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AUSSIE RICK'S 50 BOOKS READ IN 2010
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February 2010:
by Michael Jones8. Finished - February 2010 - Decent account, C
(see review for further info)
by Amin Maalouf9. Finished - February 2010 - Enjoyable history, B
by Procopius10. Finished - February 2010 - Great History, B+
by Jenny Uglow11. Finished - February 2010 - Great History, lots of interesting detail on Court life, B
[image error] by Procopius
12. Finished - February 2010 - Another classic account, well worth the effort to read, B
by Sarah P. Murgatroyd13. Finished - February 2010 - Great History, full of interesting information and a fun read, B+
by Procopius14. Finished - February 2010 - Great History but I am sooo happy to have finished the series!, B+
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March 2010:
by Louis-Gabriel Suchet15. Finished - March 2010 - Enjoyable Napoleonic account, C+
[image error] by Alan Palmer
16. Finished - March 2010 - Enjoyable account covering a lesser know campaign of the Great War, B.
(see review for further info)
by Jonathan R. Dull17. Finished - March 2010 - A nice general overview of the emergence of the 'Ship of the Line' and the 'Line of Battle', C
by Ted Morgan18. Finished - March 2010 - Enjoyable account with an equal mix of politics and military history, C
by Dominic Lieven19. Finished - March 2010 - Very well researched account from the Russian perspective, C+
by Peter Pedersen20. Finished - March 2010 - Excellent overview of Australia's contribution to WW1, A
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Bentley wrote: "The Alan Palmer book looks interesting..let us know how you like it."Hi Bentley, I am half-way through the book and although it was published in 1965 it stands up well in regards to research & content. It’s a very easy to read book and not overly in-depth so you don’t get bogged down. Good character studies and enough detail in relation to the battles to follow however one major failing is there are no maps!
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Bentley wrote: "No maps..that is a bummer."Hi Bentley, I finished "The Gardeners of Salonika" and it was a very decent account of this forgotten campaign of WW1. Also in the end there were two maps covering the final offensive during this campaign in 1918 although there should have been more. Overall a good book to read if you want to learn more about allied armies fighting in Salonika.
[image error] by Alan Palmer
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April 2010:
by Ben MacIntyre21. Finished - April 2010 - Very well told story of 'The Man Who Never Was', one of the greatest Allied deception plans of WW2, C+
by Pierre Berton22. Finished - April 2010 - Very well told story of Canada's defining moment during WW1, C+
by Andrea Di Robilant23. Finished - April 2010 - Great story of an amazing woman during the 1790's-1850's covering Venice, Vienna and Paris, B+
by Werner Girbig24. Finished - April 2010 - Interesting but concise first-hand account of a German ace (203 kills) who flew on the Russian Front during WW2, C+
(see review for further info)
by Lynne Olson25. Finished - April 2010 - Very well told but sad story of those Poles who fought for the Allies during WW2 and how they were betrayed by those same allies, B
by Jack H. Gill26. Finished - April 2010 - Very good account of Napoleon's 1809 Austrian Campaign. Final volume of the trilogy, narrative goes to page 330. The rest of the book is appendixes, notes and bibliographies for all three books, B.
by Matthew Gallagher27. Finished - April 2010 - Enjoyable first-hand account of a young officers tour in Iraq and the insanity of the situation, C+.
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May 2010:
byPatrick O'Brian28. Finished - May 2010 - Very good & fun to read novel of naval action during the Napoleonic Wars, B+.
by Martin Windrow29. Finished - May 2010 - Very good and detailed account of the role of the French Foreign Legion in France's colonial conquests between 1870 and 1935, B+.
by Edward Gibbon30. Finished - July 2010 - Interesting though at times a hard slog of this classical account of the fall of the Roman Empire, C.
by Fergal Keane31. Finished - May 2010 - Very good and interesting account of the siege of Kohima in Burma during WW2. B.
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June 2010:
by Don Everitt32. Finished - June 2010 - Interesting account of one of the worst weapons of WW1 - steam powered submarines! B.
by James Holland33. Finished - June 2010 - Interesting and enjoyable account of Germany's attempt to knock France and then Britain out of the war between May & October 1940. B+.
