5 comments about Sergeant Nibley, Ph.D.: Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle.

1. Hugh Nibley is a famous LDS scholar known for his great erudition and his defense of the Mormon Church. He was fluent in at least 10 languages including many ancient languages, and used these skills to develop much of the foundation for modern LDS apologetics. He was a very colorful, interesting person and was also known for his criticisms of LDS culture. This book covers a period of his life of which little is known. He didn't publicly discuss his war years much, but in the last few years of his life, his son was able to glean some information from him and published this book.
   
   The book starts when Nibley was an LDS missionary in Germany in 1927, and describes an incident when he crossed paths with Hitler. It then goes into Nibley's college years where he earned a PhD from UC Berkeley, and then a job teaching. When the war started, he enlisted as a private in the army at the age of 32. He went through various assignments and ended up in intelligence due to his language skills and became a sergeant. What follows is a fascinating story of his experiences in the army that included a landing at Utah Beach on D-Day, participation in the Battle of the Bulge, and the final occupation of Germany. He was involved with many of the key events and characters of the war.
   
   The format of the book was interesting. It consisted of summaries by the author, quotes by Nibley, copies of letters from family and friends, many sidebars explaining certain events, and helpful footnotes. It's unique for a history of this type, but seemed to work well. I highly recommend this book for people wanting to learn more about Hugh Nibley; but the stories are great for anyone interested in WWII, especially the 101st airborne division to which he was attached.



2. Hugh Nibley was gifted and had a great curiosity. His WWII experiences would enlighten him as to the 'conspiring men' who seek riches from the troubles of others. He describes the sillyness of the War that was fought in places where the Romans fought and Napoleon fought. He describes terrible waste and destruction that war brings. A great adventure in which he was preserved, while others around him were lost. He describes the choices made my those in command to further their own carreeers while engaged in war. And the efforts to keep the war going.



3. This book was given to a friend as a gift. His wife is reading it to him since he is in poor health. They both are enthusiastic about its contents and style. Thank you.



4. This book contains the wartime memoirs of Hugh Nibley, former professor
   of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, as he participated in
   combat operations throughout Europe during WWII. Professor Nibley
   passed away in February 2005. The book was compiled by his son Alex
   Nibley from interviews and letters collected over the years. What
   makes this book so interesting is that although Hugh Nibley already had
   his Ph.D before the war started, and had been a member of ROTC, he
   elected to enlist in the Army as a buck private, rather than become an
   officer. The juxtaposition of his highly educated and intellectual
   perspective against the drudgery and horror of a common foot soldier
   makes for a fascinating read.
   
   Brother Nibley wasn't in the Army very long before his education and
   extensive language proficiencies were discovered. The Army promptly
   pulled him out of his job as a weather forecaster and sent
   him up to work in military intelligence. Once given access to
   classified intelligence data, the full power of his intellect became
   unleashed, to the potential benefit of the Allies. Unfortunately,
   things didn't always work out that way. Although he accurately
   predicted when and where many German surprise attacks would occur, and
   even the date when the war would end, he couldn't get many of the top
   military brass to believe him simply because he was just a lowly
   enlisted man. The book documents Brother Nibley's frustrations as he
   watched helplessly as numerous Allied troops were killed needlessly
   from attacks that could have been avoided.
   
   The book includes a number of spiritual elements as well. It documents
   how LDS Church Apostle Melvin J. Ballard set Brother Nibley apart for a
   proselyting mission to Germany in the late 1920s, and commanded him to
   tell the people to repent or they would be destroyed by fire from
   heaven. It was to Brother Nibley's great sorrow that he observed many
   of the German cities to which he had earlier cried repentance destroyed
   by Allied fire-bombing during WWII.
   
   If you like books on WWII, and anything Nibley, I highly recommend
   this one for your collection.



5. This book is written from a very interesting perspective. Hugh Nibley was 32 years old and had a Ph.D. when he enlisted in the army. He went into intelligence, and presumed that he would get assigned some nice safe assignment writing reports or something like that.
   
   But those of who have been in the Army know that the Army Gods don't work that way. He was assigned to work with the 101st Airborne, and was scheduled to go into Normandy on D-Day by glider. (Unlike the paratroopers, the glider infantry was not composed of volunteers and did not receive the extra pay.) At the last minute a General bumped him off the glider so that he went in with the 4th division over Utah Beach. (The General, sitting in Nibley's assigned seat was killed, and all the men in the glider were captured.)
   
