Ireland Books

The author provides a comprehensive history of London in World War II, drawing on many diaries and other contemporary accounts. Readers will recognize not only London landmarks and neighborhoods, but also famous people who lived in London during the war, including George Orwell and H.G. Wells. The book is filled with anecdotes: my favorite is about Mr. Frederick Leighton-Morris, who "...removed a 50kg bomb from his flat in Jermyn Street and tottered down the pavement with it." (He was fined 100 pounds by a magistrate, who told Leighton-Morris he could not decide "in which part of London a delayed action bomb should go off."
Here, too, are vignettes of Londoners sheltering in the Tube, growing vegetables in allotments in Hyde Park, raising pigs in basements, and finding food for their dogs despite rationing. This book is an excellent companion to Maureen Weller's book on the last year of the war in London (1945). If you read both, read this one first (not second, as I did). That way at least, chronology is served. There is very little if any duplication in the two books: both are superb.

Ziegler has managed to give a real sense of what it must have been like to be in London during the war years. Ziegler takes the tactic of examining history as the impact of events upon the people of London -- the growing clouds of war, the first alerts, the lulls, the bombing, the terror and the courage of a people determined to keep their community, their great city, alive. He describes the slow acclimatising toward austerity of which not all wanted to participate; particularly in the lull between the declaration of war (in which there seemed to be little impact on the London scene save rising prices and product scarcity) and the beginning of bombing (at which time the population rallied much more completely).

'On 24 August (1940) the first bombs fell on central London, starting fires in the East End. Probably the bombing was accidental, but retaliatory raids on Berlin made it inevitable that the process, once started, would escalate dramatically.' The rallying effort to build the community was great, such that 'by February 1941, it was estimated that 92 per cent of London's population could be accommodated in public or private shelters.'

At the end of the war, the preparations of the rationing ministries and the police to keep civil order were almost as detailed and daunting as D-Day; the demand for material (flags) and food for celebrations required a reaffirmation of ration regulations; London and the rest of Britain would still remain on rations for years after the war. Even ceremonies such as the State Opening of Parliament would be scaled down due to the unreadiness of transport or lack of men and material.

Ziegler regrets that human nature reverted back to norm and the community spirit built up during the war quickly disintegrated after the war. Grand plans for rebuilding were never carried out -- London incurred more than half the casualties of cities during the war (over 80,000 in London alone), and the community pulled together to survive, but this cohesion didn't last after the threat was gone; however, Ziegler states, 'there is much that Londoners can look back on with pride, remarkably little about which they need to feel ashamed.'

Picture plates complete the visual story of London at war (the photograph on the cover of men looking through the still-standing library shelves of a bombed-out building is fascinating), and the writing style of Ziegler is compelling and full. A journey into our recent past definitely to be taken.

This book is one of the best photographic books on London that I've seen! I'm an anglophile, and love London, so I collect books on England and Scotland. This book is a great value!

I am not much for writing reviews, but this book deserves to have at least 1 review. I found this book to be of great value! This book is very weighty, with nice thick pages. The book even includes full page fold-outs of photos that could not be contained in a single page (Total of 4 pages for each pullout photo). This book hits the sights of London that do not get a mention in other books, while including the top sights. Each sight gets at least a paragraph worth of description. If you want a book that does the above, then pick this book up!

This is a really great book. It covers not only the subject of Irish food, but also gives information on the culture and a brief history of Ireland. The book is packed with information, maps and beautiful photographs. It is a really helpful book for anyone interested in Ireland.

Very entertaining and informative, this little book was a pleasure to read. Written by Irish folks, it offers witty commentary on the social and cultural traditions of Ireland as well as discussing the wholesome and delicious cuisine. If you've got any interest in Ireland at all, you're sure to enjoy this wonderful guide.

This is a lovely story. Dan captures the essence of golf, the Irish, and a great yarn. I loved every minute of it.

