1Shrike58
Just finished Noble Volunteers, a kaleidoscopic overview of the enlisted men who served in the British Army in the American Revolution, and the elements that structured their life and service.
2wbf2nd
Finish Douglas Haig and the First World War, and found that it justified my initial good impression. Each chapter concluded with an evaluation of Haig's actions, good, bad and indifferent. The author does not seem to have a particular bone to chew, so his judge ents seem considered and fair. My impresion of Haig is of a competent, mediocre general who managed a very difficult job without cracking. Not the ignorant, unimaginative, uncaring dunderhead of popular imagination, but not a top notch military mind or leader either, never quite fully understanding the limits of what was possible to achieve in a battle, which of course resulted in unnecessary losses. He was, however, quite skilled in the politics necessary to keep his job.
Started in on British Military Spectacle From the Napoleonic Wars Through the Crimea. Shades of Flashman! Not a picture book, though with good plates, it is an academic study of the uniforms, parades etc and how they affected both the military and civil society, well written without jargon. Looking good was of prime importance (sound familiar?), and yes the uniforms were uncomfortable and sometimes directly counterproductive for the poor soldiers wearing them.
Started in on British Military Spectacle From the Napoleonic Wars Through the Crimea. Shades of Flashman! Not a picture book, though with good plates, it is an academic study of the uniforms, parades etc and how they affected both the military and civil society, well written without jargon. Looking good was of prime importance (sound familiar?), and yes the uniforms were uncomfortable and sometimes directly counterproductive for the poor soldiers wearing them.
3Shrike58
Finished The War that Made the Roman Empire and Volume 1 of The Fighting America Flying Boats of WWI. The first was good, but not as intriguing as I had hoped, as I've already absorbed the newest understanding of what probably happened at Actium.
5Kilkenny_Sable
Just finished The Thirty Year's War: Europe's Tragedy by Peter H. Wilson. Had it on my shelf for a few months before being inspired by a recent trip to Sweden. Fantastic but hefty (850~ pgs) book that devotes the entire first third of the book to an in-depth analysis of the political chain and make-up of the participants. The human, material, and political costs of the conflict as well as experiential dilemmas are well explained in the last chunk. All in all, a brilliant account that should be the classic all-rounder for decades to come.
6Shrike58
The English and French Navies, 1500-1650 might be marginal for this thread, as this is really institutional and political history filtered through naval affairs. I thought it was worthwhile, but it requires a good personal educational background to get the most out of it.
