Europe Books

Oman is the definitive tactical and operational description of the British and French campaigns in the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. It's also among the best descriptions in the English language of the realities of early 19th century ground combat.

My reading was of the original volumes in the 1970s; I'm most pleased that these unmatched references have been re-printed.

This is a reprint of the first of Charles Oman's masterful seven volume History of the Peninsular War, and covers the period from the initiation of hostilities to Moore's retreat to Corunna. Quite simple, this is the definitive English language reference on the Peninsular War, and nobody can call themselves a serious student of this era without having read this series. This first volume was published in 1902, the seventh in 1935, and although there has been mountains written since about the campaigns, the battles, and the soldiers in English, French, and Spanish, this is still the undisputed masterwork, and the standard by which all others are compared.

Virtually all of the political, military, and economic issues related to the campaigns are presented in these volumes. Every major battle is described in minute detail by Oman. He personally travelled to virtually every battlefield in Spain and Portugal to better understand the lay of the land for himself. Even more than in central Europe, the terrain played a critical role in the Peninsula, and Oman made every effort to understand how it affected the outcome. There are detailed orders of battle for all combatants and maps for all battles. The maps are large, color foldout format for the more significant battles. Political events are also described, particularly as they relate to the military sphere.

There are some drawbacks/limitations to all the books in this series. First, there is a HEAVY pro-British bias in outlook in all these books. I got the impression that Oman considered the French to be largely incompetent. These books to not present a balanced view, or even seriously try to explain the French perspective of the campaigns. The Spanish are also presented as largely irrelevant, although most of the fighting was in Spain! Second, there are few details of the guerilla operations. This may be the first war in which guerilla operations (what we would today call fourth generation war) played an important (decisive?) role. Oman doesn't omit discussion of these entirely, but they are certainly downplayed. I think that a more detailed discussion of guerilla leaders, operations, and their relationship with the larger military campaigns would have been a great addition to an already long series. Third, like virtually all English military historians, this is a virtual hagiography of Wellington. Don't let this in anyway prevent you from buying these. This series is certainly not the end all on the subject, but it is still, after 70+ years, the best that has ever been written about it.

The original typeface (from the early 20th century editions) has been preserved in this modern re-publication. This really give the text an authentic feel. Seven volumes of 600+ pages each may seem like a lot of reading, but Oman wrote with a easily readable and absorbing prose. This series is obviously a bit of a time commitment, but I would recommend this to even someone with a passing interest in the epoch. I should mention that I first read this serious about 15 years ago, I decided that I didn't know enough about the Peninsular War and borrowed each volume from the library. I've since bought the reprinted volumes (a complete collection of the original volumes is a wee-bit expensive, if you can find them), and re-read sections regularly. If you can believe it, I felt that even after seven volumes, there were many topics that Oman didn't cover in enough detail (see above)!

In short, if you are a serious student of the Napoleonic Wars, you must read this series of books. You will not regret the money or the time spent. I would give this series 6 stars if I could. Outstanding.

Sir Charles Oman's comprehensive seven volume history of the Peninsular War is the yardstick by which any other history of this theatre must be measured. It is exhaustive in detail and in breadth of coverage. If it happened, it is in one of these volumes. Napoleon may have considered Spain a side show, but as results turned out it was a bleeding ulcer. French losses here, combined with the 1812 campaign, placed a strain on the Empire which could not be overcome by even the best generalship. Any true student of the Napoleonic Wars should find these books and read them. They are essential to a complete understanding of the conflict.

This is the first of a seven volume history of the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal between the forces of Napoleonic France and Great Britain, Portugal, and Spain. Oman's account, although dated, is still the definitive account of this long conflict. This first volume recounts the background to the French invasion, the French conquest of Portugal and Spain, and the results, which included insurrection in Spain and British intervention in Portugal. Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, makes his initial appearance in the war at the head of a small British expeditionary force which ultimately displaces the French from Portugal. A larger figure in this first volume is Sir John Moore, who took over leadership of the British expeditionary force and led the ill-fated campaign in Spain. Oman does a superb job capturing the complexities of the conflict at the strategic and operational levels of war. In particular, Oman does an excellent job laying out the conflicts within Spanish ranks which seriously hamstrung their resistance to French occupation. His tactical narrative is adequate; those fascinated by the cut and thrust of battle narratives will do better with other authors. This first volume provides much necessary but sometimes tedious background to the War; although Oman's interest in the British intervention is obvious, he is evenhanded in covering events in Spain. Those undertaking the whole series will find that Oman's writing quality improves with each succeeding volume. This volume is highly recommended to the serious student of the Napoleonic Wars and of the history of the British Army. Possession of a good map of the Iberian Peninsula will supplement the smaller maps included in the text.