(see review for further info.)
by Anthony Richard Birley34. Finished - June 2010 - Detailed biography of the Roman Emperor, Septimius Severus, known as 'The African Emperor'. A bit too detailed at times but overall a decent biography on a little known Roman Emperor. C.
by Hezi Shelah35. Finished - June 2010 - Good account offering an overview of Napoleon's 1813 campaign although the book was let down by the lack of decent maps. C.
by John Shipp36. Finished - June 2010 - Great first-hand account of a young man who joined the British Army as a boy soldier and served twenty years on active service in India during the early 1800's. B+
by Ben MacIntyre37. Finished - June 2010 - Enjoyable historical acount of a Josiah Harlan, the first American in Afghanistan and 'The Man who would be King'. C+
by Nathaniel Philbrick38. Finished - June 2010 - Great account of the events and personalities surrounding 'Custer's Last Stand', a very enjoyable & interesting read. B+
by Laurence Rees
39. Finished - June 2010 - The book is made up of a number of individual accounts (35) from soldiers and civilians on both sides; British, American, Russian, German & Japanese, basically covering man's barbarity to other human beings, how people were tested to the extreme and how they survived. B+
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July 2010:
by Kenneth W. Noe40. Finished - July 2010 - Interesting account of the Civil War battle of Perryville fought in Kentucky in 1862. C
by Adrienne Mayor41. Finished - July 2010 - Enjoyable and interesting history of Mithradates, one of Romes greatest enemies. Offers a military and general history of the times although at times repeative. B-
by Charles Miller42. Finished - July 2010 - First published in 1974 this book offers an exciting tale of the First World War in East Africa fought by the German leader Paul Von Lettow Vorbeck and his Schutztruppe (German Askaris) against the British KAR (King's African Rifles) and other British troops. Author appeared to be quite taken with his subject (Von Lettow Vorbeck) which at times I think needed some restraint but overall a good story. B-
by Sam Willis43. Finished - July 2010 - Excellent account of the history of one British warship during the time of sail, HMS Temeraire. B
by Richard S. Lowry44. Finished - July 2010 - Engaging account of the fight for Fallujah during 2004. The stories of US serviceman killed and wounded during this battle brings home the terrible realities of urban warfare in a built up city. B
by Robert L. O'Connell45. Finished - July 2010 - A very good and easy-to-read account of the Second Punic War, Hannibal and the impact of the devastating battle at Cannae. Appears to be aimed at the general reader however still presents a very good account of this famous battle and the aftermath. B+
(see review for further info.)
by Kevin Brazier46. Finished - July 2010 - Excellent reference book offering a chronological record of all Victoria Cross holders, brilliant accounts of some outstanding men. B+
Oh I get it, you never sleep! Impressive results. Go Aussie Rick Go!
It's just some books won't let me put them down till I finish! :)
Your going to cruise it in at this rate.
August 2010:
by Adam Zamoyski47. Finished - August 2010 - An excellent biography of Chopin, well worth the effort to read for those who love his music. B+
"...'the sylph of the piano, the ineffable artist, attached to this mortal world by the merest touch of a finger and nourished by dreams from on high, and compared his playing to 'the sighing of a flower, the whisper of clouds, or the murmur of stars'." - Le Menestrel - 1848 review
On Campaign in the Age of Napoleon: The Art of Keith Rocco (no cover) by Matthew Delamater
48. Finished - August 2010 - A beautiful book full of magnificent paintings of scenes and soldiers of the Napoleonic period. A must have for any Napoleonic buff! A.
by Gregory Freeman49. Finished - August 2010 - A book that needed to be told of the rescue of downed American pilots during WW2 however I felt that the author was very selective in his presentation of the history covering Yugoslavia during this conflict and the national forces involved. C-
by Richard Hough50. Finished - August 2010 - Although first published in 1958 this book offers a very readable account of the Russian Fleet's journey and final battle with the Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo at Tsushima on May 27, 1905. B
(The War of Lost Opportunities) by Max Hoffmann51. Finished - August 2010 - This book offers an insight into the command and operations of the German Army fighting on the Eastern Front during WW1. The book is spoilt by a total lack of maps and the occasional badly translated sentence but is still only one of very few books covering this subject in English. C
by Max Hastings52. Finished - August 2010 - This book offers a very detailed account of Winston Churchill and his role as Britain’s wartime leader during the Second World War. Full of great stories and vignettes of this great man. B+
by Phillip Bradley53. Finished - August 2010 - A detailed military account of the Australian Army's campaign to take Salamaua in New Guinea during 1943, well told and well researched. C+
by Richard K. Riehn54. Finished - August 2010 - Decent overview of Napoleon's ill-fated Russian campaign of 1812. For a military study covering such a vast landscape the book does not provide any maps, a major issue for any reader. Since this books publication in 1990 a number of recent titles offer a more engaging account. C
by Paul Stephenson55. Finished - September 2010 - A decent overview of Constantine, the Roman Empire and Christianity. Occasionally the book was a little slow but it certainly offered a full and well researched account of this interesting man and his times and the role of Christianity in the Roman Empire. C
Mod
Have you got a special book put away for your 50th read 'Aussie Rick'
Hi Michael, I didn't even think of that, what a great idea! Sadly I promised to read "The Forgotten 500" with a reading friend in the United States, although book 50 and 500 seem to hold some sort of significance :)
by Gregory A. Freeman
If you like the symbolic angle here is a book you may be interested in 
by Bill Sloan. Been on my to-read list for a while.
