5 comments about Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.

1. Its a good bok to look what a general and a brigadier officers life and military duty.So I recommended this book to all fans of the Civil War.



2. I agree with the other reviewers who say that Ezra Warner's Generals in Blue is an essential resource for Civil War buffs. Whether you're in need of the basic biography of familiar generals, or want some quick and convenient background on an unfamiliar name, Generals in Blue is the place to go. I use it so often that I don't even bother reshelving it anymore.
   
   But the volume is more than just a reference book. It's also an existential document that evokes a lot of pathos from the reader. By far the greater number of generals discussed weren't regular army officers. Like their troops, they were volunteers--civilians suddenly wrested from the normal course of life and thrown into battle with, frequently, very little training and no experience. Many of them were wounded; some were killed; some were so incompetent that they got lots of foot soldiers killed; some were heroes; some rogues; a very few were pretty old, but many were little more than boys (Custer, for example, was generaled at the age of 25); some were shattered by their experiences in the war; some coarsened. Reading their biographies and contemplating their photographs go a long way towards putting faces to anonymous battle descriptions.
   
   Too bad there aren't similar compilations of ordinary soldiers.



3. and yet also surprisingly entertaining. I find it rather compelling actually. A few years ago this was my preferred reading on nights when I couldn't sleep...the individual bios were gripping and informative, but not too much to bite off. Warner's perspective is kinda old-school; I am a bit leery of his dismissal of the contributions of some of these officers to Reconstruction in the South. But mostly he is fair if a bit acerbic in his assessments. The pictures are entertaining in themselves, as well. The facial hair in that era! Comparing and contrasting the mustaches and beards of Ambrose Burnside, George McClellan, Ulysses Grant, and Egbert G. Brown might require a book in itself, but Warner does an invaluable job bringing so much material together.



4. Like Generals in Gray, I have often referred to Generals in Blue as an excellent reference over the years.

   Warner presents a brief biography of each general usually including the following information:

   1. Birthplace and birthdate.
   2. Prewar career.
   3. Battles served in, promotions, wounding and death (if applicable).
   4. Postwar career.
   5. Relationships with other generals and officers.
   6. Death and place of burial.
   7. Mention of the officer's competency (or lack thereof).

   Whether you are a serious student of the Civil War or a novice, I highly recommend the book as an excellent reference!




5. Like it's companion, Generals in Gray, Ezra has done an excellent job in giving short biographies on all the Union generals, with a picture of each general included. An excellent reference guide for your Civil War library.

5 comments about Fidel:: A Critical Portrait.

1. This tome presents an excellent view of Castro's past, his interests, and insights into a man I have admired throughout the years. Szurek, probably by agreement, left out some harsh practices the Castro government performed. Unfortunately, it is not a "Critical Portrait", but historically it is an excellent read if you don't mind ignoring what's been left out.



2. As someone born and raised in revolutionary Cuba and now living in the US for some years, I have read a lot on these subjects .......and from both sides of the ideological and political divide. " Fidel: A Critical Portrait" is simply one of the best, considering the depth of his research and the objectivity of his analysis of not only Fidel Castro, but also of the Cuban history in the last 50 years. This book by Tad Szulc is ,in my opinion, a must for anyone interested in really understanding Cuba and the Cuban revolution as well as the historical background that allowed things to happen the way they have. Furthermore, this book sheds light in what forces might come in play once Fidel Castro dies and Cuba can have a brighter future and its rightful place in America.



3. I have recently discovered a wonderful genre of historical reading: Cuban history! From Fidel Castro, and Jose Marti, to Che Guevara and Antonio Maceo, the history of the island is rich with characters whose stories are as good as any fictional action/adventure tale. I have read plenty of stories about Fidel, and this one is the most complete. There is little information on Fidel's life (up until publication) that cannot be found in this book. The writing is objective, and focuses on both the triumphs and failures of the Castro regime. It is not a quick read, it is very detailed, and I had to renew it from the library twice. Say what you will about Fidel politically, the man has lived a fascinating life, and has survived insurmountable odds and countless assassination attempts. With incredible resourcefulness and sheer determination, he managed to survive. No doubt he has left an impact that cannot be ignored and only time will tell if in history, he is truly absolved.
   