I am ashamed to say, after studying the Napoleonic Wars for quite some time, this is my first reading of this excellent volume. It is an exhaustive, authoritative account of the Peninsular War that is without peer in English. Oman spent years researching and writing this multi-volume epic, and it is invaluable both as a reference and a research tool on its own. The only way you will find like information is by going into the archives yourself.

Oman does somewhat over simplify 'column versus line' in his study, but the detail, and the sweep of these campaigns that he so meaningfully tells more than make up for that.

This book, and the series it introduces, are highly recommended for any and all enthusiasts and historians, and it has an honored place on my bookshelf. The price may be somewhat steep, but it is definitely worth it.

This reissue has an invaluable introduction by Col John Elting, the noted authority on the period, which is helpful in understanding how and why Oman wrote the series. This book, and the series, is a definite keeper and is without peer for the study of these critical campaigns.

Katie is traveling west to find her only living relative, her uncle. The trip is long and hard, but as long as Katie has the Mustang, it seems as though she will be fine in the end.
The treacherous trip started when she heard her caretaker, Mr. Stevens, and his wife were going west without her and the Mustang. Katie was going to be left in the hands of another caretaker and Mr. Stevens left the orders for the Mustang to be shot.
I loved this book. Any horse crazy girl would. The book is the second in the trilogy. It is suspenseful and even though Katie is a mere character, it seems as though you were traveling west with Katie and her Mustang.
Kathleen Duey has written many other horse stories and all the ones I have read are awesome. She comes highly recommended on my list.

-Gracie Eakin

I ordered this book and received it promptly and in excellent condition.

Young Katie, orphaned in an epidemic, is taken in by Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, a childless couple. But then she learned that they planned to kill the mustang horse she had befriended and take her to an orphanage in St. Louis. With the help of Hiram, the farmhand, Katie is able to escape the Stevenses and take the mustang with her. Hiram, who has no family of his own, feels he must protect Katie and offers to take her on the long journey west so she can live with her relatives in Oregon. But just the journey to Independence, Missouri -- the starting-off point for the Oregon Trail -- is difficult and dangerous, and the mustang still doesn't trust Katie fully.

Young readers who enjoy historical fiction will be sure to enjoy this series for its setting, and fans of horse stories will love Katie's bond with the mustang. A sweet story that I highly recommend to young readers.

I finished this book in one day, and found it to be incredibly engrossing and educational. It reminded me a lot of The American Girl Books, which showcase real girls in a historical setting. That is the same purpose with the Hoofbeats series. Set on an Iowa farm is the laste 1800's, the book paints a very vivid picture of life for Katie, a 9 year old girl recently orphaned. I would recommend this book strongly to anyone with a daughter who loves horses, history, and reading altogether. This made for a very enjoyable afternoon!

The year is 1847, and nine-year-old orphan Katie Rose is ecstatic when Mr. Stevens brings home a wild Mustang, for it's the first bit of happiness she's felt since an epidemic wiped out her family three years ago, causing her to be forced to live with the evil Mr. and Mrs. Stevens. Katie finds herself drawn to the Mustang, and realizes that he trusts her to a certain extent, and even lets her work with him. Soon, Katie and the Mustang have a strong bond with each other. Then comes the news. Mr. Stevens plans on following the Oregon trail, which is perfect for Katie, for she will be able to find her Uncle. But then she finds out that Mr. Stevens plans on sending her to an orphanage and killing the Mustang before they leave. Now Katie and the Mustang, with the help of a ranch hand named Hiram, have decided to runaway, and escape their terrible fate before it's too late.

