Nicholson Books

A rare account of the sea-borne aspects of special operations in the Second World War. Mr. Kemp gives us an insight into the use of mini-submarines as a means to infiltrate enemy harbors, for the purpose of reconaissance, or the destruction/sabotage of ships with torpedoes and mines.
The use of mini-subs was significant in the navies of Britain, Germany, and particularly Italy. It was the Italians who pioneered the concept, and achieved the first successes in attacking ships with manned-torpedoes. Accounts of Count Borghese and Decima Mas are not as easily located as those of Allied and Wehrmacht special units, but this book gives them the credit they deserve.

An "Editor's Choice" in the Winter 1997 "MHQ Review." Editor-in-Chief Robert Cowley writes: "I found this history of midget submarines and human-guided torpedoes an unexpected pleasure. But perhaps I should not have been so surprised: Paul Kemp is a formidable authority on the significant arcana of naval history."

Paul Kemp's "Underwater Warriors" is a unique book. It is the first book I've seen to cover this subject in the depth that it deserves. The midget sub, while perhaps not the most glamourous (or successful) of tools to be used in past wars, did make it's impact. It's story is filled with the stories of many heroic men, most of whom fought for the Axis in WWII.

Underwater Warriors begins with the inception of the Submarine, (and incidentally, the first 'One man' sub) in David Bushnell's "Turtle," a wooden clumbsy thing, experimented with by the revolutionary United States in 1776. Kemp follows the history and evolution of the mini-sub through to the modern day, and makes some conclusions about the military applications and future use of midget subs. His final conclusion is that midget subs are a good idea, but not if only one man is operating them.

The book itself is filled with many accounts of individuals, who worked with midget subs. It becomes clear that these pioneering men truly did exemplify what heroism really is. Since Midget subs have never been a major tool of war, I don't doubt that Kemp has included most of the accounts that were available to be written. What results is an entertaining read, filled with much human drama.

The one downside, at least for me, is that the book lapses into large sections covering the technical aspects of the submarines themselves, including variations, dimentions and minor technical changes. I suppose it is to be expected given a subject that is not extremely broad. That said however, I found myself skipping over the more technical parts to get to the human interest sections.

Overall, this book is well worth the read for millitary history enthusiasts, Naval history enthusiasts and folks who just like the idea of a "Midget-sub."

For any reader interested in Adolf Hitler as a person, not just as the ranting and raving dictator, Traudl Junge's account is the best resource available. Junge (nee Humps) was one of Hitler's private secretaries from the tenth anniversary of Hitler's coming to power to the dramatic fall of the Nazi regime just two and one half years later. During much of this time, Junge's duties were primarily social. Junge accompanied Hitler for meals and relaxation almost daily. She observed him in a way very few people did and was one of a minute number of Hitler's companions who survived the war to tell her story. She wrote her memoirs in 1947 and they were later published in Voices From the Bunker. I have read that book about four times and this edition once. Her account is as fascinating now as it was the first time I read it. Voices From the Bunker is one of my all-time favorite books.

If you already have Voices From the Bunker and are wondering if this book is worth owning, I would say it is only if you are interested in Junge beyond her experiences with Hitler. This book includes more background information on her pre-Hitler life (I had not read before that her father had taken part in the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch) and a 30-page chapter written by Melissa Mueller in 2001 that follows Junge's post-war life chronologically. It would not be until the revisionist 1960s when people took an interest in her story. Otherwise, the bulk of the work is the same 1947 account in Voices. I've compared sections between the two books and, although they are not the same verbatim with a few minor details added or omitted, the account is basically the same. I like the way Voices is divided up better, with more chapters separating the story (i.e. The July Bomb Plot). It is more useful for looking up information than Until the Final Hour which is mostly one long chapter. Voices also includes accounts of Hitler's aides-de-camp Otto Guensche and pilot Hans Baur which this book does not offer. Until the Final Hour does have very interesting end notes with side tidbits and brief biographical information on many of the people Junge mentions.