   
   
   Mark McGinty is the author of "Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy"



4. I thought that the Che biography by Jon Lee Anderson was awesome. It seemed very fact oriented and neutral. Very inspirational... After finishing that, I wanted to continue learning about Cuba's recent history and wished for a book just like Anderson's, but on the topic of Fidel. Anderson mentions that "Fidel: A Critical Portrait" is THE biography on Fidel so I decided to go with it...

   Well, compared to my experience with the Che book, this one was very disapointing... it has a very pessimistic tone. Perhaps Szulc is objective, however he sometimes chooses to focus on negative items, unnecessarily. The book begins and ends in negativity. Just read the last 2 pages and note the items that Szulc chooses to end the book on... problems in Cuba like alcoholism, infrastructural neglect, uninspired youth. Plenty of coutries suffer these issues; does this make Cuba stand out?

   The book does have alot of information in it and valuable anecdotes, but be prepared to wade through plenty of passive jibes from Sculz regarding Fidel.

   The book's introduction starts out with a sort of defense by Szulc which can be summarized as "Fidel said I could slam him... as long as I'm objective". That right there set off warning flags for me.

   As far as being a "Critical Portrait" goes, it deserves 5 stars. But I imagine that there will be a few other readers that came to this via the Che book and I wanted to call attention to the very different style and to brace themselves for a different experience.




5. This book contains all the ingredients a great biography should have: comprehensive research, an interesting character, balanced and insightful analysis, and very good writing. Tad Szulc deserves all the credit he can get for putting together a book that could be used in a class as an example of how to write a biography. To me, Fidel Castro was an obstinate idealist who wanted the best for his people and country before losing himself in wrong ideas and absolutism, but you can form your own (well informed) opinion after reading this extraordinary chronicle of his life.

4 comments about U-Boat Ace: The Story of Wolfgang Luth (Bluejacket Books).

1. Uboat Ace is a excellent book on Submarine warfare in WWII. While you may not like Wolfganf Luff as an Individual one has to admit he was a great leader and example to his men. Found the book interesting and an easy read. Anyone interested in Uboat warefare will enjoy it..



2. another u-boat captain book,Luth's u-boat survival of the war depended a great deal on his skill,but there are instances here where you realize there was some luck involved as well. An even better source of luck was that he was assigned a section of the south Atlantic,and African waters where his prey was not often as heavily protected as was were convoys in the North Atlantic.Luth's patrols were mainly "lone wolf" type guerilla attacks on isolated cargo ships,not the suicidal wolfpack attacks that were sure to bring on lots of task force boats.You can't help but draw from the book that the thirty year Luth was a by-product of the post WW1 Versailles Treaty outrage against Germany.His resentment as well as his crew run deep,methodically shinking ships like shooting mechanical ducks at a carnival.Not deliberately cruel but with a firm belief that it's either "us or them".When reading this book it would help to have a little knowledge of the "War Reparations"clause in the Versailles treaty,it would make for boring reading but,it will make the Luth story more enriching.



3. This book is a great read. The writing style is concise, and it makes it easy to get involved with a facinating (and true) story. Wolfgang Luth went on long range patrols to Southern Africa, notched up many sinkings, and was popular with his men. What comes across with this book is the personality of Wolfgang Luth himself. He didn't have a large ego, and is not as well known as other U-boat aces, but through this book seems far more interesting than the others U Boat Captains, and was more successful. He could be laid back with his men, other times encouraging them to get married, or poke fun at himself, was utterly fearless, and other times shot hundreds of shells into ships without reason. The book makes one consider the morality of his actions, and yet also gives a front row seat to an interesting U Boat career, and tragic end. This is a good book.



4. I have read this book and it is an excellently done story on Kapitan zur See, Wolfgang Luth. This man Took charge of the Uboat U 181 and had an excellent crew serving with him. This book is almost as good as "Shooting The War" by Otto Giese. It held my attention which was fully rivited to the pages as I read them, as Otto Giese's book did to me. This book is THAT well done, and I will buy several extra copies of it to send to all 8 of the surviving U 181 vets. Its a shame that Otto Giese, U 181's 2nd Watch officer under Luth, recently passed away as well as three other U 181 comrades. The living members of U 181 will absolutely love this book and will think of it as a work of art. As I do have the priviledge of knowing all the surviving vets, I know they will enjoy adding a copy of this book to their libraries as they have done so with Otto Giese's book. Soon to be another book on U 181 by vet/friend, Bernhard Trenn.

