No comments about A Monk Swimming: A Memoir, Books on Tape, 6 Cassettes, UNABRIDGED (Read by David Case, Total Running Time Approximately 9 Hours).

1 comments about Thomas Cranmer: Churchman and Scholar.

1. This collection of essays deals with a useful array of topics that will be of special interest to those of the Anglican theological tradition. This book serves as a needed balance to the biography from MacCulloch that paints Cranmer as a rabid protestant with no real interest in the beliefs of the early church. It also helps to dispel many of the misconceptions about Cranmer's sacramental theology that are widely held by both "anglo-catholic" and puritan "evangelical" alike. In these essays Cranmer emerges as the chief reformer of a church that he envisioned as one founded on the Scriptures, the ancient Fathers, and right reason. Rather than being against the concept of a "via media" church (as MacCulloch claims) Cranmer is the very author of it.

1 comments about As It Was: Sin Mar a Bha : A Ulva Boyhood.

1. This slim volume is a pleasant history of Ulva, off the coast of Mull, and the memories of someone who has lived there. (Current population:12) Of primary interest to those curious about Scottish history and culture. Not for the general reader I wouldn't think.

No comments about An Uncounselled King: Charles I and the Scottish Troubles, 1637-1641 (Cambridge Studies in Early Modern British History).

No comments about Columbus in Italy.

3 comments about Hitler's Bastard: Through Hell and Back in Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia (Ian Sayer and Douglas Botting).

1. Cowardice or courage to stand up for beliefs aside, this is unmitigated rubbish. A puny attempt to re-write negative press against him, it is written is such pathetic self promotion, as to be painful.
   
   His references to him being a "Muscular Englishman" all of 5'3", who seems to have led a life of petty crime across europe. He is obvioulsy trying to write a pornograpic distraction to his utter contempt for his nationality and those who fought nobly on any side.
   
   A pacifist who joined the SS does not make sense. It is infuriating reading, and the preface to works such as the Gulag Archipelago might distract you from reading that worthy tome.
   
   Don't buy this rubbish, don't even bother getting it from the library, it is purile.



2. Based on the 1 star rating from a biased reviewer, I ordered, cancelled and reordered Hitler's Bastard. I read the whole book in one setting. It was one of the better books I have read on European WWII in the last 4 decades. Mr. Pleasants was one of those characters in life who was blessed with a guardian angel whether they wanted one or not. He truly had nine lives as the old saying goes. I found his escapades absolutely fascinating. Its true that he was not one to put a lot of effort in morality, in any religious belief or political stance, but Eric Pleasants was above all else, a survivor and always at the expense of someone else. He was full of contrasts; an anti-war pacifist but a Waffen SS member of the British Free Corps,a one time bodyguard to British Royalty and a circus strong man. He was also a thief, a liar and a slave laborer in the Soviet Gulags. He survived it all to live to the ripe old age of 87. This is the first book that I have found that hads given a good description of the Waffen SS unit, British Free Corps and it reveals the shameful collaboration of the British people on Jersy with the occupying Germans, a fact that I am sure many wanted to remain hidden. I do highly recommend this book for its historical imput about some rarely discussed subjects of WWII. It is well written, has a sense of humor and above all smacks of honesty in telling it like it was. Eric Pleasants was a scoundral but one of those rare individuals who manage to make it through the worst of life by wit and force when many others would have long since given up. Read Hitler's Bastard with an open mind. It is a gold mine of information.



3. This is a book about one mans attempts to sanitize his shady past during World War II. Mr. Pleasants attempts to convince the reader that trying to dodge doing your duty to your nation was a reasonable thing to do. He tries to convince the reader that theft of desperately needed food provisions from other hungry islanders in Nazi-occupied Jersey was the right thing to do. He tries to convince us that fist fights are a reasonable way to gain respect and time in prison was somehow not "fair" for him to have to endure.

   The hardest things to swallow are the reasons why he decides to join the British Free Corps of the German SS. There are numerous reasons given as to why he choose to do such a thing, and overall this leaves little doubt about the mans character.

