What are we reading?

[Gusington]

Or Warhammer as the dwarfs.

[WallysWorld]

Finished Patrick Rambaud's "The Battle: A Novel". A good historical novel about the Battle of Aspern-Essling as told by the French side.

Now reading "In the Hour of Victory: The Royal Navy at War in the Age of Nelson" by Sam Willis which goes into great detail about the dispatches written by the Royal Navy commanders that took part in the major battles.

[JasonPratt]

While I knew this on the far, faaaarrrr periphery of my (already somewhat limited) American Civil War knowledge, I was reminded by HistoryBuff's nice video on the film Gettysburg (comparing the film to real life), that the British Lt. Col. Arthur Lyon Fremantle was present as an observer at the battle, while on his three month vacation tour through the South during the War. (He wasn't an official observer, he just thought it would be awesome to go take a tour of the American war, and traveled around with official delegates, semi-pretending to be a delegate.)

After being reminded this guy existed, I wondered if he had published an account afterward, and yes indeed he did: Three Months in the Southern States. I found an excellent printed edition in paperback here: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0995074712

One has to account for his various prejudices of course -- he's a clear example of how someone can be both technically anti-slavery, and also dyed-in-the-wool racist; also a class elitist -- but it's a fascinating snapshot of the Southern war right at the turning of the tide, from April through June 1863.

[bob48]

I'm currently reading 'The History of Napoleon Buoaparte' by J.G.Lockhart. Its a free Kindle download.

[jamus34]

Currently reading "Master and Commander" by Patrick OBrien

[trailrunner]

Currently reading "Master and Commander" by Patrick OBrien

:bd:

[trailrunner]

My daughter gave me this book a while ago for Christmas or my birthday, and I just got around to reading it.  I did not realize that it was about Mathews County, Virginia.  30 pages into it so far, and so far I'm enjoying it.

[Gusington]

For anyone keeping score, Revenger by Alastair Reynolds is not so good. I'm skimming through the rest of it to move on. Some of the reviews on Amazon are pretty scathing and I agree with some of them. I probably should have tried some other Reynolds first.

[Gusington]

Starting Ancestral Machines by Michael Cobley for the second time. It is 4x space opera. First time I tried I got 20 pages in and it required too much thought. So I'm trying again.

[mirth]

Hornfischer's The Fleet at Flood Tide

[BanzaiCat]

Hornfischer's The Fleet at Flood Tide

O0

[Gusington]

About to start The Cold War, A Global History by Odd Arne Westad.

[Airborne Rifles]

Last of the Breed by Louis  L'Amour.

[Sir Slash]

The Battles and Campaigns of Nathan Bedford Forrest by Gen. John Scales.  :bd:

[Staggerwing]

Last of the Breed by Louis  L'Amour.

The only L'Amour novel I've read is his last: The Haunted Mesa, written just after Last of the Breed. A very different kettle of fish though. Let us know what you think.