and publishes as well as writes. Other books by this author include Rorke’s Drift, Published by Spellmount Ltd., (1988) and is still in print today. As well as The Rorke’s Drift Men, Published by The History Press Ltd., (1 May 2010). James W Bancroft is known primarily for History of Southern Africa, African Historical Biographies, Civil War Biographies.

TARGET AUDIENCE

If you are an avid reader of Adult historic non-fiction and/or you enjoy thrillers, then this book is most certainly for you. Those who want to understand the context of The British Empire, are educators, students of history, or academics will find this book enlightening and disturbing in equal measure.

SYNOPSIS

The events described in The Devil’s Trap surround the preamble to the First Indian Mutiny of 1857-58, specifically the Cawnpore Massacre, and the subsequent remedial actions taken by the British to re-establish control over the canton. Whilst this may not be common knowledge to many people, the Indian *(see 1 below) massacre that took place against a British encampment created a tidal wave of brutal and violent retribution. The subsequent retribution in response to the attack stains the present-day relationship between Great Britain and India. Some of the changes wrought following the rebellion were set in stone until 1947. Arguably the single greatest change was the promise made to the Indian people in a Royal Declaration (see below for a link) issued by Queen Victoria immediately following the mutiny. The author contends that some Indian citizens still believe that this event was the beginning of the end of the British Empires Rule of India.

The central theme and focus of The Devil’s Trap take’s place at Cawnpore, off the beaten track near an area called The Grand Trunk Road near Sati Chaura Ghat situated on the banks of the River Ganges. It was a British Garrison with three Native Infantry Regiments all led by British Officers accompanied by their families and servants. In July 1857 an insurrection was started by the Indian soldiers, elements of the general Indian population, and the servants who were either stationed at, or near the British encampment. British men, women, and children were subject to violence so gruesome I feel unable to detail it here.

Once the enormity of massacre was discovered, the British violently reestablished the status quo however, the Empress of India chose a more diplomatic method to quell the natives. Whilst politics and time have forgotten the victims of the Cawnpore Massacre, James W Bancroft has attempted to bring them back to life through his skillful use of original source material, and by cross referencing the facts still available in the archives.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Some experts speculate that the Raj was shaken by the mutiny but their corrective actions saved the rule by addressing the mutineer’s issues and the Empress’s Declaration. Native Regiments that took part in the insurrection were disbanded. Loyal Native troops were formed into new regiments which remained in effect from 1858 until 1947. Those local Warlords who remained loyal to the British during the rebellion were rewarded. The disloyal peasantry was prevented from obtaining access to land for 90 years. Finally, the British authorities recognized the error of imposing British cultural norms and beliefs upon the native population. This promise came through Royal channels when Queen Victoria gave a proclamation that stated “We disclaim alike our Right and Desire to impose Our Convictions on any of Our Subjects..” * (See 2 below)

CONCLUSION

The Devil’s Trap is exceedingly well written, researched, and is easy to follow for those previously unfamiliar with these ground breaking historic events. The Massacre was as shaking to the British Empire as 9/11 was to the USA. It was devastating in terms of the loss of human life, and changed forever the relationship previously enjoyed by the protagonists. Despite the loss of life, the British Raj continued beyond 1858 until 1947 pretty much without radical change.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank James W. Bancroft, NetGalley, and Frontline Books for affording me the opportunity to review The Devil’s Trap. 

*1. The term Indian is used a general reference to the Pashtu, Sikh, and Hindu people as a whole.
*2. You can find a copy of the proclamation here: http://www.csas.ed.ac.uk/mutiny/confpapers/Queen%27sProclamation.pdf
book review, Non-Fiction

The DOZIER SCHOOL FOR BOYS – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Dozier School for Boys: Forensics, Survivors,
and a Painful Past
AuthorElizabeth A. Murray
PublisherTwenty-First Century Books TM (September 3, 2019)
FormatKindle, Audiobook, Library Binding, Audio CD
Pages120
LanguageEnglish
ASIN #B07TZKV7RP