   Being both older and better educated Sgt. Nibley was able to see and understand a lot more about what was happening than reports from the commanders or the normal soldiers. For instance, the stories about the 101st are legend (Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, etc.) but Sgt. Nibley points out that many of the volunteers were some fairly tough soldiers that had been given the choice of volunteering or going to prison.
   
   There's a lot of comments of a similar nature throughout the book. Sgt. Nibley was a keen observer. This book belongs on any World War II library.

5 comments about The Peabody Sisters: Three Women Who Ignited American Romanticism.

1. The author attempts to run the three biographies in parallel but what really happens is that she jumps from one place to the other, so none of the biographies unfold properly. I found it utterly unreadable. On top of it to add to my frustration, there are generalities, like Elizabeth fought with her mother "like all adolescent girls do" or romantic creations "like on this day if you didn't watch out a dog might have showered you with water". I wanted to read a proper biography and not a society novel. I had read "Eden's Outcasts" by John Matteson before and came away with a more lively picture of Elizabeth Peabody and her involvment in the Temple School then from this book. If you are interested in the transcendentalist movement, the time, or women I highly recommend "Eden's Outcasts: The story of Louisa May Alcott and her father".



2. The Peabody Sisters is a wonderful book. It was so interesting and fast-paced, it reads like a novel. The women of the Transcendentalist Movement have been so poorly remembered it is possible to learn something new on every page. Megan Marshall's writing style is relaxed and conversational, a good balance to the 19th century melodrama, angst, sentimentality, and lofty philosophies of the sisters and their circle. Although Marshall quotes letters, sermons, poetry, reviews, journals, reports, and literature from many sources, it is done sparingly and logically integrated.
   
   The Peabody sisters were extraordinary women living in extraordinary times. A case can be made that Elizabeth Peabody, the oldest sister, is one of the most important figures in Transcendentalism. Barred from college and commerce by poverty and sex, she still managed to be more educated than many of the men she befriended and promoted. Many of the relationships we take for granted in Boston and Concord of the era can be directly linked to Elizabeth Peabody's tireless efforts to intellectually support interesting, creative individuals, make introductions, even find people jobs and students, housing, mentors - all while she is shut out and struggling to support her parents and five younger siblings while teaching herself Hebrew, Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish. Also: teaching children and adults, writing articles, editing and publishing, and keeping up a lively correspondence with teachers, philosophers, artists, poets of the era. Her sisters Sophia and Mary are hardly less accomplished.
   
   And yet Megan Marshall always keeps things grounded. The sisters are always real people who display very normal sibling rivalries manifested in jealousy, competition, ambition, despair, frustration and anger. There was also commitment, love, affection, support, delight and generosity.
   
   What is most amazing is the strength of the women in this group. They are creative, adaptable, intelligent, extraordinary in many ways. They are continually held back by the convention of the time that women were somehow frail and that ambition and accomplishment were unseemly in the "fairer sex." Considering what hothouse flowers many of the men in this group proved to be, it's all the more unreasonable that the inequality of the sexes persisted.
   
   Megan Marshall never harangues - the rant is purely my own. Marshall simply gives us the benefit of her prodigious research in the most straightforward and appealing manner. Don't be scared off by the length of the book: the last 100 pages or so are notes and index. The book itself speeds by and the reader is left at the point when the sisters are taking up their own separate lives.



3. Somehow I overlooked this book when it was released, but thank goodness I discovered it later. The author takes readers back in time to share the amazing lives of these sisters. In the process, acquaintances of the Peabody family, that readers already know as historical figures, are brought to life as real, flawed but remarkable people. Readers will identify with these women as they strive to achieve and practice their own talents in a society that shares possibilities and limitations not so different from our own.



4. I only get to read on the train to and from work. This book makes my daily trip a real treat. I'm only half through, but hooked from page one. Not only does Marshall make a fascinating biographical and historical account of the Peabody sisters, but she provides answers as to why strong, ambitious, smart women have been so frustrated for so long. Society supressed gifted women in the 1800's so much so that women either became outcasts because they had to find expression, which in itself was restricted to motherhood, housewife or teacher, or they retreated into themselves in the form of illness or depression. Indeed, the contributions to romanticism by the Peabody sisters came at a very high cost to them. And now I can read about them and think "How strange that society was so close-minded back then!"



5. Megan Marshall has done superb work in this carefully researched account of the amazing Peabody sisters.

5 comments about The Cruise of the Sea Eagle: The Amazing True Story of Imperial Germany's Gentleman Pirate.