5 comments about Baptism: A Vietnam Memoir.

1. After spending a year in this area of the world, it brings it all back. The author brings the fear, the stupidity, quietly to the table and makes you shake like you did when it happened to you. I thoughly enjoyed the book and its delivery. It should be a MUST read for all contemplating taking up arms and wanting to do battle. It must have been hard for the author to rehash the experiences he had. Buy it and pass it on.



2. I am actually a student of WWII, so this book (received as a gift) was something different to read. Larry Gwin's book was for me a startling introduction to fighting an often unseen enemy, in a jungle environment horribly alien for the young Americans who found themselves there. Pleasantly avoiding the politics of the war, and instead concentrating on one man's view of the combat, Gwin takes you from his naive first jungle patrols to his combat weary veteran status at the end of his tour. As the casualties mount, and the men around him either die, return wounded or get promoted, Gwin becomes increasingly important to the men around him - a cool experienced head in difficult times.
   
   The language is plain and everyman, allowing the reader to move quickly through the book from one engegement to another.
   
   A thoroughly enjoyable memoir, and an eye-opener to the horrors of air-cavalry combat in South East Asia.



3. Mr. Gwin did a fine job in expressing himself and explaining to those that didn't serve how the military works. The hurry up and wait the long tedious hours of waiting and the heart throbing miliseconds of tremendous fear. There were times in naming all his fellow warriors it become somewhat confusing as you did not know these people but you understand.Your people remain in your mind as the best and loyalest you ever knew. They are always with you and a week never passes that you do not recall them. A fine book I would reccomend to all.



4. This book is not in the same league as books like Nam , 365 Days, Dispatches and other eye witness accounts of the Vietnam War. It's filled with cliche's, especially when describing various actions the author took part in, and his description of some fellow infantrymen as 'cowards', particularly when his accusations are unsubstantiated is shameful. Read it on a long flight if there is nothing else in the airport bookstore, otherwise don't bother.



5. the best part of this book is its everyman writing. No polished literature just a well written "what I went through" book. A real good read and difficult to put down.

5 comments about War Birds: Diary of an Unknown Aviator (Military History Ser. 6).

1. A collection of the letters of both Lt John Grider, KIA, and Lt Elliot White Springs, edited by Springs. It details their alcoholic and amorous adventures while in training, paying slight attention to the casualty rate of British flight school. On to aerial battles over the Front, these well bred fighter pilots (Springs a Princeton grad) pursued booze with the intensity they sought the Hun. The stories of combat are absolutely real and intense, saying little of their comrades deaths. One can see the two change from shallow fraternity brother to hardened and bitter combat veteran. This is aerial warfare showing all of the tarnish on the knight's armor.
   
   As an aside, Elliot White Springs inherited a southern cotton mill and gained noteriety for his advertisemnts in popular magazines for bedsheets showing a tired Indian warrior abed in a wnite hammock, overlooked by a barely clad Indian girl, the caption reading, "A buck well spent on a Springmade sheet."



2. I first read this book aged 15. It made such an impression on me that I sought out copies in secondhand shops etc with no success. And now 50 years later I have read it again and found it just as powerful as a conveyance of the notion of adventure and the spirit of youth amidst the insanity of war. The insights into the scant training of the fighter pilots, the conflict between the U.S. and British hierarchy and the maverick attitudes of the pilots help to take us through the actual experience of war in contrast to the 'dates and events' fed to us through history books. What a privilege to be able to read such detailed and private writings of this young man.