AUTHOR

Elizabeth Murray was born in Cincinnati and has lived in the area her entire life. She is a Professor of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1986 (when it was the College of Mount St. Joseph). She earned a Master’s degree in Anthropology in 1988, specializing in biological/physical anthropology, before going on for a PhD in Human Biology received in 1993, both from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Murray has been a practicing forensic anthropologist since the late 1980s, earned Diplomate status from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology in 1999, and is now one of approximately 100 anthropologists certified by that organization. She enjoys teaching human gross anatomy and forensic science, and is case manager for approximately 30 incidents involving unknown persons through the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Much of her professional writing is for grades 7-12, since reading books in her own youth is what inspired her to become a scientist and gave her a love of history and mysteries.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

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SYNOPSIS

The Dozier School for Boys, by Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray Ph.D., is a dispassionate and analytical examination of the disturbing events that transpired at the reform school during its 111 years (1900-2011 and beyond) of operation. Perhaps we should begin with the context relating to the institution. Prior to the establishment of the Dozier School for Boys, it was common place for children, found guilty of some crime would be housed alongside adult men in penal institutions under the same harsh regimes. It was not unheard of that the juvenile inmate were victimized by the sections of the adult male prison population. There was little prospect of rehabilitation for the children as they lacked basic education, or of the opportunity to learn a trade. The school was created to reduce the negative outcomes of housing children with predators, and with a view to reduce the recidivist rates to reduce public expenditure.

Sadly, as Dr. Murray explains the initial high expectations quickly fell short. What began as an inspirational attempt at improving outcomes and reducing crime descended into Institutionalized, systematic abuse. Every horror occurred at the correctional institution from sexual exploitation, physical abuse, forced labor, and starvation of the inmates.

CONCLUSION

The Dozier School for Boys is a concise and scholarly work. It made for disturbing reading at times and because of that I would feel uncomfortable recommending it for the age range indicated. There was some repetition and read as condescending at times. Dr. Murray’s writing style may suggest to some that she lacks empathy for her subject. I however suggest that she is being dispassionate by design, avoiding the natural reaction to make subjective assessments about the horrific events and abuses of the children. Eloquently written, supported by graphic eyewitness accounts; provide a view on the Reform School experiment that failed all of its goals.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

ACKNOLWEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Elizabeth A. Murray, NetGalley and Twenty-First Century Books for affording me the opportunity to review The Dozier School for Boys: Forensics, Survivors, and a Painful Past.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

book review, History, Non-Fiction

Wilmington’s Lie – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleWilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of
1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy
AuthorDavid Zucchino
PublisherAtlantic Monthly Press (January 7, 2020)
FormatKindle, Audiobook
Pages626
LanguageEnglish
ASINB07YBK3S7V

“What happened in Wilmington became an affirmation of white supremacy not just in that one city, but in the South and in the nation as a whole.” Democracy Betrayed, The Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 and its Legacy (Chapel Hill, NC: university Press, 1998), 120-121 (2000), Edwards, L.. F.

AUTHOR

David Zucchino is a Journalist and author. He is a Pulitzer Prize winner and he was nominated on four previous occasions. He is known for his international war reports and his previous publications; Thunder Run and the Myth of the Welfare Queen, both of which are featured at the end of this review.

SYNOPSIS

Wilmington’s Lie is in essence the distillation of the chronology of events documenting the birth of white supremacy during the formative years of the Reconstruction era.

Zucchino posits that Wilmington in North Carolina (NC) in 1898 was the epicenter of the tragedy that became white prejudice, not just locally but nationally. Zucchino documents the corruption of the town’s establishments who together conspired to rig the voting system through violence. Subsequently a clan of like minded citizens formed into a lose association that we now identify as the Klu Klux Klan, Red Shirts, and Militia. These people then conspired together to commit murder against peaceful protesters and other members of their community.

Zucchino begins by explaining the tumultuous events that occurred on that Thursday, 10 November 1898 in the largest port city of NC.