1. An interesting book! Some reviewers have commented on some inaccuracies within this tale; however, I believe that is the whole purpose of this book. The author and publisher have stated that many variations of this story exist and this is an attempt to set the story straight. Graf von Luckner is a legend amongst fans of the sea, both historical and fiction. In fact I've even encountered references to him in science fiction for his derring do and sauve nature. This book helps to set the story straight. The author has gone to great pains to even include a section where he has compared many of the myths versus the truth of the ship SMS Seeadler (or Irma or Hero or .....) and Graf von Luckner himself. I do not see this as an attack upon the man or his legend; rather, it makes him more human. This book also took an additional look at some of the other crew members of the Seeadler and their influence upon the cruise, a view which previous books and some articles haven't evenly covered. First Officer Kling had an enormous influence upon the success of the cruise and this book provides some insights to the strengths and weaknesses of him and his fellow officers. The view portrayed by the variety of prisoners and their nationalities also showed how detailed the author researched this legend.
   I was struck by a comment made by the author, paraphrased, he indicated how in our age we would look for the flaws in von Luckners character and trumpet them to the world rather than respect him for what he had done. I do not remember the exact wording but I believe the spirit of his statement is correctly shown. This book portrays a truthful look at a great man with all his faults. I would recommend this for book for all fans of the sea, fiction and non fiction.



2. To an avid history buff like myself, who reads anything he can about the Navel Warfare of WWI, this book was enthralling. I could'nt put it down.
   
   The flashes of insite into the Count's past, and his relationship with the Kiser, had me grinning, while the chase's and bluff's in his repertoire of tactic's had me on the edge of my seat. Derring do, and chivalry were the watchwords he and his crew lived and fought by. Even his captives loved and respected him.
   
   I can't say enough about Blaine Pardoe's book. WELL DONE, well done indeed



3. The life of Count Felix von Luckner is a worthy subject for a complete biography. He was with us well into the sixties, and is remembered as a German naval officer who fought his part of World War One with as much chivalry as the times allowed. Blaine Pardoe's book introduces a new generation of readers to this interesting man, and his beautiful ship, the Seeadler. The story is told in the typical light journalism of today, and covers the material fairly well. For those who have more than a passing interest in maritime subjects, you are going to be disappointed.
   If you have even a little knowledge of seamanship, Blaine Pardoe's cliched style will set your teeth on edge. Pardoe has the Seeadler's lookout call "Ship Ahoy!" The ship "lists" as she sails, and they sight a four masted brig, when a brig has two masts by definition. A few of these things might be overlooked, but he drops "clangers" on every other page. The Seeadler, a 1500 ton square rigger "pulls up and takes off" like a taxi-cab, while the small craft in the story are described as ships. For all his research, the writer states the Seeadler was an American built windjammer, when she was built in Scotland at Glasgow.
   There is a long tradition of journalist writing laughable accounts of seamanship, and in this style Pardoe follows Lowell Thomas's account of the same story. To his credit, he debunks the old story of the tidal-wave stranding the ship; something that was always hard to swallow. There are a good supply of references laid in with the story too, and for that reason only,the book will stay on my shelf.



4. This book talks about a time and place that is rarely covered by historians. In World War I the Germans were a far more honorable enemy than in WWII. This story exemplifies that. Imagine a Prussian aristocrat who goes to war determined to uphold the rules of war and maritime law. Captain Luckner ends up capturing and sinking over a dozen allied ships, but only kills one person. And he does it in a captured American clipper ship.



5. Having majored in History in college, with an emphasis on WWI and WWII, I was surprised that I had never heard of Felix von Luckner. Now, having read the book, I am astonished. Felix von Luckner was the type of man legends are made of!
   
   A true hero of the German Navy, this book details the adventures of von Luckner as the capitan of the Seeadler (Sea Eagle) and highlights the life of a man who managed to become one of the most feared raiders on the sea --- and who did so without carelessly taking lives.
   
   With sea battles, storms, deck parties, cross-dressing, and more -- this story truly embodies the thought that 'Truth is stranger than fiction'!
   
   I definitely recommend this book. A really great read!

5 comments about Chained Eagle: The Heroic Story of the First American Shot Down over North Vietnam.

1. Everett Alvarez Jr. has given us his inspirational experience as America's first military Vietnam POW. He details his early life, then gets right to his mission over North Vietnam, his plane being downed, his subsequent capture and captivity and, finally, his release and "Return With Honor". There are a number of books written by Vietnam POWs, but this one is noteworthy because he was the first (1964) and the longest held. He speaks hauntingly of his depravation and torture, but he doesn't dwell on it. This is a positive book where Alvarez shows us how he endured for so long. Of interest is his faith; how it helped him cope. Meanwhile the book often shifts back to his family here, first awaiting news of his fate and then later, when they find he is alive, his release. Well-written and inspiring... a great take.



