New WW1 Books

[stuartd]

Clearly with the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of war approaching fast we will soon be deluged with new books (or should that be re-hashes of the same old?).

Am I alone in thinking that the one below may well be one to avoid? It'll ell by the bucket load due to the name though:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catastrophe-Europe-Goes-War-1914/dp/0007398573/ref=pd_sim_b_4

On a brighter note, I really enjoyed her book The Peacemakers so this one may well be worth looking out for (oh and what a great cover photo!):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-War-That-Ended-Peace/dp/140006855X/ref=pd_sim_b_3

[John_Hartley]

Here's one not to avoid.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/17th-Manchesters-History-Battalion-Served/dp/1908336536/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368543959&sr=8-1&keywords=%2217th+manchesters%22

[Pighills]

That one's out of stock though John, must be doing well. Are there other outlets for it?

[WilliamRev]

Am I alone in thinking that the one below may well be one to avoid? It'll ell by the bucket load due to the name though:

http://www.amazon.co.../ref=pd_sim_b_4

I am about to order a copy of this (using the forum Amazon link of course!); I usually find that Max Hastings has fresh and interesting things to say, and does his research well. However we shall see.... I will post reviews of this book on the forum and on Amazon soon.

William

Later edit: of course when I found it the other day I missed the fact that it won't be published for another 6 months, which I have just noticed. But it is still going on the waiting list.

[John_Hartley]

Kim

Book's currently being printed and then off to the distributor. Should be with Amazon and the other "usual suspects" in a few days.

John

[stuartd]

Are Max Hastings' books always good? I've heard mixed reviews of some and wondered whether it was simply a case of if you re-hash the same stuff and put a big name on the cover then you're sure to sell it by the bucket load.

[WilliamRev]

Another that I am looking forward to is The Great War and the Public Schools by Anthony Seldon, which has been mentioned on the forum before, here.

William

[John_Hartley]

whether it was simply a case of if you re-hash the same stuff and put a big name on the cover then you're sure to sell it by the bucket load.

There's something in that, I'm afraid.

I suppose it's inevitable when you are dealing with events from a hundred years ago, that there will be very little written that hasnt already been written in some form. That's not to say that a different perspective cannot be put on things. Or that a new work isn't a damn good read.

Some while back, I was toying with the idea of writing a book and I mentioned this to one of the "big names", saying that I wasnt sure about it, as the subject had been done before. "Do it again", was the big name's advice. So, I'm now busily writing potential book 3.

[WilliamRev]

Are Max Hastings' books always good? I've heard mixed reviews of some and wondered whether it was simply a case of if you re-hash the same stuff and put a big name on the cover then you're sure to sell it by the bucket load.

I was thinking of his appearances on telly; I must confess that I have never read a book of his (although I've read articles in the T'graph over the years), but I like the look of this one (but I feel that I have seen this book-cover dozens of times before - yawn)

William

[stuartd]

Indeed. Macmillan's cover is much better, but then again don't judge...!

[paulgranger]

I've read most of Max Hasting's military histories, though 'All Hell Let Loose' is still on the bookshelf unopended, as it were. I like his writing style, and the research appears to have been done, though if it was him or his team is another matter. He can be contentious. His argument in Armageddon, re WW2 in Europe, is that the Western Allies didn't put their full effort in, and left it all to the Soviets. And in Nemesis, the war in the Pacific, he critcized the Americans for wasting time freeing the Philippines, and the Australians for not getting on with it in New Guinea. So I shall be ordering the book, as a completist if nothing else, and because he will have views which i will be interested to know. Of course, like most authors, he won't appeal to all of us, but that's the way it is.

[David Filsell]

I must confess to a soft spot - and largely admiration - for Max Hastings books. Readable, well researched (almost certainly I would have thought by 'assistants'). It will certainly be on my reading/review list.

[Jim Hastings]

Must admit I didn't think much of his 'Das Reich' about the 2nd SS or 'Overlord', but thought 'Bomber Command' much better and enjoyed 'Armageddon', so will give 'Catastrophe' a go. Like his writing style and his (or whoevers) research seems well done. Wonder if he has plans for a 1915 book, 1916 etc ...