Prior to the horrors that took place in Wilmington that day. The town had been a promising template for the advancement of Reconstruction. Those who were former vassal’s had managed to establish a healthy and thriving community. In the town those persons formerly enslaved and freemen were found in all strata of the economic spectrum from Drs to lawyers, Newspaper owners to journalists, even shop owners and journeymen. In a town of 10,000 black people were in the majority?

The initial promise of the Wilmington model, however, was about to be derailed.

The span of the publication goes far beyond the discussion of the central theme. The echos of that year carried on and increased in intensity leading to wide spread prejudice that eventually became the Jim Crow Laws, racial segregation and a perfect storm of misery, poverty and wide spread disenfranchisement of the black population.

It is a sad fact that the shadow of Wilmington continues today to cast a blemish on current day events.

Historically the supremacists failed because whilst the United States have far to go to reach total equity, serious in-roads have been achieved, with more, far more to go.

Wilmington’s Lie is a riveting, fascinating and compelling re-telling of the massacre and its fallout not just in 1898 but to the present day.

It made a profound and long lasting impression on me. I was unaware of the so Called Wilmington Riot and for me it was an education. One is left with more questions than answers not about the massacre but about the depth of mans inhumanity to man.

The horrors of that November day in Wilmington were only formerly recognized as recently as 2000. The tragic echos reach down through the years to influence the decedents of those who lost their lives or who were driven out that day. Zucchino has managed to expose, for the whole world, the events all those years ago. He provides us a window into the truth of what happened to those innocent people. Necessarily graphic at times, the report documents the inhumanity of the hour and immense injustice that began in Wilmington, NC., and eventually inspired the Jim Crowe Laws.

CONCLUSION

Wilmington’s Lie is a stark, ugly, and yet a compelling read.

This history book is heavily researched, professionally written and easy to follow. The author centers on the facts of his research and avoids subjective statements. zucchino includes contemporaneous letters, personal journals, newspaper accounts of that day as well as official documentation. It is genuinely a scholastic effort and a powerful work.

Wilmington’s Lie is a profound exploration of a heinous crime against peaceful protesters who were simply attempting to exercise their newly acquired rights to participate in open and fair elections. Over 120+ years have passed and justice still evades the victims and their antecedents; adding insult to injury. Occulted until now from the purview of the public eye adds to the injustice. 

The span of the publication goes far beyond the discussion of the central theme. The echos of that year carried on and increased in intensity leading to wide spread prejudice that eventually became the Jim Crow Laws, racial segregation and a perfect storm of misery, poverty and wide spread disenfranchisement of the black population.

The most concerning aspect of the events of 1898 is that the present day community still refuses to admit that serious crimes took place that November day in 1889. It is a sad fact that the shadow of Wilmington continues today to cast a blemish on current day events. 

Having read the manuscript, I sympathize with the authors view and with those who, although long gone, still deserve justice. Telling the heinous truth might begin that path to justice. This was a book that had to be written in an attempt to at least recognize the victims of this tragedy, but far more, it’s a must read.

I highly recommend this book. If you enjoy this, then I recommend that you check out my review of Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home.

Click to see review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

HISTORIC CONTEXT – The capture of Wilmington during the Civil War, 1865
THE GLOBE, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1898

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank David Zucchino, NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for affording me the opportunity to review Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

Hi there, our records show you are a frequent visitor to Litercurious and I wanted to say a personal thank you for your patronage. Thank you for liking and sharing our posts. Please feel free to reblog any or all of the reviews. I look forward to your valuable input again in the near future.

book review, History, Non-Fiction, World War 2

THE CODEBREAKERS OF BLETCHLEY PARK – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Codebreakers of Bletchley Park:
The Secret Intelligence Station that Helped
Defeat the Nazis
AuthorJohn Dermot Turing
PublisherArcturus (March 15, 2020)
FormatKindle, Paperback
Pages251 pages
Language:English
ASINB082XHJWCW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sir John Dermot Turing is the 12th Baronet of the Turing baronetcy. He is the nephew of Alan Turing the infamous English mathematician that worked on the enigma machine. He did a D.Phil in genetics at New College, Oxford before moving into the legal profession. He specialized in financial law and is currently an author.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This book is for everyone. Wether you are a historian, student, WWII enthusiast or just someone who interested in secret intelligence code breaking, you will find this book interesting.

