seaJane Posted 15 September , 2019 Share Posted 15 September , 2019 (edited) Five-star review in the Telegraph - "a brilliant history of the Home Front in the Great War". Anyone read the book? I can't see all the review through the paywall... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/staring-god-simon-heffer-review-brilliant-history-home-front/ sJ Edited 15 September , 2019 by seaJane Add url Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sueburden Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 There is a review on Amazon which might be of interest. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Thornicroft Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 It claims to be the Number One best seller in the WW1 Military History section even though it won't be released until 19th September! I presume pre-order sales are high, but I only wish my books were so sought after before the ink was even dry... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 Only a real cynic would note that Simon Heffer is a Tottygraph columnist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 1 hour ago, sueburden said: There is a review on Amazon which might be of interest. Sue Can you post a link? I have just looked and there seem to be no reviews (that I can see, anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 (edited) 29 minutes ago, Steven Broomfield said: Can you post a link? I have just looked and there seem to be no reviews (that I can see, anyway) The one in the OP no good? Edited 16 September , 2019 by IPT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 16 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 16 September , 2019 13 minutes ago, IPT said: The one in the OP no good? Not to those of us who are too stingy to subscribe (including the OP herself) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 4 minutes ago, seaJane said: Not to those of us who are too stingy to subscribe (including the OP herself) The poor man has a subscription. That's not the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Beale Posted 16 September , 2019 Share Posted 16 September , 2019 (edited) 19 hours ago, Steven Broomfield said: Only a real cynic would note that Simon Heffer is a Tottygraph columnist. Gerard de Groot gave it a favourable review in Saturday's Times, saying that he learned a lot of new things. The main negative for him seemed to be reading at such length about such a dislikeable bunch of people (i.e. just about every politician mentioned, by the sound of it). Edited 17 September , 2019 by Nick Beale typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 17 September , 2019 Share Posted 17 September , 2019 13 hours ago, IPT said: The one in the OP no good? No: I wanted to see the review on Amazon to whicg Post 2 referred but which I couldn't see when I looked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 17 September , 2019 Share Posted 17 September , 2019 8 minutes ago, Steven Broomfield said: No: I wanted to see the review on Amazon to whicg Post 2 referred but which I couldn't see when I looked Well, if you're going to resort to using facts, i'll take my business elsewhere. I can't see any reviews either. Just a short blurb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 17 September , 2019 Share Posted 17 September , 2019 Hmm- Top of the bestsellers for military books on Amazon UK- although not published for another 2 days. Ergo, no sales ranking. About as reliable as Top Ten hits on TOTP of yesteryear. Given the size of the book, the plugging of it and the publisher-then, it seems certain to be a staple of many charity shops in about 2 years time.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 17 September , 2019 Share Posted 17 September , 2019 18 hours ago, Nick Beale said: Gerard de Groot gave it a favourable review in Saturday's Times, saying that he learned a lot of new things. The main negative for him seemed to be reading at such length about such a dislikeable bunch of people (i.e. just about every politician mentioned, by the sound of it). Also commented that it was rather long (which it is!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 18 September , 2019 Share Posted 18 September , 2019 (edited) Looking forward greatly to getting a copy for review. The author is no mere columnist, but an historian, a sound book reviewer and author on other topics I also think 'plugging' a book is something quite other that it being sent out for review. Fact is, most authors would go to the stake for the reviews it has received. And, if the reviews are correct, I think the book sounds like a 'keeper' and I doubt many will end up in charity shops very quickly! regards David Edited 21 October , 2019 by David Filsell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perth Digger Posted 18 September , 2019 Share Posted 18 September , 2019 Telegraph reviewer is Andrew Roberts, who obviously knows little about the home front 1914-1918 as he continually is amazed at "new" information that has been in the public arena for years (if you're reasonably well read), eg, high levels of prostitution (who'd have guessed?) etc. Heffer manages to get a double whammy on both Lloyd George and Haig, the first for not stopping the second and the second for killing too many. Roberts says it is not a military, but a social and political history. Hence his expert knowledge of Haig. I'll wait to see if GUEST is right. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 18 September , 2019 Share Posted 18 September , 2019 How’s the style ? Is it hard work ? I read his Age of Decadence, and found it terribly difficult. First rate narrative in terms of content and detail : actually, one of the most authoritative books I have ever read. But I felt like no end of a dullard, just trying to follow the text at times. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perth Digger Posted 18 September , 2019 Share Posted 18 September , 2019 'Scholarly, objective and extremely well written', says Roberts, Phil. I wonder how long the primary research section is in the bibliography? There's nothing wrong with narratives based on secondary sources, as they can cobble together old stuff into new interpretations and they keep the public interested in history. I read some in areas that I know nothing about (Anglo-Saxon England eg), but I just can't read ones on subjects in which I've dabbled in primary sources. Each to his/her/their own of course. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 11 October , 2019 Share Posted 11 October , 2019 One fifth of the way through the book now. The problem for me is that Heffer throws so many names into the pot during the narrative that my head spins. It’s very hard to assimilate the story when the cast list is so large. That, I must admit, is a failure on my part.....I wonder whether I suffer from some sort of attention deficiency syndrome ! Let me say, though, that the impact of the stuff so far has been terrific. I’m really shocked at the extent of the drink problem that afflicted British people in the pursuit of essential industry. Likewise, the way restrictive practices impinged on the conduct of labour comes as an eye opener. There were some very bloody minded people wielding a lot of power on the shop floor. I actually blurted out to my wife this morning ... I’m surprised that we managed to win the First World War ! . That on the strength of the first twenty per cent of the content, as revealed on my Kindle device. What I must do is relax a bit, and let the thing flow over me, not worrying so much about what I’ve failed to collate on the Who’s Who front. If just part of it sticks to the wall, it will be more than worth the effort. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 October , 2019 Share Posted 11 October , 2019 I have it on good authority that God is now writing a companion volume, Staring at Simon Heffer. My mistake, it's Max Hastings who's writing the book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 11 October , 2019 Share Posted 11 October , 2019 4 hours ago, Steven Broomfield said: I have it on good authority that God is now writing a companion volume, Staring at Simon Heffer. My mistake, it's Max Hastings who's writing the book 😂 By Jove, Heffer and Hastings have a lot in common ! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 11 October , 2019 Share Posted 11 October , 2019 (edited) It's rush to judgement time again on the forum! Heffer and Falklands Max may have some things in common perhaps - including popularity. Often not considered a good thing of course. He seems the better writer (in my humble opinion). He's certainly qualified to write on the subject. He read English at Cambridge and gained a PhD in modern history. He has published a raft of well regarded books and is an established journalist and commentator. (There are two previous volumes in the political series.) His book Is a long - what's the problem? Highly detailed - another problem? . It has eight pages of primary and secondary sources as well as biographies Mr Perth Digger. Many names in the text another problem? Many were people were importantly involved in the war (Wiki will put them in perspective). In reality the book 900 pages of text about a long war - almost seems too few. Edited 12 October , 2019 by David Filsell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perth Digger Posted 13 October , 2019 Share Posted 13 October , 2019 Mr Perth Digger presents his compliments to Mr David Filsell and thanks him for the information, but requests to know whether the primary sources are archival as well as printed, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 13 October , 2019 Share Posted 13 October , 2019 Mr PD Yes Regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perth Digger Posted 13 October , 2019 Share Posted 13 October , 2019 Thanks David. BTW, while I have not read Heffer's book and thus cannot comment on its merits, I do totally agree with his view on the future of cricket that he has made in the Telegraph. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil andrade Posted 13 October , 2019 Share Posted 13 October , 2019 One quarter of the way through, now. Never realised just how obsessed Asquith was with Venetia Stanley. Bridge and booze were his other two attributes. Can’t wait to read what he has to say about Lloyd George’s predilection ! Am I being entertained as well as informed ? Yes ! Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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