Kathleen Duey has created an extremely enjoyable new series for fans of historical fiction, and horse lovers. Her characters are kind, and intriguing, and paint a wonderful picture of what growing up in the year 1847 was like. Katie is a sweet character, whom readers will feel an instant bond with, and readers will feel the same way towards the Mustang. Filled with wonderful descriptions and adventures, this is a book that cannot be missed.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Imagine trying to survive 3,153,600 minutes of hell, with each minute seeming as if it was a year long. That's what Helina Birenbaum describes in her autobiography about surviving the holocaust, Hope is the Last to Die.
The book and its author are remarkable, as Joan Martorelli, notes in her review on Amazon.com (June 15, 2003). Going over the descriptive passion Halina writes with, Ms. Martorelli introduces ideas about how an everyday person could cope with the Holocaust and also looks back on times she visited concentration camps.
One point that Ms. Martorelli makes in this review is that her descriptions of the trauma, the joy, and the anger are so vivid and expressive that they simply draw you in and make you feel as though you are almost there with her as she goes through the manic changes of emotion. I completely agree with this. I also think (though the writer of this review doesn't contradict this) that it would be impossible to fully experience any pain Halina went through just by reading a book about the troubles, But acknowledging that brings us one step closer to comprehending.
Halina did not get a chance to grieve about a lot of the loss faced. She was not able to sit down and cry even for a minute because it would jeopardize her chances of survival. In the loss of both her dear mother and of her first love, she isn't able to say goodbye. They are both taken so suddenly and forcefully. She had to tune out her urges to mourn. If she had not done that, I believe she would have died along side the millions of other persecuted.
A book so filled with love, character, hope, and that's so easy to follow and get caught up in should not be kept of your bookshelf. Hope is the Last to Die fits that description perfectly, and I recommend this book to everyone.

Grand Rapids, MI

I also bought this book in Auschwitz. I read is as soon as I bought it. While touring through the concentration camps you see all the horrible things that these people had to go through. But when you read the book, you experience the whole thing again, but with more heart. You go through the steps with Halina, you cry and you can almost feel what she felt. She is a remarkable woman for not possessing hatred, instead she encourages love and wisdom. Because of Halina I have become a more understanding person.

I have read many books about the holocaust, but this one is special to me. After having the honor of actually meeting the author and hearing her story told first-hand (twice), I felt like I had to get her book. I did, and it changed me. Reading it was an experience which was almost too difficult for me and yet, I didn't want it to end.

It is written like a story -you go through everything she goes through, you sort of relive it with her. That is why, when you finish the book, you feel like she is your best friend. I wish she was.

I have read many books and seen many movies about the Holocaust; have visited Auswchwitz and Dachau, but I have never felt the horror of the camps as I did while reading this book. The reader is there with Ms. Birenbaum, feeling the cold, the hunger, the constant terror and rage. It is unimaginable that this woman survived 6 years of inhuman treatment--but she did.

Because Ms. Birenbaum describes her own experiences as a Polish Jew coming of age during the Third Reich, she has much to teach us. The author expresses her emotions so simply and beautifully that the reader feels joy at her triumphs and while crying at her losses, emotional pain and humiliation. This remarkable woman, who was a child (between 9 and 15 years of age during the war), was wise, strong, resourceful and brave beyond all expectations. She watched almost all those she loved disappear. While standing in line at a "selection" at the Majdanek Camp, she turned around to talk to her beloved mother who had for years emotionally sheltered her young daughter from the inevitable (a la "Life is Beautiful"), and found her gone. She never saw her again, never said good-bye. In the camps she created new families for herself, only to loose these people, as well. Most touching was Ms. Birenbaum's first experience of falling in love and the loss of that man. And through all this, she was never able to mourn. Emotions had to be pushed deep inside because the focus had to be on survival.

On several occasions, the author expressed her need for dignity and self-respect by standing up to her captors and, unbelieveably, was not shot for her defiance. She describes her indifference to the pain of others as a way of coping with the near certainty that she would loose them, while also expressing her longing to be touched and held and by someone.

After reading this book, I think about all the little annoyances of daily living, and how meaningless they are. I wonder how many of us, in our pre-teens, could have dealt with the protracted horror of the ghetto and camps as Ms. Birenbaum did. How many of us would have had the will and fortitude to live through the experiences described in this book? Ms. Birenbaum, you were a remarkable child and are a courageous woman!

One of the BEST first hand accounts of the holocost and life inside Auschwitz. I bought my copy at Auschwitz and every detail from the book is superimposed with the memory of the camp as it is today. The imagery the author uses is mesmerizing. This is a truly moving story full of hardship and courage. Even through all of the trials and tribulations of life in the camp of death, the author shows us the beauty of companionship and hope. I wondered at this book. How one individual could servive those around her dying and still have the desire to live. It is through the hope and courage that she can live and it is through this book that the problems of my life seem so insignificant.

