Nicholson Books

Winterbotham was sent to Germany to befriend the Nazi leaders and learn about their plans. He learned about the forthcoming invasion of Russia 5 years before it happened. Later he was in charge of the Enigma code breaking operation - The Ultra Secret. Winterbotham first went to Germany in 1934 as an official who had important connections. Hitler did not want war with England, and would boast of Germany's powers in order to keep England neutral. Winterbotham would gather this information to warn the military and politicians of this future danger.

Chapter 1 tells of his experiences as a flyer in the Great War who was shot down, captured, and imprisoned. Chapter 2 tells of his joining the Air Ministry. Winterbotham had a law degree, had been a pilot, spoke good French and reasonable German. In addition to technical details, he had to learn about the political and military intentions of Germany. He visited Berlin in 1934, and wondered about its resurgence (Chapter 3). That resulted from the failure of the Allies to occupy Germany and purge its ruling class, who soon wanted another turn at bat. The German Army, controlled by the aristocracy, acted as a political force that affected the government. In Chapter 4 Winterbotham explained that his friendship with top Nazi leaders gave him influence for meeting with lower ranks (p.63). At one school 12-year olds were taught how to attack on a battlefield (p.75). He explains the theory of the Aryan master race (p.76). Chapter 5 tells of his meeting with top Air Force and Army officers. He learned in 1934 of the plans to attack Russia with lightning speed (p.83). This would require a vast armament program (p.89). In Chapter 6 Winterbotham explains the need to talk to the new pilots (p.93), and for wider contacts (p.94). In WWI the airplane was introduced for reconnaissance, but the Germans would use it for a superior fighting force (p.95). Page 100 explains the technical information that was wanted. He explains the problems with divebombers (pp.103-4).

Chapter 7 tells of his visit to the Middle East, where he observed the old irrigation canals in Mesopotamia that were destroyed by the Mongol invasion (p.113). They calculated the number of bombers from the number of air crews (p.119). Big bombs produced shock waves that shattered buildings like a small earthquake. The British depended on their Navy for protection (Chapter 8). Aircraft and tanks were minor details. They were warned about the Hitler menace, but disregarded it (p.127). The failure to contest Hitler's occupation of the Rhineland in 1936 resulted in another war (Chapter 9). Winterbotham returned to Germany to learn more about their aircraft. A successful dictatorship must have both an internal and external enemy (p.140). The British Empire was successful because it mostly did not interfere with the religion and customs of the conquered (?). He learned the most by just listening (p.143). The "vast majority" of Germans supported Hitler and his promises for a better life (p.146). The vast rearmaments were not for defense. Chapter 10 tells of his visit to East Prussia, where he saw an amber mine (p.159). The rapid production in Germany slowed due to shortages (p.162). If Germany was to attack Russia in 1941, that meant the Western campaign must be finished in 1940 (p.171). Winterbotham wondered what would have happened if Britain expanded their Air Force years earlier (p.187). Could that have saved France? Chapter 13 answers that question (p.189). It also tells how they were able to photograph from 20,000 feet (pp.194-195). Other airplanes continued this work, identifying German tanks ready for the 1940 Blitzkrieg - but the French disregarded this information (p.201). High-altitude photography avoided the wastage that occurred in World War I (p.202). In Chapter 14 Winterbotham says the Munich pact gave Britain a year to prepare for the Battle of Britain (p.204). Was it really a mistake? After the start of the war Winterbotham was put in charge of the decoding of German messages (p.211). This, and radar, allowed the successful use of a smaller force against a larger attacking force. Winterbotham's comments implicitly tell about his political views.

Poor Emperor Nero, he has suffered much at the hands of historians. The fact that he killed his mother, Agrippina, has often been held against him; as has his murder of his infant nephew, as has his supposed sexual deviancy, as has the fact that he initiated the first full-blooded Christian persecution - e.g., feeding them to the lions and such. Add to that his bizarre avocation as a part time actor and his love of Greek culture - both of which annoyed his contemporaries far more than anything else - and you begin wondering how someone so silly and inept could have sustained power in first century rome for so many years (13 years being a huge tally in those days). Grant's book goes some considerable way towards divorcing from the Nero myth the large body of invention and after-the-fact spin, particularly at the hands of early Christian historians. He explains the way the Roman system of government worked, how Nero operated within that system (often with the help of very able civil servants) and how he sustained a power base despite his many personal failings. A solid work, probably the best non-academic read on the subject.