Junge died February 10, 2002, soon after the first German publication of her memoirs. Her memories were controversial in her homeland because her experiences with Hitler were pleasant. She knew him as a polite host and gentle father figure who showed compassion and human emotions (i.e. when he offered condolences to her after her husband died at the front). Only in brief snippets does she hint at the harsher side of the dictator. Hitler tries to hide his emotional explosions in meetings with his military officers. Frau von Schirach (wife of the head of the Hitler Youth) was no longer invited to be Hitler's guest after she voiced concern to him about trains full of deported Jews headed for Amsterdam (p. 88). Junge would finally become angry with Hitler when he gave up on the war and was accusatory to the end (Junge typed up his last demands and will). She, of course, kept such feelings of disappointment to herself. Her viewpoint is, admittedly, from an isolated world with one set of beliefs and a "puppet master" who controlled the day-to-day lives and thoughts of those around him. She describes Hitler's demeanor and routine at the Wolf's Lair (Hitler's headquarters in East Prussia), at the Berghof (his mountain retreat), and finally in the bunker as Berlin was being surrounded. She offers a unique perspective on many aspects of the dictator's life: his dietary habits, the attention he gave to his dog Blondi, his outlook on the war, his after-dinner small talk with such intimates as Eva Braun and important visitors like Albert Speer, Josef Goebbels, etc. Her account of the final days in the bunker with the Russian army drawing near is very moving. You almost feel like you were there.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to get the collapse of the Third Reich from the perspective of a woman who was there...trapped in the bunker below the Reichs Chancellery as Berlin was being surrounded by Russian troops. Mrs. Junge's memoirs paint the distinct picture of a dying empire....and her memoirs go hand in hand with Joachim Fest's outstanding volume INSIDE HITLER'S BUNKER.

One thing that I noticed as I was reading through the book was the complete spell that Hitler held over Junge, even though she was never a part of the National Socialist party or claimed to be a Nazi sympathizer in any way. The sheer magnetism of Hitler's personality and charm sucked her in....and until he died...she was hooked. Another point that Mrs. Junge brought up was how she was pretty much sheltered within Hitler's inner circle. Until the fall of the Reich, she had no real idea of the atrocities that were being committed by the National Socialists. It brings to light the enormity of the German government and the full scope of the empire....and how one department could be doing something so horrible...and possibly another department not even knowing about it. By the end of the war, the National Socialist government had grown into a huge bureaucracy where one could actually do as they pleased, possibly without the big-wigs in power knowing it, if they were extremely careful about it. Not to say that the Holocaust never happened, it most certainly did!, but it is interesting just to observe how Mrs. Junge was probably just one of many who had no idea of what evils were done in the name of their government and their country. This book just further exposes the sad history of a great people who are seduced by an evil genius and the guilt they will have to live with for a long time to come for their being so manipulated.

This book is a really excellent read. It reads quickly and the translation from the German is hardly noticeable. Ms. Muller's introduction and epilogue really help to put Mrs. Junge's memoirs in perspective. Also, it is interesting to see how Traudl Junge came into Hitler's service and what happened to her after it was over. So, go out and read this...it is great!

The Boss

This is a good book. It is good because it is honest. It is good because it looks through the eyes of a woman at a world dominated and usually described only by men. And it is good because it spreads a thin veil of pudeur over events that are today often shown in all their crass ugliness - such as the charred corpses of Saddam Hussein`s sons.

In her first serious professional position Traudl Junge became one of Hitler`s personal secretaries and stayed with him for 30 months until his death. She tells us about him what she saw. To many of us, this may not be enough, many of us would like to be confirmed in our mental picture of a screaming, violent paranoid, apt at biting his carpet when things got rough - this is, after all, the way he has always been depicted, even long before the Second World War had broken out.

The book makes us imagine him, in the presence of Traudl Junge, as a man with a mission and certainly very convincing when it came to that, but otherwise quite commonplace to the point of being somewhat boring, cloth-cap, muffler, and greyhound, quite literally, except that the greyhound would be a German shepherd, not much of a reader, and no longer in a mood to watch movies. He was able to hide his relationship with Eva Braun quite as efficiently as François Mitterand managed to cover his own liaison. Nothing that Traudl Junge tells us about him would have us think that he was anything of an inhibited Dr. Jekyll who would turn into a bloodthirsty Mr. Hide as soon as the padded doors of his office closed behind him.