As an avid reader of prehistory novels, I can tell that this one is one of the best I've ever read! It's a pity that is it out of print!

The story itself is epic and very memorable, the characters are deep, and the landscapes and customs are very well described. Right from the start, I became very attached to the main characters, and even to less important ones.

I've already read the first in the series ("Daughter of The Red Deer"), which was excellent, but I loved this one even better. Now I can't wait to read the third book! ("The Reindeer Hunters".) I wish Joan Wolf had written more than just 3 prehistory novels -- she's very good at it!

Anyway, I highly recommend anyone into prehistory novels to get this one from Amazon's Marketplace, or any used book store. Well worth it!

PS: What happened to Siguna?

Oh my gash!!! This is the most amazing prehistoric novel ever. I learned so much about the goings on of Cro-Magnon Magdellenians by reading this book. In fact I wrote a ten page research essay based off of information i learned in this book.... It also has a thrilling plot and lusty scenes that made rainy afternoons a little more exciting for me....If you are looking for adventure and romance mixed with deer skin and skull cups then don't miss the Horsemasters...scourge of the world!!!!

Before reading this series of books (this book is #2 in a series of 3), I had never read any fiction dealing with pre-history. It was wonderful. Joan Wolf's use of description and imagery is simplistic yet so satisfying during the reading of the tale. It is a wonderful story of love and adventure.

As a history major, i spend a lot of my time trying to find decent historical fiction that I can read and tell other people about. I love this book. When I first read The Clan of The Cave Bear when i was 10, i thought that no book could be better than that. Joan Wolf's books (all of the historical fiction ones) are almost as good. I first read Daughter of the Red Deer when iwas 13 and loved it and since then have been looking for anything theat she has written. The Horsemasters is by far my favourite. The characters are so vivid and how can you not love Nel and Ronan? I highly recommend it and any of Joan Wolf's other books to anyone that is interested in Pre-historical novels. there just aren't enough out there, but these are keepers.

Excellent book, excellent reading, excellent story. Wonderful continuation of "Daughter of the Red Deer"! This lady can write! Very thoroughly researched! If this is the 2nd in a trilogy, is the 3rd out yet?, & if so, what is the title?

This is the best book on the HO229 from the technical perspective. I like the detailled technical drawings. You could almost start building a Ho229 using these!

Shepelev & Ottens make great attempt at making a lot from very little actual information,interviews with people who where there, great photos, excellent diagrams but the brothers Horten remain an enigma.

I've been in love with the Horten 229 since the first time I saw a picture of it. This book is packed with photos and technical drawings. It covers the whole development of the plane. Recommended!

... and just the right amount of writing - this book has got the mix right.
Researching this little known family of aircraft that must have taken the writers years to research, and not to be content with that, the authors uncovered the Dunne D.5, a British WW1 era tailless swept wing biplane -in the introduction ... an even more obscure aircraft.
No mention of the Northrop wings in there, so this is history of European flying wings.
The main driver was for drag reduction and maximising the range of the aircraft not stealth.
If you like unusual aircraft you should buy this.

I've been fascinated since I saw the first pictures of the Horten jet powered, wooden, flying wing from the Smithsonian collection. The stories I heard was that this was a deliberate attempt on the German's part to build a 'stealth' fighter way back at the end of the Second World War. But there has been very little published about the plane. Therefore I was delighted to find this book that covers this plane in great detail.

Clearly the plane was far ahead of its time, indeed, its design looks so much like the canceled A-12 from McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics that it's uncanny.

In reading the book, the authors make it clear that the Horten brothers were thinking of aerodynamics and scarcity of materials rather than stealth when they designed the plane. The book points out that the wooden skin of the plane would basically have been invisible to radar, but the metal frame underneath the wood would still reflect radar waves. Designers simply didn't know enough about radar at the time.

The modern American flying wings such as the B-2 bomber are stable only because of sophisticated computer controls. The book reports similar problems with the Horten plane. This might well have prevented its use for its intended use as a fighter, but we'll never know.

The authors have collected an amazing amount of information and a large number of photographs that I don't believe have been published before.