3. The Diary of Lt John M Grider, KIA in France, 1918, as amended and edited by his friend E.W. Springs. Springs believed it would add to the value of the book if he kept it anonymous and mysterious. The book was serialized in a popular magazine in 1926 and created a scandal because it depicts the American boys as womanizers, drinkers, etc. (the racist attitudes of the flyers caused no comment at the time). Later Griders sisters forced Springs to admit that the book was based on their brothers diary, although apparently Springs also included considerable material from his own letters home. Springs was a Princeton graduate from a wealthy family. He was a top pilot and received the DFC, shooting down 5 enemy planes. He wrote some other books but none as popular as this one. This book is gritty and tough, and depicts very well the descent from idealistic recruit to hardened and battle weary veteran.



4. War Birds: Diary of an Unknown Aviator is a fascinating portrait of training and combat for a WWI aviator. It is unclear to me whether the book consists of an actual diary, or is a dramatization written by a friend based on letters written by the aviator main character (see http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/springs.html). The aviator was a real person with real faults (he makes some racist statements), and this makes the story all the more personal. The story reminded me of Catch-22, but is more touching because the triumphs and deaths actually occurred.



5. Although little is written of the truth to the Air War in WWI, it is often offered to history as a time of chivalry amoungst the "Upper Class Gentleman" of WWI. Most sucessful pilots, that being anymore that 5 kills, were showered with metals and given the highest honors from their fatherlands. Deeming them, The Knights of The Skies. The truth is far from reality. This book of one young man's personal, daily recolection in it's original, unaltered text, depicts the Air War as it really was. Not only can you feel the excitement and astonishment in his mind as he earns his wings in flight school, you also experience the sadness and despair as he watches his squadmates perish and learns the veracity of war and death. Illustrated by Clayton Knight, whose sketches and paintings went on to become famous after the war, this book is a must for anyone who is interested in the true reality of The Air War of WWI.

1 comments about The Greatest of Friends: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill 1941-1945.

1. A very good and readable book that details the friendship between two of the greatest leaders in the twentieth century. Both the President and the Prime Minister had huge egos, and were known to be difficult, but the friendship that developed between them helped the Allies win the war with Germany, Italy, and Japan. Many interesting stories of the personal lives of both Roosevelt and Churchill. The friendship that developed between these two great men helped in the post war world.

5 comments about Onward We Charge: The Heroic Story of Darby's Rangers in World War II.

1. Onward We Charge is a very detailed account of the battles of Darby's Rangers but it has one major failing...NO maps! As detailed as each battle and assault is described it is unbelievable to me that the author/publisher did not provide maps to allow the reader to follow along. There's not even a general Mediterrenean map. If you are not an expert in WWII history or don't have a military atlas while you read this book you will get lost pretty quickly. It finally got to the point where I almost gave up reading this book because I couldn't picture in my mind where the action was taking place. A battle book without maps shouldn't be printed.



2. During the Battle of El Guettar in World War II, members of Darby's Rangers recalled their commander's battle cry, "Onward we stagger, and if tanks come, may God help the tanks." Lifting parts of that line to use in his title, H. Paul Jeffers pays tribute with this fast-paced documentary of the contributions of General William O. Darby and his Rangers to the Allied victories in North Africa and Italy.
   
   The book begins with Darby's days as a schoolboy in Fort Smith, Arkansas and ends with Darby's death during the Battle of Po River in 1945 at the age of 34. He had gone from captain to Brigadier General in three years and eleven months, the only such promotion to star rank during the war. This was done after twice refusing promotions offered to him by General George Patton.
   
   Darby had a knack for being in the right place at the right time. At the beginning of U. S. involvement in World War II, Darby was given the task of building a commando-like unit, an idea that had no precedent in the history of the U.S. Army. Sent to Northern Ireland to train under British commandos, Darby's Rangers had their baptism of fire on the beaches of Dieppe, France in the ill-fated attempt to initiate a so-called "Second Front" in 1942. From there they were quickly sent to Northern Africa where they proved their worth conducting harassing raids and carrying out reconnaissance during battles in Algeria and Tunisia. The Rangers were so successful that their numbers were increased from one battalion to three in order to spearhead the invasion of Sicily.
   
   From the landings at Gela, through the capture of Palermo and the drive to Messina, the Rangers worked successfully in support of Patton's Third Army. It is here that Darby's Rangers gained fame as a fighting unit in the press alongside other units known by the name of their commander, such as Doolittle's Raiders, Merrill's Marauders, Chennault's Flying Tigers. In all, Darby's Rangers led the way in four invasions, and fought in twelve major battles in North Africa and Italy, including the assault on Anzio.
   
