Reading - Bringing history to life (1 Viewer)

[chalklands]

Not sure if anyone's interested in this or not (I'm referring to the pastime not the town/city/football club/traffic jam on the M4).
Since I started collecting toy soldiers I have also started reading a lot of historical non fiction books mainly to 'add meat' to the subjects covered by the soldiers (Not just K&C subjects). For example I have just finished reading 'Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure' by Michael Asher' and 'The White Devil: The Epic Story of Revenge and Savage Warfare That Inspired "The Last of the Mohicans"' by Stephen Brumwell. These are all riveting reads - Does anybody have any suggestions/recommendations for future reads. ie What is the best book read available on 'operation market garden'? or the 'Charge of the Light brigade'?

 

[Wraith]

I tend to go through a fair few of the soldier / sailer / marine / pilot turned author books for the same reason you have highlighted.

Not related to the subject matter you have mentioned, but one book I keep going back to is 'Thunder Run' by David Zucchino, covering Tusker Brigades advance in to Baghdad. I must have read it 6 or 7 times in the past couple of years. It is very well written and is a constant rollercoaster of action. If you've not read this, I would thoroughly recommend it.

Simon

 

[rick36]

You cannot go wrong with Cornelius Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far" or with Kershaw's "It Never Snows in September" for Operation Market Garden.

For information on the battle of Balaclava, I would suggest "Hell Riders" by Brighton (?). I also enjoyed "The Charge" by Mark Adkins. Very good information in both of these books. I would lean towards "Hell Riders" as there are some good first hand accounts. "Hell Riders" is written after "The Charge" was published and there are some differences of perspective.

Controversy remains for both battles. Have fun.

-Rick

 

[aujj65]

You cannot go wrong with Cornelius Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far"
-Rick

I'll go with this..a really interesting read.

Jeff

 

[Rob]

Yes very good indeed..i think they made a film about didn't they?

Rob

 

[uksubs]

Best Arnham book i've read is Arnham 1944 by William F Buckingham's
Put new light on the battle