Hostage Lands is a great read! Its one of those books that once started, you don't want to put down. Full of intrigue and suspense, this is a book that young and young at heart will enjoy. I appreciated Douglas Bond's ability to weave so much history of post Roman Britain into the book. I've read other books that speak to Rome's conquering Brittania, but this was a new era for me and filled in gaps that I wondered about. A definite must for students of world history, the Roman empire, or just "ancient" civilizations.

I've been learning alot about Roman history, lately, and I must admit I was getting tired of hearing about it. But this book is amazing. When I finished Hostage Lands, I wished there was more of it to read. Great book, from cover to cover.

Fifteen-year-old Neil Perkins lived a reasonably good life. He lived on Hostage Heath, a farm near Hadrian's Wall in northern England, and his parents let him go where he please on his four-wheeler, as long as he accomplished his chores. Yes, he had a good life, except for his Latin classes with the ridiculous Miss Klitsa. Perhaps she would have been better off teaching a drama class.

After wrecking his four-wheeler near the wall, Neil finds a packet of tablets in the hole he made in landing. The tablets were all written upon, and in Latin, no less! He took them to Miss Klitsa and asked what they said, but she was too much of a teacher to tell him.

All of this merely serves as the introduction to the tale which Neil laboriously translated. The epic tale of Celts and Romans scheming, spying, fighting and dying around Hadrian's Wall is reminiscent of the tales spun by Rosemary Sutcliff. We follow the centurion Rusticus, who must decide where his loyalties lay. The story is well told, and readers will hold their breath, instead of easily guessing the way everything will resolve itself. To make this drama even better than Sutcliff's, one of these characters, Calum, is a Christian, although he does not proclaim it to everyone he meets. When the Celts sit around the fire at night, and call on him for a story, he tells them, "My tale is of a great King," and gives the whole gospel. Calum's service to the Prince of Peace does not however, make him any less valiant a soldier.

The book concludes with Rusticas telling a story of "a great King." Neil wonders if the whole story is true, and asks questions. Will Neil, will the reader believe the story? What about the tale of "a great King"?

I have always loved Sutcliff's books, but Hostage Lands ranks even higher on my list. I wish I could give it more stars, and highly recommend it to those 13 and up. Travel back to the misty, dangerous Britain of the Celts, when Romans built their wall, and flaunted their standards. You will learn to think like a Celt, and step quietly behind a tree when you hear footsteps. And maybe you finish this book, and read it again, and give it a place with your favorite Celtic books.

Seriously, this was just a great read. I sat down to read the first couple chapters one evening and didn't end up going to bed until 2 because I wanted to finish the book. Kids will love it as will adults.

Officially listed as teen fiction, Hostage Lands has an appeal which reaches a larger audience, from approximately 10 years old through adult. Set in English farmlands near the remains of Hadrian's Wall, this historical adventure can be read for its entertainment value alone; but, the reader will also find out what it can cost to be a follower of our Lord, as well as gaining some fine Christian perspectives for living.

In contemporary England, eccentric, extremely laughable Miss Klitsa's Latin class alternates between soporific trance and wild hilarity at the teacher's expense. The protagonist of this story, Neil Perkins, gets to drive his ATV to school everyday, and it isn't only teenage readers who grow green with envy. He often leads in the hilarity aimed at the redoubtable Miss Klitsa. Then one fateful day, Neil and his ATV hair-raisingly gouge a ditch near Hadrian's Wall and he finds an ancient manuscript. The only one who can help him is Miss Klitsa.

As Neil translates the manuscript, the reader falls headlong into a spine-tingling Roman/Celtic adventure of sword-play, treachery, fearful undertakings, wild men vs. civilized people, undying friendship, and impossible decisions. It's hard to put this book down and just as hard not to assimilate the lessons: true friendship; patriotism gone awry; willingness to die for another; various battle styles and the war equipment for each; uncivilized Christians vs. civilized pagans; some intriguing English archaeological lessons; accepting people as worthwhile even when you think them ridiculous; and a great deal more.