Hi Michael, you'll be happy to know that I also have the book on my to read list as well! When will we ever get the time to read them all :)
As Frank Zappa said "So many books, so little time". Checked my wish list for the Kindle, its up to 60 titles! My problem is so many things interest me.
Arrh, we share the same problem!
September:
by Lucien Rousselot56. Finished - September 2010 - This is a great guide to the uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon from the famed French military artist Lucien Rousselot. Its a great book just to flick through and gaze upon the beautiful images and artwork and a great reference book for those who have an interest in the period of history. B+
by Robert Parker57. Finished - September 2010 - Easy to read book of two first-hand (edited) accounts of officers who fought during Marlborough's campaigns in Europe during the War of Spanish Succession, 1702 to 1712. C+
by Michael Molkentin58. Finished - September 2010 - Great account covering the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) in action during WW1, full of first-hand accounts from the pilots and ground crew with many sad stories to remind the reader of the terrible dangers of flying during the Great War. B+
by Ben Hughes59. Finished - September 2010 - Interesting account of little known part of South American and British history when unemployed British soldiers from the Napoleonic period travelled to the New World to assist Simon Bolivar overthrow Spanish domination. C+
by Cavalie Mercer60. Finished - September 2010 - Although an interesting first-hand account of the Hundred Days campaign I was slightly disappointed as the vast majority of the book was taken up with the daily observations of Cavalie Mercer journeying to the confrontation at Waterloo and then the drive to Paris. A good insight into the day to day travails of a front line soldier during the Napoleonic period but not enough to keep the reader interested throughout the book. C
(see review for further info)
by Edward Fraser61. Finished - September 2010 - This book, first published in 1906, offers lots of first-hand accounts, reports, newspaper articles and stories taken from the French & Spanish sources offering a perspective from the other side of this most famous naval battle. B
by Peter Snow62. Finished - September 2010 - This new biography on the Duke of Wellington by Peter Snow is an excellent addition to the many books on this British General. The book mainly covers Wellington’s time in the Peninsular with fourteen of twenty chapters devoted to that campaign. The final four chapters obviously cover the lead up to, and the conclusion of, the Battle of Waterloo. B+
(see review for further info)
by Frederick William von Herbert63. Finished - October 2010 - This is the first-hand account of a young European officer who served in the Turkish Army and was involved in the Siege of Plevna during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). This sturdy defense held up the main Russian advance into Bulgaria, allowing other great powers the time to support the Turks. Eventually, superior Russian and Romanian numbers forced the garrison to surrender. C+
Mod
I'm enjoying myself Bentley maybe I might make it to the eighty mark
Mod
October:
by Laurence Rees64. Finished - October 2010 - A decent and easy-to-read account of the dealings between the Big Three (Stalin, Churchill & Roosevelt) during WW2 and how it affected the make-up of Europe. The betrayal of Poland, the Katyn massacre and other issues are all covered in an engrossing account that should keep most readers interested till the end . B
by Ron Greer65. Finished - October 2010 - A very interesting account of one-mans war in the Pacific. Herb Greer was a radio-operator flying in a B-29 over Japan in the closing stages of WW2. The book is made up of entries from Herb's wartime diary, interviews conducted 60 years after the end of the war and official sources. The book offers the reader a look into this terrible war through the experiences of a participant; the smells and sights of a burning city under the bomb-bay doors of the massive B-29 Superfortress. B+
by S.C. Gwynne66. Finished - October 2010 - Excellent account of Quanah Parker and the rise and fall of the Comanches, one of the most feard Native American tribes of the old west. Great story of the times, people and places that make this period of history so fascinating. B+
by Russell Blount Jr.67. Finished - October 2010 - This book of 156 pages offers a concise campaign study of three intense battles fought at New Hope Church, Pickett's Mill, and Dallas in Georgia during 1864. These conflicts were part of Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, and were battles that the participating soldiers remembered as the fighting in the "Hell Hole." C+
by Peter Darman68. Finished - October 2010 - Insightful and interesting first-hand accounts from a number of members of the International Brigades that fought for the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. C+
by Paul Strathern69. Finished - October 2010 - An easy to read and well presented account of three famous men in Renaissance Italy. The book covers the lifes of Leonardo, Machiavelli and Cesare Borgia and how their paths crossed and the results of those meetings of great minds. Overall the book was an enjoyable read and offered much to a reader if they have not already read accounts of this period or these people. C
by Quintin Barry70. Finished - November 2010 - A very detailed and well researched account of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the role of Helmuth von Moltke. The book offers a very in-depth military account of this conflict. I found a lot of the pictures, drawings and sketches very interesting and added to the narrative although I found the use of contemperary maps a bit painful as they did not offer enough detail to actually follow the course of events. B
Bentley wrote: "Well you made the big 50 with many books to spare. Will be interesting to see how many you complete this year."LOL, if I get a vacation by myself for the rest of the year, I probably could get to 50. Amazing job, A.R.