2. The story is a story that should be mandatory reading for all high school and college students. The lessons, actions, values and principles in the life of Alvarez are what heroes are made of and an inspiration and example to all.
   
   The book is well written. One feels as though he is living through the ordeal of the POW story.



3. Alvarez was shot down on the FIRST day of the Gulf of Tonkin airstrikes! Hero, no. Lucky, yes. Strong will to survive, yes. So are the hundreds of other POWs. What makes Alvarez unique? The first one to get shot down? Hardly a hero.



4. "Chained Eagle" is the story of Lieutenant (j.g.) Everett Alvarez. He was a pilot from the U.S.S. "Constellation", shot down over Hon Gai, North Vietnam on August 5, 1964. In fact, Alvarez was downed during the very first bombing sortie of the Indochina War. He remained imprisoned until the general release of all POWs in the Spring of 1973. This reviewer remembers President Johnson announcing the missions at the still bizarre time of 11 p.m. Eastern Time, interrupting a Mets game. (It was never completely clear if LBJ's broadcast came before the actual raids. Doing so would have given the North a free advance warning). The very strongest aspect of CE is how strongly it is written. The portrayals of prison life are more vivid than any other POW accounts this reviewer has read. There is a sharp focus on the food. It was painful to read of how POWs competed with the rats and ants for the slop left outside their cells. By the time permission to actually eat was given, "others" had sampled the stuff! One can only imagine how hungry these guys must have been and desperate for any semblance of decent chow! Alvarez' conditions were tolerable initially but quickly deteriorated as more pilots were downed and subsequently captured. Conditions improved later in the War as America -belatedly! -began to demand better treatment of the prisoners. The Son Tay raid of 1970 also was directly responsible for better conditions because it led North Vietnam to consolidate most Americans into the larger Hanoi area prisons. There was definite safety in numbers, along with a supportive command structure. Another strong aspect of CE is the interspersed reports of how the Alvarez family was faring at home! One deduces a strong effort from co-author Pitch here, since Alvarez was imprisoned 15, 000 miles away. It was not all sweetness and light back in California. CE reminds the reader sharply that the families on the home front suffered too. It is true that Alvarez' wife deserted him while he was imprisoned and that his sister was a serious demonstrator against the War. However the author very quickly pulled his life together again once repatriated, rising above those sharp adversities. This reviewer was surprised to read of two collaborators, both officers, one a Marine LTC! Also, by the end of 1972, many of the newly shot down pilots had turned lukewarm regarding the War. Some rooted for Senator George McGovern (D-SD) in the '72 Presidential Election! The bottom line for CE is that it is one more entry in that solid lineup of POW/MIA accounts. America should always remember the struggles these men endured. We should also acknowledge the 1800+ still unaccounted for in the 4 Indochina countries, plus 6 men in China. Those of us Vets who came back to the World intact should count our blessings daily.



5. On August 5th, 1964, Lieutenant j.g. Everett Alvarez Jr. was shot down over North Vietnam and became the first U.S. aviator to be taken captive in the Vietnam conflict. Held in confinement for eight and a half years, he would be recorded as the longest held POW second only to Army Captain Jim Thompson.

   Spending the entire Vietnam war as a POW, Alvarez was held at different times in the Hanoi Hilton, Briarpatch, and Zoo prison compounds. It would be a year until he finally had contact with other American POW's and much of that first year was in solitary confinement.

   Approaching 2 years of captivity, Alvarez and his fellow servicemen were subjected to brutal and sadistic tortures amidst inhumane living conditions for the duration of their stay. Forced to eat vermin infested food and given negligible medical care, he suffered frequently from Dysentery, Beri-Beri, Hepatitis, and other afflictions.

   Far along into captivity, Alvarez finally received mail from his family concerning events at home. Sadly, he was to learn that one of his sisters had become an anti-war activist and in what must have seemed like one of the worst examples of betrayal and cruelty, his wife divorced him and then remarried.

   During the worst of times, Alvarez never wavered in his beliefs of pride, patriotism, and self-determination to survive and continually assisted his fellow POW's as they assisted him. Upon a joyous and welcome return home, he diligently and proudly re-entered society with his honor and integrity intact culminating with his second marriage to a wonderful woman that made his life complete.

   Chained Eagle is an exceptionally good book of one man's heroic struggle and endurance in the face of complete despair and hopelessness. Vividly poignant, inspirational, and heartfelt, this book is deserving of much more than five stars and is very highly recommended to everyone.

5 comments about LeMay (Great Generals).