When Traudl Junge met Hitler, the tide of the war was starting to run against him. He was beginning to realize that he might not be able to achieve his aims. In this situation, he behaved as most of us would: he closed his eyes - partly so to avoid having to face the facts, partly in an effort to go against the sea-change and muster up all the forces that the German people could still mobilize.

An interesting aspect of Traudl Junge`s book is the fact that it was written down in its entirety within a few years of those momentous events, while her memories were still fresh and unaltered by the post-war political re-education that the Allies brought to bear on the German people. Thus, there was no need to incorporate any belated realizations into her account of what she had seen, no need to imagine behind facets of Hitler`s behaviour events that later might have taken on a particular significance, no need to change her point of view and bend with the remover to remove scenes that she had observed.

Even those things that the author does not express sometimes tell a story. We have been told repeatedly that Hitler loved to view in his private theatre the film showing the execution of the men who conspired against him a year before the end of the war. His secretary tells us nothing about that kind of thing, even though it is highly likely that Hitler - if the story were true - would have rounded up his inner circle to share his gloating pleasure.

A special praise should go to Melissa Müller who helped Traudl Junge with this book and who wrote an accompanying text that shows a high degree of empathy for the author and the times she describes.

This book is not an account of what Hitler really was like", but it does show us what he could, at times, be like - at the hour of his death, for example.

Overall, I found Christopher Duffy's book on the Jacobite Rising of 1745 to be an excellent accounting of the events. The author reflects on his massive knowledge of 18th century warfare as he writes. He joined Stuart Reid in downplaying Lord George Murray while upgrading Prince Charles' abilities and leadership skills. The book reads like a revisionist point of view due to that stance. The author also considered all the options available to Prince Charles and his allies and discussed their options with clarity. The author's military aspects of the book proves to be superbly written, analysized and research. Its a thick book so military narrative proves to be detailed. The author also gives plenty of background material on Jacobites conspiracies prior to 1745 for a better understanding of the situation. The reader will get a clear and understandable perceptive of the military affair of the Jacobite revolt of 1745. In this aspects, the book is one of the best ever written.

Where I have a bone to pick with Mr. Duffy lies in his political assessment and his pro-Jacobite leaning reflecting that. While he's never openly biased regarding military matters, he seem to be very biased politically toward Charles and his Jacobite revolt. In choosing to called the British government troops and generals "Hanoverians" is pretty cheap and historically inaccurate. George II is second king of the new dynasty. His right to British kingdom is beyond doubt much like Henry V stood clear of his father, Henry IV who took the throne from Ricahrd II. Catholic House of Stuart have no true claims anymore and Jacobite forces were rebels forces fighting against a legal British government and her troops. Mr. Duffy also forgot (which seem bit weird to point this out) at what ease Prince Charles' grandfather, King James II was driven out from his throne during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. That itself should remind the author that Britain will never tolerate a Catholic ruler. Even if the Jacobite won London, chased George II out, it would only be matter of time before the nation aroused itself against a Catholic prince and then there will be another "Glorious Revolution". Outcome of the the 1745 revolt was doomed to began with. It was only matter of time. What surprised me a little is why someone like Christopher Duffy don't seem to understand that.

The book reflects strongly on the military aspects of the campaign but poorly on the political aspects due to the author's lack of perception. Considering that the author is considered to be one of the foremost historians of this period and an Englishman, I found his lack of perception puzzling. Still, the book come highly recommended because its more of a military history book and that is where the book remains strong. The political aspects appears to be reflect the author's personal opinion and thankfully, it not reflected too often in the book. "Hanoverian" term remains one of the consistence reminder of author's biased.

A well read individual on this subject should benefit greatly from reading this book. (I leaned toward 4 Stars instead of 3 due to military narrative of the book.)

Christopher Duffy has written a thorough and readable history of the Jacobite rising of 1745-6. He explains the historical context for the rebellion and in great detail describes the events and the battles which took place. In doing so he exposes many of the myths which have developed over time about Bonnie Prince Charlie, his army and his cause. Duffy shows that the Jacobites were made up of people from all over the British Isles not just Highlanders; that this was not straightforwardly a fight between England and Scotland, for many Scots supported the Hanoverians and many English supported the Stuarts. The rebellion was thus a British civil war, a conflict between dynasties.