SYNOPSIS

Before James Bond, there was Alister Denniston, Dilly Knox, Alan Turing, Mavis Batley (née Lever), Peter Twinn and Frank Birch.

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park is a unique take on an old subject and has managed to breathe new life into those who worked on the Enigma machine. It is the true-life account of the people, places and techniques employed for decrypting the machine that the Axis powers used during WWII to secretly encrypt their commercial, diplomatic and military communications. Unlike many books of its kind, The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park paints an intimate observation of the participants that is lacking in other publications. The reader gets a look back in time and at the characters behind the crack. The vital importance of the work at Bletchley Park contributed to the war as a whole and in particular, the Battle of Cape Matapan from 27-29 March, 1941.

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park is a character driven dive into the ultra-secret world of the codebreakers. Turing’s chronology primarily focuses on the years immediately preceding WWII through the evolution of the Government Code & Cypher School (GC & CS) and its evolution into the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The early codebreakers were, as Alister Denniston dubbed them, ‘the professor type.’ Most of these were ‘Kingsmen,’ alumni of King’s College, Cambridge; although not exclusively. They came from varying disciplines that included mathematics, academia, arts, humanities, classics languages, and history. Once ‘The Hunting Party’ had arrived at Bletchley Park work that began with a hand full of academics quickly grew in size and scope. Those with other skills and talents including: Intelligence Staff, Translators, Linguists, Managers, Machine Operators, Typists, Secretaries, and Stenographers were swiftly recruited.

The author avoids focusing upon Alan Truing, but instead introduces the reader to the arguably equally important contributors to the cracking of the Enigma. My favorite character was Dilly Knox a brilliant scholar of the Classics, specifically Greek. He was humorous and poetic. He constantly threatened to resign his position, was a man full of contradictions, a less than skillful driver and tragically gone too soon.

Those interested in women’s studies will find this publication to be a breath of fresh air. It includes details of the women who worked at Bletchley Park and heralds the significant contributions made by those women. Most of whom were never awarded any recognition or accolade.

CONCLUSION

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park is anything but a dry retelling of history. I found it intriguing, enlightening and humors in equal amounts. Since I read it a week or two ago, I’ve thought of it fondly and often mentioned it repeatedly to friends and family. This, for me, is the seal of a truly great work and because of this I am rating this book highly.

If you want to find out: who ‘Dilly’s Fillies’ were, why there was a bath in the office of Room 40 at the Admiralty, how QWERTZU has anything to do with the Enigma, how the Bomba became the Bombe or what really went on in Hut 6; you will have to read The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park for yourself. Be prepared for a compelling and extraordinary true-life tale.

Highly recommended for everyone.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Sir John Dermot Turing, Netgalley and Arcturus for affording me the opertunity to review The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park: The Secret Intelligence Station that Helped Defeat the Nazis.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

3 / 7
book review, History, Non-Fiction, Politics, Science, True Crime

The Organ Thieves – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

The Organ Thieves: The shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South by Chip Joones

IN MEMORIAM OF
BRUCE TUCKER
DECLARED DEAD ON SATURDAY MAY 25, 1968 AT 3:33 PM

Still waiting for an apology that will never come.
R.I.P.

TitleThe Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the
First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South
AuthorChip Jones
PublisherGallery/Jeter Publishing (August 18, 2020)
FormatKindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Audio CD
Pages400
Language:English
ISBN 10/131982107529 / 978-1982107529

Imagine ‘House’ meets ‘A Few Good Men.’

AUTHOR

Chip Jones is a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist. You can learn more about this author here or visit his Facebook page here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

The Organ Thieves has broad appeal. Everyone from medical students to senior professors and laymen alike will enjoy this work. Students of history, ethics, research fellows or anyone who wants to know more about the early history of heart transplants in the United States will find this book invaluable.