1. LeMay is probably best known for his "bomb them back to the stone age" suggestion on how to win the Vietnam War. He is also rumored to have been the inspiration for the crazed Air Force general Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove." This book helps to set the record straight. LeMay was certainly one of the leading advocates of strategic bombing. He masterminded the fire bombing of Japanese cities in World War II, directed the Berlin Airlift, and essentially created the Strategic Air Command from the ground up during the Cold War. He was also one of the youngest men to ever reach the rank of Four Star General at the age of 44 (U.S. Grant was a little younger).
   
   While this book is a good introduction to LeMay's life and career, it is limited by the small format of the Great Generals series. This is not the fault of the author, but he is forced to condense certain portions of the narrative to fit the confines of the small page count. As a result, the account suffers and the reader is left wanting more. I would recommend Iron Eagle by Thomas Coffey (ISBN 0-517-55188-8) for a more complete and nuanced biography of LeMay. It can be found pretty cheaply through Amazon's marketplace of used book dealers. Happy reading!



2. Considering Curtis LeMay's long-term influence on air power (from before WW II into the early Vietnam era), it is astonishing that there has only been one prior biography: Thomas Coffey's Iron Eagle (1986). This entry in the Great Generals series therefore is the first biography since LeMay's death in 1990.
   
   The author clearly knows his subject. He has produced a concise, objective study of one of the most controversial military figures of the 20th century, and one of the most significant. Tillman examines LeMay's early life and career, then traces his evolution from the young commander whose decisions helped speed the end of the Pacific War into the "caveman in a bomber", excoriated by the Left even while he kept the Cold War "frosty" rather than "hot."
   
   Readers looking for the story behind the impassive face will have to wait for a more comprehensive treatment. The author's charter apparently was to describe LeMay's leadership philosophy and draw comparisons useful to current managers, as do the other installments in the series. In that regard, Tillman has accomplished his mission: a feat of which LeMay himself would have approved.



3. This book is a quick and dirty overview of the life and career of Curtis E. LeMay. The biography is rather thin and it hits only the highlights of the general's life. All the books in this series are on the short side and serve more as brief introductions to their subjects than authoritative accounts. There is only so much Tillman can do in the space that he has available and given the constraints he faces, he does a good job. Tillman is a sympathetic biographer and does an exceptional job of explaining LeMay's involvement in the Berlin Airlift. Previous biographers have given this topic little attention. This approach, though, leads Tillman astray when he reaches LeMay's tenure as Chief-of-Staff of the USAF during the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. Like previous LeMay biographers, Tillman is as dismissive of the national strategies and foreign policies of these administrations as was LeMay. His explanation of these different ideas and approaches is simplistic at best. He is particularly rough on Secretary of Defense Robert S. MacNamara, making the former executive at the Ford Motor Company look at various times as either an incompetent or as a black-and-white villain.
   
   It is clear that Tillman likes his subject, and there is much to admire in Curtis E. LeMay as a professional, a leader, and as a man. Tillman, however, has a difficult time developing the general's complex personality. There was good deal more to him than his gruff exterior. Despite his "bomb `em back into the stone age" reputation, LeMay had a powerful understanding of the bleak realities of what war really was. He was fully aware he was sending off men to kill and be killed, and he was alert to the real damage that they would suffer one way or another. He rarely got romantic about the business of war, which made him all the more human and determined to get results. Despite the caliber of Tillman's biography, the best book on LeMay remains the general's own memoirs. If you can get to a library, it is a good read. Otherwise, this book is pretty good too.



4. If the Cold War could be wrapped up into one person it would be Curtis LeMay. The U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) was LeMay and LeMay was SAC. I knew the History Channel facts about Lemay, but I wanted to know more. Unfortunately this book left me wanting. At only 191 small pages, it was tough to really get into deep historical research or analysis for a figure as large and important as LeMay.
   
   I got the feeling the author was just cranking the book out. It did have the feel of a cliff notes or a term paper. There was noting really wrong with the book, but there was nothing that great about it either. LeMay comes across flat and the book lacks the tactile feel that makes great biographies.
   
   The author is very pro-airpower and never really dives into the great political/military dissent around LeMay and his views. I thought that maybe 15 years after the Cold War ended, enough time had past for someone to give LeMay a fresh look, but this book never got there. I will keep searching for a better LeMay bio.