   As part of the Anzio battle strategy, the Rangers were sent to seize and control the town of Cisterna di Littoria, which sat at a strategic crossroads. It was here, in one of the lesser known side battles, that the Rangers met their unhappy end. The 1st and 3rd Battalions were ambushed by a massive force of German tanks and infantry. Of the 767 Rangers who infiltrated Cisterna, only six made it back to friendly lines. The majority were taken prisoner and paraded through the streets of Rome before eventually being incarcerated at Stalag II-B in West Prussia.
   
   In 1951, the U.S. Army Infantry School immortalized General Darby by extending Ranger training to selected combat units. Camp Darby continues to turn out U.S. Army Rangers to this day, many of whom are currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.



3. Generally not bad, but in my opinion marred by uneven treatment of details and plodding in some places. For example, I'm not sure why the author felt compelled to delve into the cost of constructing the high school Darby attended while omitting description or definition of a "sticky grenade", which would seem to be more relevant to the story. THe dust cover notes would lead a reader to believe that the book is mostly about Darby himself, but the actual content provides quite a bit of history of the Ranger units. The book benefitted from including excerpts from other author's analyses of significant events in Ranger history, including the disasterous mission at Cisterna.
   
   Good photos of the key players and locations described by the book, but some maps illustrating key battles would have been a useful supplement to the text. I was somewhat disappointed in the author's limited ability to convey the emotions of Darby and his staff. I felt I learned the military history of Darby and Rangers, but not as much as I expected about Darby as a person, or about the personal feelings of elation, frustration, dedication, or desparation as he and his soldiers must have experienced in some of those situations of great intensity.



4. ONWARD WE CHARGE is an inspiring account of one of WWII's most underrated heroes, Colonel William Darby. As with BAND OF BROTHERS, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in WWII nonfiction.



5. With all the nostalgia around WWII in the last ten years, it's hard to believe that it has taken this long for someone to tell the story of the famous Darby's Rangers. We take for granted now the incredible fighting skills and endurance of the Army Rangers, but once upon a time they were a brand new outfit, in a very uncertain war. Bill Darby was their heroic first leader, and fellow founder, and made them into what they became--the cream of the combat crop. This is an excellent telling of the Darby story, from the man's rise in the military, through his incredible leadership during the war (including combat scenes that will absolutely blow you away). I can highly recommend this compelling take on Col. Darby and the First Ranger Batallion in World War II.

No comments about The Vatican Pimpernel: The Wartime Exploits of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty.

4 comments about Woman of Valor: Clara Barton and the Civil War.

1. Stephen Oates is an outstanding narrative historian and a first-rate biographer. In this volume, he explores the life of one of the most remarkable woman in American history. Clara Barton was absolutely unwilling to accept the limited, simplistic role 19th Century society designed for women. Well-educated and dedicated to public service to the detriment of any personal life, she accomplished more in a lifetime than most women would a century later when opportunities were much easier for them to find. One of the finer qualities of Oates' writing is a complete unwillingness to pass judgement. Viewed from the perspective of her time, Clara Barton was pushy, ambitious, and entirely too willing to do things that were inappropriate or "unfeminine" in the pursuit of her goals. Viewed from a more modern time, these qualities are less objectionable, but at times she still seems to be an overpowering force that many men today would find difficult to endure. Oates offers few if any opinions on Clara's personality but gives us a completely honest and utterly objective look at a woman who was absolutely unwilling to conform to society's expectations. One can only wonder to what heights of government service she would have aspired if she were born in the 20th century. I suspect from reading Oates' account of her personality and ingenuity that she would have won my vote.



2. The book is wonderful. Every woman should read it. It shows that anyone can stand out in a crowd and lend a hand no matter what form it takes. An inspiration to women everywhere! A very real account of her life, feels as if you are there with her. Please read it!