SYNOPSIS

The Organ Thieves is a compassionate retelling of events that introduced a new and highly anticipated advance in medical science. It’s a real-life drama of a radical new cutting-edge medical procedure, involving esteemed surgeons and a seemingly inebriated, impecunious victim of an accident. The apparent theft of the heart and two kidneys from a decent hardworking man, eventually resulting in a $1,000,000 lawsuit.

The subsequent trial spans the whole gamut of questions relating to ethics, motivations, incompetence and a questionable disregard for state law and patients care. The trial covered poor medical administrative practices, prejudice and ethical questions that still plague modern medical ethicists. All this set against the contextual history of medical research set in the segregated South. From the dark days of slavery and the Devil’s Half Acre, to the ‘demonstrators’ and the ‘resurrection-men’ of pre 1884, through to the mid 1990s.

CONCLUSION

The Organ Thieves is well-paced throughout, resplendent with historic detail, clear and concise prose that make for a work that is difficult to put down. I read the last 4 hours in one sitting and I was more enthusiastic in my praise and admiration with each passing chapter.

My only criticism is, I felt at times, there was an understandable bias exhibited by the author. Rather than simply presenting the facts, thus leaving the reader to make their own independent assessment, I sensed he was assessing the historic interactions by todays values.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Chip Jones, NetGalley, and Gallery/Jeter Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South.

book review, History, Non-Fiction

ABANDONED COLD WAR PLACES – REVIEW

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LITERCURIOUS BOOK REVIEW

TitleAbandoned Cold War Places
AuthorRobert Grenville
PublisherSterling Publishing (November 5, 2019)
FormatHardcover
Page224
LanguageEnglish
ISBN# 10/131782749179 / 978-1782749172

AUTHOR

Historian and author Robert Grenville lives in London, England.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Students of history, urban explorers, history buffs, and scholars will find this hardcover of interest.

SYNOPSIS

Abandoned Cold War Places is a seminal work by Robert Grenville. He’s produced a simply magnificent coffee table book filled with over 180 pages of full color, high definition professional photographs. The images of long abandoned cold war locations are accompanied by a short descriptive text.

The post-war era spawned an arms race that created international tensions globally. As a result, there was vast investment in munitions and military resources. The situation continued from 1945-1991. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) subsequently became the Russian Federation. International tensions eased and the former cold war sites deteriorated; unloved and uncared for. As time passed, nature began to regenerate and reclaim the various landmarks. Historians, urban explorers and photographers embarked on quests to explore the former secret military sites. This is where Robert Grenville comes in to his own.

The authors pictorial work reveals the rigors wrought by the elements upon the former machines of war. The once pristine weapons are now forever tarnished and covered in flaking paint or rusted beyond recognition. However, they are still standing as a testimony to the futility of war.

CONCLUSION

Abandoned Cold War Places is the documentation of historic landmarks of the cold war era. Robert Grenville travelled the world compiling a photographic record of the discarded sites. His research depicts the devastation of these landmarks caused by 40 years of neglect. Ultimately, he’s created a photographic record of the insanity of war planning and all its ugly and disturbing guises.

I would have liked a little more information about the various locations, but overall it works as expected.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Robert Grenville, NetGalley, and Sterling Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review Abandoned Cold War Places.

book review, History, Non-Fiction

THE END OF THE RIVER – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe End of The River
AuthorSimon Winchester OBE
PublisherScribd (Scribd Original)
FormatEbook
Page59
LanguageEnglish
ISBN #9781094404424

AUTHOR

Simon Winchester was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE), find out more about him here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Anyone interested in the Mississippi river and the attempts to control it.

SYNOPSIS

The End of The River centers upon the hydrological and historic ebb and flow of the greatest river in America’s South, the Mississippi. It focuses on a short stretch of the river near the Louisiana border. It describes the importance and influence of the varied control mechanisms that line the course of the river’s flow. It further explains the factors that over time have adversely affected the river’s natural meandering patters and the problems arising out of those changes.

Winchester calls into question the human influences, particularly those of the United States Corps of Engineers who are the guardians of the river. He challenges the effectiveness of every attempt to control the river citing the Great Flood of the Mississippi in 1927 and the futile attempts to prevent the following flood.