5. Barrett Tillman's LeMay is a welcome addition to military aviation literature. Rooted in extensive research, gracefully written, and cogently argued, it places LeMay in a far richer and thoughtful context than the one-dimensional cigar-chomping, firestrom-triggering, finger-on-the-nuclear-trigger caricature of post-Dr. Strangelove, post-Vietnam sensibility. Tillman ranges widely across LeMay's life, relating it to key developments in military aviation, technology, world events, national strategy, and the political and social environment of the times. Nuanced, polished, and engrossing, it is must-read for anyone interested in the development of American air power and the role of this complex and fascinating man, one of the "Great Captains" of air warfare.

No comments about At the Dragon's Gate: With the OSS in the Far East.

2 comments about Stand Well Clear: More Adventures in Military Aviation.

1. Subtitled "More Adventures in Military Aviation," this book is a sequel to the author's SECOND LUCKIEST PILOT published in 2000 by the Naval Institute Press. It recounts various combat missions and other flights made by the author and other Marine Corps and Navy pilots from the Korean War to the fighting on Afghanistan.
   
   To be honest, I can't rate this book higher than a "3." Some of the stories are interesting, some aren't. And, at $28.95, it's overpriced.
   
   An optional purchase.



2. A really great book, though small. The author has a really good style.I will get his other book, since I enjoyed this one so much!

5 comments about Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad.

1. Author Ann Hagedorn, who moved "on location" to complete her research and add inspiration to her writing, offers a rarely seen individual account of the underground railroad. Most other books on the topic take a view from 50,000 feet. Hagedorn focuses in on one river (the Ohio), two states (Ohio and Kentucky), and one man (John Rankin). The abolitionist work of this Presbyterian minister (whose letters about abolition are a crucial primary source) serves as the backdrop and foreground for Hagedorn's exposition. Though focused on Rankin, the author does not fail to provide compelling real-life stories of many other "key players" both slave and free. For a compelling, unique read of the courageous men and women conducting the underground railroad, "Beyond the River" is the book to read.
   
   Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Spiritual Friends, and Soul Physicians.



2. Beyond the River was just named one of the American Library Association's Notable Books for 2004. The annual list is highly regarded and identifies 25 very good, very readable and very important books.

   This is a tremendous honor for Beyond the River and one that is richly deserved; this book lovingly weaves together tales of the abolitionist heroes in the town of Ripley, Ohio in the years leading up to the Civil War.




3. Ann Hagedorn offers the reader a captivating perspective on America's struggle with slavery in her work, "Beyond the River." The uniqueness of her work eminates from two particular aspects of her work, both of which begin with the way she takes her subject out of the macro world of politics and economics into the smaller world of the lives of the people effected by the souths 'peculiar institution.' Looking slavery through the eyes of individuals, the reader gains a far greater appreciation of the suffering, torment, and most of all, the fear generated by those who stood in opposition.

   Interesting also is the location the author focuses on, the Ohio River where on one side men are free and on the other live in chains. Most texts present slavery at great distances, like The Carolinas an and New York. Here we see just how intimate the slavery and the abolitionist could be and the blood spilled by both sides.

   Most importantly, Hagedorn writes in a cool clear voice that is enjoyable and informative. She delivers facts and passion in the same sentence without ever becoming melodramatic or shrill. Readers who enjoy this fictional work may also want to look at "Cloudsplitter," Richard Bank's novel on The Brown family's war on slavery.




4. This is a great read, suspenseful and thoughtful, one of the best page-turners I have read in a long while. I strongly recommend the book to anyone, of any race, of any religion, and from any part of the U.S. It has made me reflect on what 'weak' creatures most of us are when it comes to moral risk-taking, and how courageous other Americans in the past have been. This is a book that will make you feel very humble about how 'morally righteous' you really are.

   Unlike one of the other reviewers, I have enjoyed reading the 'large blocks of text'--the original written voice of the people livng at the time, and their [lists of] names make the events very real. These folks were a whole lot more articulate than myself--read this book!




5. So you think you know all about the Underground Railroad, the secret network that fugitive slaves used to escape bondage? Try this quiz:

   1. Once they reached one station of the UGRR, how did fugitives reach the next station?

   2. What role did women and children play in the UGRR?

   3. What religious group do you associate with the UGRR?

   So those questions are easy? Try these:

   4. What connection did Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, have with Ripley?

   5. How many years did the citizens of tiny Ripley, Ohio serve as major players in the Underground Railroad?

   Ann Hagedorn answers all these questions and more in Beyond the River. In her skillful hands, a century and a half fades away and the people of Ripley spring to life. By day, they live a surprisingly civilized life-- none of those rustic log cabins and barefooted trips to the outhouse that you read about in many attempts to bring history alive. By night, the sophisticated network of friends and neighbors bands together for one purpose: "a solemn promise to fight slavery until it is dead or the Lord calls me home."

