Grand unified books thread

[jimmy olsen]

Have you considered playing Crusader Kings II instead?

That is a huge HRE for that early in the game. I assume you started as Charlemagne?

[11B4V]

Finally out.




His book Days of Battle was well done. It is the only book in English that gave a good descriptive account of the last successful German offensive operation (Operation Southwind) of the war.

About 90 pages in. Very good narrative on both sides on battalion level engagements of Konrad I. It's a combat mission scenario designers dream. Fixing to start the chapter on the armored battle at Zamoly. Some translation anomolies, but other that clearly written. Still amazing the Germans could smack the Russians around in Jan '45 and still give the Russians fits. Most of the panzer units were way below even operational combat tank strength. The Luftwaffe was providing an amazing amount of ground support.

[Sophie Scholl]

In the old thread the question was raised about books about the Seven Years War that are *not* about the British Navy or the French and Indian Wars.

The Seven Years War in Europe: 1756-1763 by Franz A.J. Szabo was mentioned in the context, but I guess I'll leave it be after this reader review on Wargamer:

Just finished the above book. Let me save you the trouble and summarize: Frederick the great was an incompetent tyrant and , apparently, a coward who routinely fled from battles that his over rated Prussian Army constantly lost.  When prussia won a victory, it was only because of some type of fluke like a weather event, or a junior Austrian officer misunderstanding an order.  Austria routinely dominated the incompetent Frederick whose Prussian Army only survived through sheer luck.  Fredericks reputataion only developed due to Prussian propogandists.

I guess I should have read the author's bio first. Professor of Austrian Studies, native Austrian, and dedicated his book to his two grandfathers who, as he proudly announces, both fought for Austria-hungary during WWI.

Though they contain information on the French and Indian War, I found Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766 by Fred Anderson and  The French and Indian War and the Conquest of New France by William R. Nester to both have some solid insights into the European and global aspects of the war as well.  If people are interested in the era, I'd highly recommend them both.

[Razgovory]

Been reading the Franco-Prussian war by Michael Howard.  A lot about how crooked and incompetent Napoleon III's regime was.

[11B4V]

Exciting times for the Russian theater.

[11B4V]

Been reading the Franco-Prussian war by Michael Howard.  A lot about how crooked and incompetent Napoleon III's regime was.

If your interested in more of the tactical side;

DAY OF BATTLE: Mars-La-Tour

[Razgovory]

Been reading the Franco-Prussian war by Michael Howard.  A lot about how crooked and incompetent Napoleon III's regime was.

If your interested in more of the tactical side;

DAY OF BATTLE: Mars-La-Tour

I'm not finished with it yet, I don't even know who wins!

[Valmy]

Been reading the Franco-Prussian war by Michael Howard.  A lot about how crooked and incompetent Napoleon III's regime was.

Well he had been sick for awhile and had passed more and more power over the liberals. I have a generally positive view of his regime as a stabilizer that made the Third Republic possible by institutionalizing parliamentary politics. That was, after all, his goal as he wrote in his political manifesto back when he was in exile (well not the Republic part, he wanted a British style monarchy).

[Razgovory]

The embezzlement thing seems like a black mark.  I do think the author is t0o kind to the Prussians, but this was the 1960's and everyone was still convinced that the Germans were gods of war.

[jimmy olsen]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Dawn-Modern-Warfare-History/dp/0803265867

Ordered this, I'll report on it when I get it in the mail.

Got this yesterday. Can't wait to start it. I didn't realize that it was a foundational work in the field from the 20's when I ordered it. Should be interesting trying to pick out the biases.

Anyone got any suggestions of something more current on the topic?

[The Brain]

I just received the Great Northern War Compendium, two volumes of richly illustrated articles by a number of authors from several different countries on most aspects of the war. From a brief look it appears pretty awesome, I don't think you'll find anything like it in English again in a looong time.

Link: http://www.thehistoricalgamecompany.com/product/great-northern-war-compendium-2/

[Valmy]

I bet the Turks wish they had the Battle of the Prut to do over again.

[Admiral Yi]

Picked up Jared Diamond's "Collapse."  Currently reading about the various Norse North Atlantic colonies.

Was very surprised to learn that in 1748 1/5 of the population of Iceland died of starvation.

The book overall is metzo metzo.  Would have benefited from a condensation of the discussion of soil erosion.

[11B4V]

Downloaded

Queen's Rangers by Simcoe

Quebec's American Rangers by Gara

[Razgovory]

Picked up Jared Diamond's "Collapse."  Currently reading about the various Norse North Atlantic colonies.

Was very surprised to learn that in 1748 1/5 of the population of Iceland died of starvation.

The book overall is metzo metzo.  Would have benefited from a condensation of the discussion of soil erosion.

1784.