Of particular concern to Winchester are the actions of Captain Shreve and his hubris in carving a canal from the Mississippi across to Atchafalaya. Whilst it made the Atchafalaya easier to navigate, it raises concerns over the sheer volume of water ‘stolen’ from the Mississippi. He questions the ability of the Mississippi to continue its flow to the New Orleans delta due to the Atchafalaya diversion. More concerning is the potential and dire consequences of creating an interruption in the river’s ability to distribute the valuable life giving sedimentary elements from Nebraska to the deep South.

Winchester also identifies the increasing impact upon areas immediately abutting the Mississippi. He explains how human development around the river is impeding the ability of the land to siphon off excess water. This consecutively leads to increased water volume flowing directly into the river which results in greater levels of chaotic surges in the Mississippi. The combination of these influences leads to a never-ending war between the river seeking the path of least resistance and the United States Corps of Engineers trying to control it.

Winchester also briefly observes the huge cost of fighting this inevitable losing battle. He leaves us in no doubt that human geoengineering does not come cheap and its failure can cost lives and livelihoods.

CONCLUSION

The End of The River by Simon Winchester is a novelette created for Scribd. It is a substantial departure from Winchester’s other work and is closer to an in-depth magazine piece than a booklet. The work holds true to the high standard we have come to expect from Simon Winchester.

I wanted to love it, however the subject was neither compelling nor memorable. It lost something in its brevity. I felt it just wasn’t as satisfying as I had come to expect from Winchester’s written work. It wasn’t so detrimental that I would avoid reading any more Simon Winchester books, however I would think twice if they were in this format.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Simon Winchester, NetGalley, and Scribd Originals for affording me the opportunity to review The End of The River.

4 / 6
book review, History, Non-Fiction

CATASTROPHES & HEROES – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleCatastrophes & Heroes
AuthorJerry Borrowman
PublisherShadow Mountain (May 5, 2020)
FormatAudiobook, Hardcover
Pages208
Language:English
ISBN # 10/131629727393 / 978-1629727394

AUTHOR

Learn about Jerry Borrowman, his books, speaking engagements and his life here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This book is best suited for people who enjoy historic architecture and engineering. Anyone who likes suspense, death defying incidents and tragedy will find this book enjoyable.  

SYNOPSIS

Catastrophes & Heroes is a chronological record of eight historic disasters and ends with the authors “Final Thoughts.” Each story is broken down for the reader into subsections such as: The Human Cost of Tragedy, an Overview, Fateful Choices, Victims and First Responder Heroes, and Professional Heroes.

This is a pre-release and therefore had no pictures or diagrams but the author will include period images in the final release. That being said, this copy had a notation in the proper location for each image that will eventually be included. I appreciated this concept as I could easily look online at images that would bring into focus the events described.

The subjects vary from Civil War paddle boat disasters, to train wrecks, to bridge collapses, to hurricanes and to damn failures. Each disaster tells the stories of individuals that were killed, maimed, who survived, the rescuers, the villains and the ramifications. Whether the cause of the disaster was an Act of God, greed, ignorance, or malice Jerry brings the stories to life before your eyes.

Although the stories are intriguing in their own right, I think the after effects are the most interesting. Because of these disasters, we of today are safer. Procedures have been scrutinized, and corrections emplaced to prevent these types of disasters from happening again.

CONCLUSION

Catastrophes & Heroes is an extensively researched look into a few of the world’s greatest historic disasters. The first-person monologues add to the stories and lets the reader feel as if they are really there viewing the incident in real time. Some personal stories are tragic, some are exhilarating, many are depressing, and while others are joyful.

Even though the book is superbly authored and researched, I found some of the stories more obscure. I would have liked reading about some more widely known disasters and their stories. I did learn a lot about the incidents recorded in this book and definitely found the Civil War paddle boat disaster the most interesting.

The authors “Final Thoughts” are just a rehash of what was previously covered. That section could have easily been left out of the book entirely. On balance, this book is an informative and enjoyable read, but not rememberable.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Jerry Borrowman, NetGalley, and Shadow Mountain for affording me the opportunity to review Catastrophes & Heroes.