3. As a nurse I have heard and read about Clara Barton for years. This book finally reinvents the tired images - melodramatic icon of female self sacrifice and courage, angel on earth and of the battlefield - and offers the reader a compelling, warm and very real picture of the person and personality of this famous individual. We see all aspects of Clara's character and the impact of the many choices she makes. We even get to see a few of the skeletons in her closet. Without this book, I doubt we would know that there were any! The amount of detail - and it is considerable - is so beautifully woven into the historical narrative that the story, like the Civil War, sweeps the reader from one new experience to the next. Read this and you will feel the jolting of army wagons along rutted roads, struggle to rest as the canvas flaps of your tent crack and strain in storms, gallop with joyful abandon along the beaches at Hilton Head - and much more. I purchased my copy at Gettyburg and it is the best "souvenir" purchase I ever made. Bravo to Stephen Oates!



4. Mr. Oates has done it again. You will know Clara Barton ambitions, downfalls, her emotions as well as her eager drive and personal duty to serve those who suffered so much during the Civil War years. The contents of this book will jump out at you and you'll feel that you're right next to the personalities involved. Oh, what women had to go through to pursue a dream or an ambition to contribute to society. Clara has a heart of gold as her patients in and off the field well knew, yet she was being torn apart on the inside by the constant fear that she wasn't doing enough for "her boys". Her personal life was put on the back shelf as she persued her one desire, to help those who were less fortunate. You'll follow Clara as she goes through the blood, sweat, tears, agony and the horrors of the war. This is a true story of a dark chapter in our american history when brother fought against brother literally. It is also of a dream turned into reality that Clara Barton followed with a sincere robust ambition to pursue the betterment of her fellow man. By caring for the soldiers on the battlefield, she proved to the Union Army that those suffering needed love, compassion and of course medical care where it was most needed - on the front lines of battle. This is a must read book for those interested in hero's, Civil War history or nursing history. Stephen B. Oates is the author of other fine books in history and ranks right up there with the big boys in the writings of history

5 comments about American Hero: The Life and Death of Audie Murphy.

1. This book is shabby compared to the book written by Harold B. Simpson:
   Audie Murphy, American Soldier. This book was printed in two 5000 ea volumes editions. I have the Veterans edition. This book was published in 1975 and is now a very rare collectors item going for at least $75 and as high as $300.00
   
   This book is worth every single detailed fottnoted page. It is a
   complete expose on his early days, through his heroics on the battle fields. I am a penultimate fan of Audie Murphy, I served with the 3rd Infantry Division at Kitzingen, Wurzburg and Schweinfurt for over 7 years
   of mu military career.
   
   Charles Whiting would have done much better had he researched Simpsons book for the references written in the bibliography.
   
   I would therefore giive Whiting a c- in journalism for this book.



2. I used to watch his films when I was a child and I still am a fan of him mainly because of his heroism as a soldier. If you want to see his truly heroism just watch "To hell and back". There you are going to see what was "a true war hero" and understand that a soldier like this won't born in this world anymore. He was not an ordinary soldier, he was the best one. I agree that this book doesn't match his importance to American history, but where many men that have never attended to any war get rich writing books about their times as protesters in front of Lincoln Monument, it's easy to understand why American people want to forget this kind of a man. Mainly because he was not graduated in any great university. Soldiers have been dying for countries that don't give a damn for them at all. But as a first book about this great American is a good choice, buy it.



3. A great book on a great American war hero. Not as detailed as I would have liked, but for it's size (239 pages) a good buy.



4. Considering he is America's most-decorated soldier, the story of Audie Murphy's combat career as told by Charles Whiting is amazingly dull. There is no convincing explanation given for Murphy's extraordinary actions, and the descriptions of the combat itself are lacking in detail, so it's hard to come up with a feeling for what might have been going on in Murphy's head at the time. It's possible, I suppose, that Murphy just stumbled into heroism like so many before and since, and that he is not really extraordinary at all. That doesn't seem to match the "troubled loner" picture that Whiting describes, but maybe that's all there is. And a final note on the editing ... I have never seen such poor production. The number of spelling mistakes, missing words and missing punctuation in this text are beyond belief. I would guess an average of one glaring mistake every 4 or 5 pages, sometimes in big bunches that make you wonder how this book was brought to market.



5. Interesting but a little dry at first since I am not a 'war buff' simply a Audie Murphy fan. I would, however, recommend it for it's content and pictures.