High school history and English teacher as well as author, Douglas Bond knows how to portray people of all ages. He is a rising star in the historical fiction genre for both older and younger people. Not satisfied with his own history background, Bond draws on the research of other historians. With a wide but understandable vocabulary, a talent for keeping the plot under control, a penchant for characterization, and a wonderful imagination, Bond presents a tale sure to engross any reader. A glossary of terms and a Roman timeline help keep the audience on track. As well as being a good read for the individual, Hostage Lands makes a fine read-aloud book. - Donna Eggett, Christian Book Previews.com

This is a completely absorbing page- turner with fascinating historical details. I thought Emily, the protagonist, was particularly interesting. Many authors label their protagonists, giving them a certain type of personality that isn't very common among teenagers. Emily is normal in every way, yet she shines. This is because she is very realistic and likable. Though she is a bit downtrodden from major changes in her life (a divorce, a new home, and a new school), she doesn't whine excessively, nor does she take it unrealistically with no complaints. I was also very pleased with the ending. There was no corny parting scene where Emily's seventeenth century friends go back to their time through a swirling vortex with tears in their eyes.

I immensely enjoyed reading this book. My only complaint concerns the title. Although the book's title is The House on Hound Hill, it was originally published in Britain as Here Comes a Candle to Light You To Bed. I think the original title is much more intriguing and should not have been changed.

I've never been so "in" to a book that it made me jump in my seat until i read this. Prince has done a fantastic job of painting history, intruige, and fiction into this story. Everything from visions of ghosts repeating the cycle of their tragic lives, the protagonist becoming lost in the past, the past intertwining with the present, plague pits, and death make this story a favorite of mine.

The House on Hound Hill by Maggie Prince was a very good book. it had suspense, adventure, and history. it is about a 16-year-old girl, Emily, and her experienceswith the Black Plague of 1665. She has just moved into an old house in a London neighborhood called Hound Hill. She starts seeing, hearing and even smalling things from the time of the Black Death. She was transported to 1665 several times. Then she begins getting stranhge symptoms. On one last trip to 1665, she learns more about the horrors of the Plague and her new acquaintances from the time. For this trip, she stays an unusually long time and, like the other times, she doesn't know how to get back.

Emily's new house in London's historic neighborhood is filled with secrets of the past - secrets which bring Emily right into the past as she begins to experience plague symptoms and uncovers a doorway to an era where the Black Death killed almost a quarter of London's people. A challenging, involving story which blends real history with supernatural overtones in a riveting style.

The House On Hound Hill is a wondrfull book about a teenagegirl's troubles and the plague of London. Emily is shattered by herparents recent divorce and her new neighborhood.She is depressed aboutfailing exams.Emily starts to hear whispers and meets an man looking for his cat.Soon odd things start to happen.Emily discovers the past is still alive.She periodically goes back in time and experiences London in 1665.She sees beggars and watchmen.This book describes how it was at the time of the plague.The imagery and details add colorful contrast to this sad story.I enjoyed this book because I learned about the plague.Parts of the book did seem confusing at first, but they were later explained.

This novel has emerged, from the ruins of the purges, like a pure, unspoiled and immaculate gem. As an autobiographical novel, one cannot deny the importance of this work to provide for insights into Bukharin's private life, given that most biographies of Bukharin are about his political and intellectual life.

Not only is this work important in this regard, Bukharin's stunning literary ability comes to the forefront in this work, which details, with a humanistic empathy, the plight of the peasants, family relations and the psychology of a middle class family from the late 19th century Russian society. The novel begins with the birth of "Kolya" and is seen through the boy's eyes as he grows up. It ends, poignantly, (Bukharin did not live to finish the work) with the death of his brother.

Of particular note is the rich texture of his narrative; it powerfully invokes a child-like sense of wonder that is intrinsic to children of that age. There are indeed very few works out there that parallel the vivid evocation of imagery which Bukharin is capable of. Bukharin's description of the Russian landscape was beautifully detailed, as was the heartfelt revelations about life which slipped through.

It is through this work that we come to realize that the interior life of this man was not only brilliant, but that his political stance was chosen fundamentally because of his humanistic understanding of Russian peasants and the impoverished.

This edition comes with very lovely pictures, too.

Set in the pre-revolutionary Russia, Bukharin's novel attempts to demonstrate, through the eyes of a youth named Nikolai Petrov, how the revolutionary spirit fermented and grew among the youth and intelligentsia. While this novel could be read with an eye toward the abuses of the Soviet Union and dismissed as political propaganda, in doing so the reader would miss the wealth of historical detail with which Bukharin writes. Every page is bursting with succulent fruit for anyone interested in the social, economic, and cultural world of the peasants and the working class at the turn of the century in pre-revolutionary Russia. Part of that fruit is socialism, communism, atheism, and the raging underground debates taking place during that period; seen as history, however, Bukharin gives us an invaluable insider's view, recalling his youth in all its variety and discussing the situations that led him down the path his life had taken.