One of the best aspects of the book is the analysis of how nearly the Jacobites succeeded. Duffy shows that the rising was not some hopelessly romantic, doomed from the start attempt to restore a lost cause. The Jacobites reached as far as Derby in the English Midlands and if they had pressed on to London, as Prince Charles wanted, they might have won. Duffy shows that there was little in their way, and that the outcome although far from certain, offered a realistic chance of success. The decision to retreat from Derby was therefore truly momentous for from that moment the rising was bound to fail eventually.

In his account it is clear where Duffy's sympathies lie, though he never ceases to be objective. It is obvious that he considers the Jacobite cause, of restoring the Stuarts, to be essentially just and that the George II, the Elector of Hanover was the real usurper. It is certainly true that "young pretender" had a better hereditary claim to the throne than the man who was sitting on it. In general Bonnie Prince Charlie comes out well from Duffy's account. He is shown to be an able military leader who inspired his forces and very nearly won a kingdom.

Duffy's book is well illustrated and has many useful maps. There are a number of typographical errors, but nothing that gets in the way of understanding the text. This is probably the best account of the '45 available, written by a military historian who really understands the period.

This is a great complement to the Eyewitness Guide to London, with a similar design (glossy pages, ample photos and maps). Louise Nicholson is tremendously knowledgable, experienced at writing about London, and offers the reader well-written text in chapters focussed on London's neighbourhoods. The book features detailed descriptions (1-4 pages) of London's must-see and lesser-known sights, and suggested London walks.

The guide adequately addresses requisite travel details, and is current for 2000. Opening times, contact information, and indication of expense-range of entry charges is included in sidebars throughout the text. The guide's Travelwise section reviews restaurants and hotels, shopping and entertainment, and offers the usual travel advice.

Overall, the National Geographic guide best serves as supplementary background reading in preparation for a first-time or repeat visit to London. Another guide, such as the Eyewitness Guide, would probably better serve as a primary guide for quick reference while touring in London, especially for first-time visitors

My boyfriend and I went to London and took this book and a Fodors and found that *between them* we had the perfect travel guide. The National Geographic guide had better maps, beautiful pictures, and more detailed information, but about fewer things. It also doesn't have exact prices and instead it has a certain number of dollar signs to tell you generally how expensive something is, which was a bit annoying (I know they were trying to stay vague in order to account for changes since printing, but still...). I highly recommend this book in combination with the Fodors, which has more superficial information but about a tremendous number of things. The only drawback about that is- two books get heavy when you are lugging them around London.

This book is the size and thickness of a standard size CD jewel case. It is 120 pages, full color throughout and has photos in it too. Well worth the money.

This is a limited edition set of a picture CD and a miniature, thoroughly illustrated book on the most glamorous pop group of all time. Although this collector's item is mostly geared towards fans, it is very well produced and documented. The interviews are not gossipy, but they explore instead the ABBA phenomenon and its music. The CD covers 2 interviews; the first one is with the whole group in October 1976, when they visited the United States for a short promotional tour. The second interview took place around 10 years later with Bjorn Ulvaeus alone, when he was promoting the first musical that he and Benny Andersson wrote post-ABBA (called "Chess"). In both interviews ABBA's music past, present and future is discussed, compared and explored. If you are a fan of the group and its members as soloists as well, you just have to have this CD.

This is a great book for ER residents or medical students desiring a concise text of emergency radiology.

I am an emergecy medicine physician.I first bought this edition as a resident;I found it excellent then and now.It is written in an easy to learn format,with radiographs and illustrations side by side for comparison.As it's only 105 pages ,it can be read quickly. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all students and residents.Hat's off for a great book.Buy it!

A fine book on the development of Airplanes, Tactics and
organizations of Fighter Airplanes in WWI, also gives brief biography of some pilots. A good quick survey concentrating on the technical aspects of the aircraft, tactics, and organizations. A much more in depth treatment is They Fought for the Sky, by Quentin Reynolds.