   As a girl in the 1960's, I traveled through Ripley, Ohio a couple of times a year to visit my grandparents. I knew a little about the Rankin family and the Underground Railroad from reading the historical marker near Rankin House, but until Ann Hagedorn's book, the story of Ripley was lost history. Read Beyond the River the first time for the gripping story, the second time for the historical accuracy, and the third time for the inspiration to make our world a better place.

5 comments about Quartered Safe Out Here: A Recollection of the War in Burma.

1. This is not your so called war stories. It is about a man and the men he served with without any liberal gibberish (see his references to more modern times)and the fact that wars happen and will happen, just or unjust depending on one's views. But, they won't go away like some Utopian dreamers think just because other "Utopians" weren't up to it. There were so many pages that hit me in the gut because one could so readily identify with things on the page. I never expected such a great book from a journalist / media person which proves that there is good in every crowd. I salute Fraser and I wish I could tell him so in person.



2. I read this entire book with a smile on my face, punctuated by frequent outbursts of laughter. George MacDonald Fraser's memories of his WWII service with the British Commonwealth Army in the Burma campaign was the first of his non-Flashman works I've read. Although it's impossible to really compare two completely different literary genres, I'll just say that "Quartered Safe Out Here" was-in its own unique way- as hilarious, if not more so, than the best of the Flashman novels. The difference is that in the Flashman novels, Fraser's obvious respect for the sacrifices and achievements of the British soldier had to be viewed as a backdrop to the foreground humor while the opposite is true in this work, where the humor plays a supporting role to his tribute, which is explicit.
   
   Unlike his Flashman creation, Fraser was an honest-to-goodness war hero- courageous, honorable, and immensely proud of his country, regiment and platoon section. Like old Flashie though, Fraser cuts through the B.S. and shows no tolerance for armchair generals, civilian second guessing, and the nattering classes' politically correct sympathizing for Britain's enemies, so long as they were black, brown or yellow. It was amusing how Fraser's account of his argument with a bleeding-heart over the atomic bombing of Japan exactly echoes Flashman's dustup with a supercilious academic at the beginning of "Flashman and the Redskins". The alert reader will notice other such episodes in this memoir that seem to have found life in that series, but as Fraser noted, sometimes real life in Burma was so bizarre that he would have been laughed out of town if he had tried to slip some of those stories or dialogue into his fictional novels or screenplays. That's why I'm glad he finally got around to writing this book. It would have been a real shame if this story had not been told.
   
   Fraser details his time as a 19 year old soldier in Burma during the last months of the war. His writing is brilliant, as usual, his stories engrossing, his attention to detail is fascinating, and the characters we meet, from the lovably obscene Cumbrians to the unbelievable Captain Grief, are unforgettable, the more so for being real. Apart from the entertainment value, which is considerable, Fraser's insights into the nature of war and the warrior are poignant and valuable as a historical record of, and paean to, a lost Britain. He bemoans the fact that that Britain (not to mention America) has been replaced by a therapeutic society of hypersensitive p.c. twits who have been severed from the warrior tradition and stoic ethos which made their existence possible in the first place. As with most of Fraser's books, it's not for someone who thinks that the world has improved much in the last 50 years. What else is there to say? This is simply a great book. Read it and love it.



3. This book had been brought to my attention by the author John McKinna ("The Sen-Toku Raid" and others) when it was learned we both had been combat infantry. And a great recommendation it was. The name of the book was taken from a Rudyard Kipling phrase in "Gunga Din", and outlines the infantryman's life during the final days of WWII as the Black Cat Division pushed down the Burma road towards Rangoon.
   
   His book is unique in that it recounts the perspective of the war-fighter on the ground, who's entire knowledge of a world conflict is about 300 yards. At one point, he described every piece of equipment on his person, a bit of historical information I found of great interest.
   
   Interspersed with this narrative however, was Fraser's meticulous research of after action reports of the units involved to weave a mosaic for the reader that helped round out the full picture of the campaign itself.
   
   Overall, a great read.



4. George MacDonald Fraser, best known for his Flashman novels, and, in my opinion, one of our best writers, gives us here his nearly fifty-year-old memories of his service in Burma in 1945.
   
   There is so much to like about this book that it's difficult to know where to begin. There is Fraser's absolute honesty about his fears, his mistakes, his attitude toward the Japanese, and the virtues and vices of his comrades. There is his ability to place his unit's activities within the context of larger campaigns and yet give a vivid impression of what fighting with his unit must have been like. There is his brief but compelling portrait of General William Slim, for whom he has an unabashed admiration. There are moments of low humor, of heroism, and of tragic loss of life, and there is an unapologetic pride in what he, his comrades, and the rest of the British and Allied forces accomplished.
   