The story revolves around Nikolai, who is obviously a cipher for Bukharin himself. Young Kolya (Nikolai) is full of energy, wit, and curiosity. As he grows and excels in school, his thinking begins to grow as well, from that of an innocent child to that of a young man on the verge of becoming a revolutionary himself. Unfortunately, the saddest part about this novel is that it ends in the middle of a chapter; Stalin finally had Bukharin executed, making it very difficult to continue writing. The writing is so well done it is hard to believe Bukharin never had a chance to re-write it; we are reading essentially his first draft, written in prison. His astounding intellect is obvious, quoting from German, French, English, and Russian poets and authors, occasionally making references to Latin or Greek jokes the children learned in high school, and discussing the variety of birds and other animals Kolya collects with amazing clarity.

Before reading this book, I knew Bukharin was a political genius that few have matched. However, I did not realize his brilliance as a writer: he appeals wonderfully to all the visual and emotional senses as a great novelist. He occasionally discusses his growing political awareness, but that is not the focus of this work. His love of life, nature, and family show the incredible depth of his mind. Much credit must also be given to the translator for making the language so effusive in English.

It's a wonderful miracle that this book was not destroyed by Stalin; it's just a shame that it's incomplete, cutting off in mid-thought. Nevertheless, what Bukharin was able to complete gives provides an enthralling look into life in late Tsarist Russia, as well as putting us a bit closer with one of the most tragic victims of the purges.

Bukharin's autobiographical work is a lyrical, moving, story of the life of a young boy in pre-Soviet russia. Unlike Leon Trotsky's autobiography, which is a similar work in content, this is a novel. And a grand one. When you read the touching descriptions of Kolya's then idyllic, then tragic domestic life, you feel helpless, sad, for you know that this boy will eventually be dead, the New World he helped to create corrupted and turned against him. The very existence of this novel is a message of hope, that even under the most tragic and ironic circumstances there can something joyous (Bukharin wrote the novel while in Lubyanka prison). The poignancy of all this is further increased by the included letter by Bukharin, written to his wife Anna Larina and not given to her for 50+ years. This book also stands as a monument (in a medium I belief he would have perhaps preferred) to Nikolai Bukharin, a brilliant scholar, writer, and Revolutionary

This is a remarkable book. It combines three forms in a single work: 1) a detailed and evocative story of a boy growing up in late 19th century Russia, 2) an informative and moving autobiography of one of the most important Bolshevik leaders, and 3) commentary on the social and economic developments leading up to the 1905 and 1917 revolutions, including (in the tradition of Russian novels) imagined descriptions of important meetings of leaders of state. Most remarkable, though, is that the entire book was written in the nights of Bukharin's confinement in Moscow's Lubyanka Prison while he awaited almost certain execution following his notorious "show trial". The idea of a man who knows he could be shot at any moment writing such detailed, even leisurely descriptions of his childhood in Moscow and Bessarabia is almost beyond comprehension. Indeed, the novel breaks off in mid-sentence. This book should not be missed by anyone interested in 19th and 20th century Russian history, and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in a good coming-of-age novel as well.

Sumption continues the same excellence in Trial by Fire that was started in Trial by Battle - an integrative and authoritative look at the Hundred Years War. As opposed to other histories if this period, his approach is detailed and authoritative - no greater praise can be made of a piece of historical work covering an "event" of such scope and length. My only disappointment is the delay in release of future volumes.

I would not recommend this book to individuals who are looking for general history or discussions of battles. On the other hand, for those with interest in the 13th to 15th century, it is highly recommended.

Sumption's bulky, detailed study of the Hundred Years War and its antecedents is a model for modern narrative history. His research is truly extraordinary, his writing clear, his story compelling, and his judgment almost always sound (if rather pessimistic). He is better on politics, administration, and finance than on strictly military topics, however; in my opinion he fundamentally misunderstands the battle-seeking nature of English strategy in this period (cf. my article in the 1994 _Transactions of the Royal Historical Society_, or my forthcoming monograph, _War Cruel and Sharp_), and his battle narratives, while as good as any others yet published, are open to dispute.