Hi Bryan,I can't help myself and I don't have many distractions at home :)
November:
by Prit Buttar71. Finished - November 2010 - A very good and quite detailed account of the Russian offensives into Prussia during the final stages of WW2. Great first-hand accounts used throughout the book although limited maps. Well worth reading for those interested in the Second World War. B+
(no cover) Wallenstein by Golo Mann72. Finished - December 2010 - This book (883 pages) covers the life and death of Albrecht von Waldstein, who was a Bohemian soldier who offered his services, and an army during the Thirty Years' War, to the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II. He became the supreme commander of the armies of the Habsburg Monarchy and one of the major figures of the Thirty Years' War until he was assassinated by order of the Emperor. An interesting read if at times a little difficult due to translation issues (German to English) and the author’s style of writing, but well worth the effort. B
by Robert Taylor73. Finished - November 2010 - This lovely book provides the reader with Robert Taylor's Battle of Britain paintings, one of the world's finest aviation artists. Great aerial combat scenes come alive in this book, recommended for anyone who loves aviation art. A
(no cover) The Coward of Minden: The Affair of Lord George Sackville by Piers Mackesy74. Finished - November 2010 - This small book of 263 pages offers an excellent account of the Battle of Minden that occured during the Seven Years War and the subsequent Court Martial of Lord George Sackville, later Lord George Germain, who prosecuted the War against the rebellious American colonies. B+
by Janice Harris Lord and Alan E. Stewart75. Finished - November 2010 - Work related text using mainly US based research but still offers some very good suggestions, information, and research in relation to death notification. B
December:
by Eric Jay Dolin76. Finished - December 2010 - A history of the role of the Indians, Dutch, French, British, Russians, and Americans in the fur trade in the New World and how America grew as a result, covering the period from first settlement to the end of the 'Age of Extermination'. B+
(no cover) Memoirs/Principal Events in Campaigns of by Francis Maule77. Finished - December 2010 - Small and concise book covering the author's account of his participation in the British campaigns in Holland and Egypt during the Napoleonic Wars. C-
by Adrian Tinniswood78. Finished - December 2010 - A decent and easy to read account of the Pirates and Corsairs that operated in the Mediterranean and beyond during the 17th Century. C+
(no cover) Junot's Invasion of Portugal, 1807-1808 by Maximilian Foy79. Finished - December 2010 - OK historical account of the French invasion of Portugal in 1807 with forces under the command of Marshal Junot. First published in 1829 its a small and easy to read book written by the French General, Maximilian Foy. C
by Ron Chernow80. Currently reading
by J. E. Lendon81. Finished - December 2010 - Interesting and enjoyable account of the first ten years of warfare in the opening drama of the Peloponnesian War fought between Athens and Sparta. This book was hard to put down and offered some great reading and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this period of history. Book is 385 pages of text with lots of notes and appendixes to assist the reader. A
(see review for further info)
Mod
Thank you Bentley, my book on Wallenstein slowed me down a bit though!
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The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Song of Wrath: The Peloponnesian War Begins (other topics)Washington: A Life (other topics)
Junot's invasion of Portugal (other topics)
Pirates of Barbary: Corsairs, Conquests and Captivity in the 17th-Century Mediterranean (other topics)
Memoirs of the Principal Events in the Campaigns of North Holland and Egypt (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
J.E. Lendon (other topics)Ron Chernow (other topics)
Maximilian Foy (other topics)
Adrian Tinniswood (other topics)
Francis Maule (other topics)
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January 2010:
1. Finished - January 2010 - Great story, B+
(see review for further info)
2. Finished - January 2010 - Another great book, A
(see review for further info)
[image error] by Colonel George Armand Furse
3. Finished - January 2010 - Heavy reading, C-
4. Finished - January 2010 - Great book, B+
(see review for further info)
5. Finished - January 2010 - OK, C-
[image error] by Procopius
6. Finished - January 2010 - Another good account, C+
(see review for further info)
7. Finished - January 2010 - Decent but dated, C+
(see review for further info)