Wryly observed, fast moving and well told, Loopy is a novel for anyone with a sense of humor. Binchy smacks the ball straight down the middle.

This book is a history of Russian society as it evolved from the very beginnings of the Kievan period, through the end of serfdom in the 19th century. More particularly, it is a history of serfdom in Russia. Using many primary sources, the author examines trends in economics, agriculture and politics, to weave the tapestry of Russian development.

I was greatly impressed by the author's familiarity with his sources, and his subject. He made clear the organization of Russian society, and how it changed for the Russian people throughout the years. Scant attention is paid to wars and whatnot, except as they affected the development of Russian society itself, which is quite refreshing. My one complaint about the book is that it is somewhat dry reading, but it is an excellent resource for understanding pre-modern Russia.

This is a book that I would strongly recommend to anyone interested in Russian History.

No serious student of Russian or agrarian history can ignore this work. Blum, a prominent historian, set out to discover why serfdom in Russia was so abject and prolonged. Altogether a magisterial, highly readable work.

This is one of those great read-alouds for boys that make the story come alive. My kids were literally chomping to hear how it would work out and whether the boys would get back safely. Definitely an excellent classic!

This was my first Eilis Dillon book and after I was finished I was hooked. the description of the journey to the island is so detailed that I looked up my map to find out precisely where they were and I was disappointed to find out that they didn't exist. The father has been living a Robinson Crusoe lifestyle and with a lost island there is always treasure involved!

This is not a book for the faint of heart. Lost Lives is basically a compiled list of the victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles and gives the detail of their actual death, who they were, and what they were doing at the time. It would be easier to read the writings of Dante in a single sitting than it would be to spend more than a half an hour reading these most tragic tales.

If you care at all about people, this book will affect you deeply, because the majority of people listed here are merely guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or perhaps their beliefs shading differently to their neighbors.

If you have ever endorsed or supported any form of discrimination, bigotry, or military action, and you consider yourself a rational individual, this book will surely make you reconsider your views on such matters.

The authors of this massive and heartrending work will be seen in the course of time to have made a most worthwhile contribution toward consolidating the Irish Peace Process.

Essential and worthwhile reading for any scholar of History.

Perhaps the best tribute possible for the people whose lives have been wasted over the last 30 years in Northern Ireland.

The only pity is that the sheer numbers make it impossible to also tell the stories of all of the victims who who survived but had their lives shattered.

This book should be supplied as an antidote to those who find terrorism 'romantic' or seek to justify violence from any side in Ireland.

Many of the stories would make a stone weep; this is not an easy book to read. Nevertheless it is essential to anyone who wants an insight into the real cost of the troubles.

Hardman manages what few people have done about Louis XVI: take a balanced view, and focus on him rather than Marie Antoinette. In this book, he draws on the enormous literature on the subject to shed light on the king from many directions, creating a balanced picture, not too rosy, not too bleak. He builds a very complex picture, addressing various stages in the king's life, showing how his behavior changed. The book also has the advantage of drawing on newly available material, especially the letters of Louis with his minister of foreign affairs, Vergenne, to give Louis a voice, and pay attention to what this king of few words actually said.
The book is well written, balanced, clever. I strongly recommend it.

I love this book. Mr. Hardman depicts Louis XVI, the commonly misunderstood King of France, in a way that actually shows Louis as a real person, instead of a lazy old king who treated his people unkindly. I am a big fan of Louis XVI, and when I got this book, I was sure that I was going to love it. If you buy this book, open the first page, and you will love it. Louis XVI: The Silent King, does not show Louis in the more commonly picture of him as a lazy old king bossing everyone around. This book shows the image of a king young king, who tried his best to treat the French people well, but was overshadowed by several prime ministers and a duke. This book is pictureless, but you can imagine pictures in your head as I did.

Note: I made some Mormon angry because of my negative reviews of books out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews.