A truly outstanding series on the players, economics, politics and strategy (or lack thereof) of the Hundred Years War. To describe it as definitive is perhaps insufficient praise.

According to correspondence with the UK publisher, Faber & Faber, the demands of the author's day job as a QC (lawyer) will likely mean a 2-3 year delay before volume three (I write this in July 2005). It will almost certainly be worth the wait though.

The book is everything it promises, with one exception - it is volume two of the series. Mr Sumption is an extraordinary advocate, historian and writer, but he wrote volume one before this one.

This is not a review. I simply wish to point out that you have Volume II of Jonathan Sumption's (probably excellent to judge by the previous volume) book on the 100 Years' War on one of your pages, but the review below it is not of that book at all, but of Volume I. I hope this is helpful.

What I love about this book is that the author tells how many Hurricane aces were killed or wounded and gives the names of most if not all those wounded/dead aces. Its about time that people start hearding about Allied dead and wounded military personnel. It is downright boring when you are always reading about the German losses particularly among German aces and never about the Allied dead especially fighter aces.

Tony Holmes' "Hurricane, a Fighter Legend" started my interest in second worldwar aviation again, and this book is a nice companion to the former, focussing on the merits of the plane and its pilots in those very crucial days and giving an exellent account of it.
For Hurricane colour photographs you have to have the 'fighter legend' book, but the colour sideviews in 'Hurricane Aces' are very good, and more than make up for the lack of colour photographs. Very good in my opinion is the last part of the book, where all planes depicted in the sideviews get their own small piece of history, including their eventual fate in most cases.

This Osprey Series is really amazing, no wonder it's making a big sucess. "Hurricane Aces" go deeply in details about the aces involved in those hectic days of 39/40, as always making a link with the enemy's units involved. We can find the scores, the ones who died, the ones who became great wing leader in the future. Excellent work by Tony Holmes.

As I say in my Amazon's Profile: "I am a science fiction fan and a history buff (especially WW II, Napoleon, Civil War, Ancient Rome), I read omnivorously on these subjects."

Osprey's different collections are a great resource for History "aficionados". In a very compact book series with excellent presentation, first quality paper and nice reproductions gives the reader a succinct and complete view of the subject.
"Aircraft of the Aces" is a very specialized series, reviewing in each volume a special brand and model of aircrafts in a limited war-time period.

The present one is focused on Hurricanes during 1939 thru 1940, encompassing the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain and a brief description of Malta & North Africa (these last scenarios will be revisited in detail in other volumes of the collection).

Mr. Tony Holmes as author and editor and the art and technical team (Mr. Keith Fretwell, Mike Chapell, Mark Syrling and Iain Wyllie) has provided excellent profiles of specific airplanes, showing personal marks from the pilots, badges from the squadrons, different paintings styles, rank insignias and any relevant detail.

The photographic material is outstanding there are many less known airplanes photos (even some crashed or disabled) and portraits of British aces (actually Commonwealth as there are many Canadians, Australians & New Zealanders among them) as "Cobber" Kain, "Fanny" Orton and "Ginger" Lacey.

Mr. Holmes collects lots of personal anecdotes from pilots and some times is able to reproduce first person reports from confronting pilots, giving the reader a very dynamic perception of that specific "dog-fight".

This book is a good short volume that will be appreciated by neophytes, general public and very specially enjoyed by airplane modeling fans as it gives valuables details of different Hawker Hurricane variants.

Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This excellent account covers the pilots who were some of the first RAF aces during WW2, whilst also giving a superb history of the early part of this legendary fighter's operational combat career. I've always had a soft spot for the Hawker Hurricane and the extraordinary young men who flew and fought in it. The Spitfire has received an unfair share of the credit for the victory that was the Battle of Britain, despite the fact that two-thirds of the RAF fighter squadrons were composed of Hurricanes. 'Spitfire snobbery' was displayed by downed German aircrew, who refused to accept that they could have been bested by anything less than a Spifire. The careers of pilots such as Kain, Brothers and Frantisek illustrate how this magnificent machine was the equal to anything the Luftwaffe flew. This is an informative and fascinating account of the part played by brave young men, and the legend that was their steed, during the darkest days of WW2.