This powerful account of war in the air on the Western Front during World War I is by the distinguished military historian Alan Clark. Covering fighting squadrons on both sides of the conflict, ACES HIGH captures the lives of the idealistic young men who joined the air services in the early months of the war, who, if they survived, grew into the embittered but courageous aces of 1916 and 1917 - men like Manfred von Richthofen, Albert Ball, Mick Mannock, Georges Guynemer, Charles Nungesser and Raoul Lufbery.

In 1914 the conquest of the air was newer, less sure and vested with a still higher romance than that of space today. The frailty of the aeroplanes, the incendiary bullets of the enemy, the banning of parachutes as "likely" to lower morale' made death a three to one certainty. The aces performed acts of incredible bravery and skill but almost all lost their lives or their sanity. Alan Clark writes of the planes they flew and their evolution from "stringbags" and "flying coffins" to the sophisticated tactical machines of 1918. He also tells of the high commands who failed to recognized the significance of the aerial contribution to the war and sent men to their deaths in inadequate and badly designed planes.

More than a chronicle of aerial warfare during five turbulent years, ACES HIGH is a highly illustrated and exciting account of men at war in the skies and an illuminating survey of the tactics and strategies that led to ultimate Allied victory. Originally published in 1973, this new edition includes eighty new photographs and illustrations.

(...) This is a story of a girl and her friends, and how they survive their Middle School days. Her and her friends go on many adventures. But, mostly always seeking one particular thing, but of course I will not tell what that is. It is very interesting the words she chose. The reson for that is because she is from a different country. You will find out what country it is when you read this "faby" book, as she would call it. I highly recomend this book for all girls as they are growing up. Girls it will supprot you with certain subjects, that deal with girl stuff, and many other things, about growing up. Also this is only one if the books in the great series. Thanks for reading my review of this "faby" book!

I made the mistake of reading this book at school after we finished some standardized test (PLAN? PSAT? it doesn't matter). At any rate, it was supposed to be silent in there for the people finishing the test. But I couldn't stop laughing. I had to try and hold it in. I teared up several times. My friends (who read the book before me) kept looking back at me to see if I was still okay. We passed it and the rest of the series around as if they were forbidden narcotics. We had a waiting list for each book. We read them over and over, crying with laughter each time. We found so many things that Geogia did so realistic. We each sympathised with her decisions. And then we laughed at her.

Not as good as Rich Man, Poor Man but a good sequel nonetheless. I ended RM, PM wondering more about the characters (a sign of a good book to me I might add) and was delighted to read B,T. Definitely need to read them both to feel satisfied.

I was happy to find out that Rich Man, Poor Man, which immediately became one of my favorite books after I finished it, had a sequel. Being a sequel, it definitely didn't live up to Rich Man, Poor Man, but I considered it an excellent follow up. It was cool to see all the characters from the original and the book had a lot of events in it, as did the last one, which is what I love about them. I wasn't at all disappointed and this is probably my favorite series of books.

Probably the best "ghost" novel of recent years, and all the better for it for having a rarely seen setting.

Ryan sets his tale on a remote corner of Ireland, and captures the feeling of desperation in the community perfectly.

It starts with a meeting with a phantom by the roadside, then steadily ratchets up the tension as the protagonist finds out the true cost of living in the community, and what must be done to placate those who don't sleep easily in their graves.

There are many genuinely suspenseful scenes, well developed characters, and sympathetic ghosts who are only doing what has to be done.

Creepy as hell, well constructed, beautifully written. It's a great pity that Ryan didn't write more in the genre.

The story revolves around a writer that goes to Ireland to immerse himself in the culture while researching and writing a historical novel about the irish potato famine. Settling in a small town on the southwestern coast, the writer quickly discovers the ghosts that inhabit the hauntingly beautiful countryside.

The first thing this book did was make me want to visit Ireland. The setting really was the star of this novel. It set the stage for some genuinely creepy moments. The romantic interest, while not bothersome, left me feeling a bit indifferent. Strange occurances and mysterious discoveries drive the plot. The mystery is revealed as the story steadily builds to a low-key, yet satisfying conclusion.