   He hides his reasons for theft behind the oft-trotted out excuse that thieves give, which is they "only stole from the rich". Somehow that is supposed to make theft ok. He gives no reasons apart from being self-centered as to why he felt he deserved to eat more than other islanders by stealing from them.

   There are limited plus sides to this book. The writing style is fluid and readable, and occasionally the writer actually manages to paint a reasonable picture of an event in ones mind. But that's about it.

   Where the book is badly let down is that the writer has made little or no effort to research any of the events with any degree of historic discipline. He appears to have merely reprinted Mr. Pleasants words, thoughts and self-centered opinions verbatim without any attempt to balance the view of Mr. Pleasants or research the events described by him.

   The book is entirely one-sided and could do with some substantial revision once research into events has uncovered, clarified, substantiated, or repudiated some of the claims made by Mr. Pleasants. It would appear to be not too much trouble to research the court records of Jersey (for example) as one outside source of (hopefully) unbiased information on his life.

   I personally found Mr. Pleasants views on life pathetic and repugnant. Whilst in Jersey he roundly cursed those Islanders who collaborated with the Germans for the benefits that such collaboration bought, yet he utterly fails to realize that by volunteering for the SS he was guilty of exactly the same thing.

   Seven years of forced labor in a Russian coal mine was simply not enough.

   A Jerseyman.

No comments about Lancaster and York.

No comments about King Charles I.

3 comments about War Of The Windsors.

1. It is easy for the previous reviewer to complain about hearsay, innuendo and conspiracy theories, but it is also going to be difficult to satisfy everyone while you shed a different light on the pre-packaged sanitized mainstream version of Twentieth Century history.
   
   Some speculation is indeed included, but where it occurs the author clearly presents it as such. On the other hand however, she also raises a lot of questions that have never properly been dealt with. These include the real reasons behind Edward VIII's abdication, the absence of the Duke of Kent from popular history, the Profumo cover-up, the Blunt cover-up, the real life of Louis Mountbatten and much, much more.
   
   The style is honest and definitely not sensationalist while it offers convincing arguments for many historic anomalies. Why, for example, is the last Royal to die on active service never honoured on Armistice Day? Why did 'Sir' Anthony Blunt keep his title and honours while remaining in the Queen's employment after being unmasked as a Soviet spy? Why was Mountbatten assassinated when he had been the most leftist of all the Royals? Many more are dealt with.
   
   This book is highly recommended for all those who believe that they are not being fed the full picture on the Six 'o Clock news...



2. To anyone with an elementary knowledge of British history, this is a disgraceful book, filled with errors. It is an exercise in phoney mock-scholarship - for example the authors quote "sources" which on investigation have no more authority than they do. Other sources are conveniently not named, with authors falling back on the trick "some say," or "it has been alleged by some that ..." You get the idea? Treatment of well-known historical events such as the outbreak of world War II are simply ignorant.
   
   Since the royal family don't sue for defamation, you can print any falsehoods you like about them. Maybe they should start suing, as this might clean up the tidal wave of garbage written about them a bit.
   
   Facts are plain false or distorted. Allegations are made for which there is no real evidence and which cannot possibly be proven. The book so fails to deliver the information it promises - it delivers nothing but rumor, gossip, innunedo and conspiracy theories - that it should seriously be reported to ther consumer protection authorities as an exercise in taking money under false pretenses.



3. Brilliantly and painstakingly researched, entertainingly and well written (there is an attempt to weigh up various arguments, rather than being biased towards one...), with very relevant and timely comment regarding this family.
   
   My only critisisms are:
   1. The choice of front cover/main title on this book (somewhat tabloid) marks it as being written by a journalist. Nevertheless, there are other authors involved here (including 2 historians - one specialising in intelligence, the other - military history), that bring a level of seriousness and meticulousness with them, beyond which is conveyed adequately by the (front) cover.
   2. The lack of an index. Sources and references are thankfully provided, however as a work of research this book also needs an index.

No comments about Churchill: A Photographic Portrait.