This is a very nice-looking book, with heavy-duty glossy paper sewn into an equally sturdy binding. Inside are high-quality illustrations of everything from scientists in frighteningly humungous wigs to the face of Jupiter as seen by Voyager, accompanied by readable, interesting text dealing with the English Scientific Revolution of the 16-1700s as seen through the lens of Newton's life. Its portrait of Newton is less negative than those in the recent biographies, but I wouldn't call it reverential--somewhere in the middle, I'd say.

The reading level is college or above, but this book would definitely be accessible to a smart kid of high school age. There's stuff about science, but also a lot of historical miscellanea that non-science types would find interesting. It doesn't go heavy on the math or technical stuff, but instead gives an overview of England at that time and the personalities and interactions of the scientists.

To sum up: it's not a cheap book, but it's a keeper and worth the money.

As a baseball fan, I watched Nolan Ryan pitch on television several times, once in particular when he was flirting with a no-hitter. That happened many times in his career, the most amazing thing about him was his longevity. Not only in terms of the number of years in the majors, but in terms of the mileage. As a strikeout pitcher, Ryan often went to 3 and 2 counts on batters, so he threw a lot of pitches, more than most other pitchers. Furthermore, in general, his pitches were heat, which takes greater effort to deliver. It is amazing that he was still pitching while in his mid-forties.
In this book, Nicholson does an excellent job in describing the career of this great player. Nolan Ryan was also admirable in his approach to life, never seeming to become full of himself; he was always approachable by fans. I am old enough to remember when Ryan entered the major leagues and followed baseball throughout his career. Nicholson describes him well while avoiding the unnecessary superlatives that other authors seem to feel obligated to use.

I'm a genealogist, and since recently uncovering a lineage that takes me back into Tudor and Stewart times in several rural English counties, I've been reading about and hunting up photos of small English towns and villages. It's hard to find views that don't include motorways, television towers, and supermarkets, but this splendid book brims over with gorgeous, glossy color photos of many varieties of the "classic" English village. Even better, the text identifies what you're looking at in considerable detail, gives a capsule history, and explains the differences between traditions and cultures in (say) Somerset, Norfolk, and Yorkshire -- which is important for us Yanks, even those of us who are well read in history. For instance, I've heard the term "black and white architecture," but really didn't have a mental picture of what it referred to. A lively piece of work.

This is a delightful book by a very interesting man...a real find. Don't miss the reference to the author in Living in a Foreign Language by Michael Tucker & Jill Eikenberry.

Good writer, good book design, would make a good gift for someone who likes a conversational style in novels.

This is a marvelous memoir by a soldier of the Royal Fusiliers from 1914 to 1920 who went on to become the Professor of Modern History at Leeds University. His prose speaks for itself:

The attack was to be launched at streak of dawn, 4.25; and at that moment a wild racket was once more loosed into the void. Once more the curtain of darkness was changed to a whirling screen in which flaming clusters, red, orange and gold, dropped and died; and dun smoke, illuminated by explosions, drifted away greyish white. Once more red and green rockets called frantically for aid. Once more eyes stared into the impenetrable cataract, vainly trying to pick out familiar outlines. The enemy's barrage joined the din. Black columns of smoke stormed up in the foreground. And through it all came wave on wave of the malicious chitter of machine guns.

Yes, this is a forgotten work. Yes, it is out of print. But go seek it out and become one of the few, the happy band of brother readers.

It takes some getting used to (certainly for me as a foreigner) the English at times appeared, should I say non-conventional. The (overlay of)story however, the colorful characters had a gripping effect on me.

This is a good book for someone who wants an overall view of the collectors market. It gives the history behind dozens of catgories from Advertising to the Wild West and every page is filled with color photos. Also rates the catagories by scope, investmment potencial and price range. The author is knowledgable and interesting.