Your "helpful" vote is greatly appreciated. Thanks

Pilbeam's book is worth the read for the following poem by William Wordsworth, who so accurately described the world of the macabre that includes waxworks. Here is a country fair:

The Horse of knowledge and the Learned Pig,
The Stone-eater, the man that swallows fire,
Giants, Ventriloquists, the Invisible Girl,
The Bust that speaks and moves its gooling eyes,
The Wax-work, Clock-work, all the marvellous craft
Of modern Merlins, Wild Beasts, Puppet shows
All out-o'-the way, far-fetched, perverted things.

It is surprising that a number of the practicianer's of wax art were women. Mrs. Patience Wright (1725-86), a wax expert, toured America until her show was destroyed by fire. Then she moved to England, and finally to France. In 1781 "she failed to persuade Benjamin Franklin to help her set up a wax exhibition. He apparently told her there was too much competition."

Highly recommended history of a strange art form.

With all the historic sites, shrines, monuments, cathedrals, and museums in London, one must-see has been a tourist magnet for almost two centuries, and has been merely a commercial operation. Pamela Pilbeam says, "There is nothing so fascinating for a human being as others of the species," and if we can't rub elbows with the stars (and scoundrels) of our species themselves, then waxwork simulations will do. Pilbeam has written an enjoyable history, _Madame Tussaud and the History of Waxworks_ (Hambledon & London), which gives insight to a subject that, quite obviously, people find fascinating.

The future Madame Tussaud was the niece, possibly daughter, of the man who made waxworks a popular exhibit in Paris. Once the Revolution came, both the theater and waxworks were a sort of newspaper, but waxworks, unlike newspapers and theater, were not censored. The exhibit showed who was in, who was out, and who was guillotined. There was a great appetite to put the guillotined heads on display, and, according to her sometimes unreliable memoirs, Madame Tussaud at her studio would receive the heads hot off the chopper. She would make wax copies, so that there would be enough heads to go around, some going for display in England. Her eventual marriage to Monsieur Tussaud became unsatisfactory, and to pursue a career in exhibitions, she left him for England in 1802, never to return. Remarkably, she was 41 at the time, when women did not launch themselves into mid-life careers; she was to continue running her show until her death at 89. She originally had a traveling exhibit, offering music, good lighting, and space in which visitors could walk around and see themselves, as well as the waxworks. Her marketing was well-targeted; her show became a central place for people to socialize. Eventually she settled in London. There were plenty of others waxworks, but Madame Tussaud continued to be the one to see. She installed over five hundred figures in the new space, more than any competition could muster. She kept the exhibits timely and watched what people watched; a mannequin which didn't make people pause and look was doomed to be melted down. Most importantly, when museums had limited entry, she bought up relics, royal robes, and paintings that would make her waxworks respectable to the respectable middle class. But "respectable" has its limits; the most popular attraction has always been the Chamber of Horrors.

At last counting, Madame Tussaud's had more visitors than any pay-for-view attraction in England. Pilbeam examines the appeal, but it is hard to say exactly why a three dimensional image of, say, Madonna, would be a draw, when there are plenty of lively photos and movies that provide perfectly good depictions. There are some artistic claims among those who appreciate the exhibits; there is no reason, of course, why a wax sculpture should be less "art" than a bronze. Somehow, waxworks might be entertaining, might be instructive, but fundamentally are just fun. The same can be said of Pilbeam's book.

If you are interested in a comprehensive document of kabbalah and mystical schools of judaism this book is a good start.

This is a beautifully written and comprehensive investigation into the intriguing personality of the Ludomirer Moid. Deutsch not only thoroughly investigates the literary and documentary evidence of her story, but sets both in thoughtful cultural contexts, both historic and contemporary. This involves mastery of an impressive range of disciplines, ranging from Hasidic / kabbalistic theology to radical feminism and gender theory. His investigations in Ludmir itself are poignant and elegaic. An excellent book.