   This is one of the best books that I have ever read, and I recommend that you make it one of yours.



5. GMF has outdone himself with this book about his part in the Horrific war in Burma during War II. He tells of his time as a junior enlist then junior NCO with the Border Regiment. He spins his tale extremely well about the story of the last great War fought by the Old Anglo-Indian Army of the Raj. So if you want to get a feel for a bygone Army, its various & exotic troops, weapons and some great characters like the Iron Duke and the Impressive FM Slim then this is the place for you.

5 comments about Burnside.

1. Marvel(the author is aptly named) and greatly wonder, that was what I increasingly did reading this excellent biography of Major-General Ambrose Everett Burnside. I marvelled at the fact that it was possible that soldier's lives were ever entrusted to this man (and he wasn't even the worst one) and wondered how someone who was so insecure, mediocre, naïve and, well, just plain dumb succeeded in reaching such important commands. Oh, let's just say it: the man was a colossal dunderhead.
   
   Fredericksburg, Knoxville, the Wilderness and the Crater are the sad testament to Burnside's military abilities. Why the Lincoln administration continued to employ him is still beyond me. Even in 1864 when they had got rid of most stupidheads in command of Union troops, Grant still let Burnside lead an army corps, knowing fully well that Burnside was not a vigourous and competent leader!
   
   As a person he was very likable: a pleasant, caring and modest fellow, a true gentleman. Everybody liked Burnside, but everybody also knew he was a failure as a general. But the fact that Burnside was a nice bloke, kind and well-meaning, does not excuse his failings as a general.
   
   After the war he was very busy in the Senate, lobbying for veteran's affairs, which is highly laudable, but I can't help thinking that there would have been a lot more veterans alive after the Civil War if Burnside had never been given a command higher than a brigade.
   A very good book, sympathetic to its subject, but not blind to his faults. Recommended.
   
   One thing though: Why does this book have that odd, psychedelic cover? a bad reproduction of Burnsides portrait in front of some weird and freaky serrated plant leaves. What's that all about, huh??? It looks chaep too. For Pete's sake, get a better cover on the next edition, wouldya?



2. Ambrose Burnside is an easy man to come to conclusions about. Describing himself as not competent to lead the Army of the Potomac, he subsequently confirms it with his disastrous performance at Fredericksburg. Again, later in the war, fate taps him to perform miserably at the Crater, a catastrophe that ends his military career. As a result, we are taught by history to hate him and with the benefit of these awful events, we do.
   
   But who was this man and why did people like him so? Why, after the Crater, was he able to become Senator from, and Governor of, Rhode Island subsequent to the Civil War? Who was this man who remained so loyal to George McClelland that he refused to replace him when offered the promotion. Why was he the second highest ranking officer in the Union Army and what were the reasons for his victories along the Carolina Coast in 1862 and at Knoxville against Longstreet in 1863? The answer is simple: He could be trusted.
   
   William Marvel does a wonderful job of explaining Burnside. As a result, we are introduced to a wonderful person, an entrepreneur, a loyal friend and confidant, a combat soldier promoted beyond his capabilities to be sure but one who remained so admired by those around him that even Grant, who relieved him from command after the Crater, sought his friendship and support as President of the United States.



3. Marvel's account is pretty much all you have to turn to if you want to read about the infamous Burnside. The author tries his hardest to present Burnside in a favorable light, going so far as to claim he could have won at Fredericksburg if not for the slowness of General Franklin. Marvel's contentions about Burnside's competency are at best debatable. As noted elsewhere, there is very little here about Burnside's early life (perhaps due to lack of source material), and less understandably, little is included about his post-war political career.
   I feel the book was a bit long, going into great detail about situations where Burnside's subordinates were preforming some maneuver in New Berne or East Tennessee. The book could have been edited down by a hundred pages or so.
   There also a lack of the voice of the subject. Very few letters seem to exist from Burnside, so it is hard to get to know him outside the limits of his official communications.



4. Ambrose Burnside remains famous for his staggering incompetence as a Civil War general and his facial hair. In this solid biography, William Marvel presents a more intriguing character than most Civil War buffs would think.
   
   Marvel takes the reader through the various triumphs and defeats of Burnside's career. While not ignoring the disasters at Fredrciskburg and the Crater, Marvel does show that Burnside had some ability as his operations in North Carolina and, to a lesser extent, east Tennessee show. Marvel also does an excellent job in illuminating a number of the minor assignments that Burnside handled well, including his command in Ohio as well as his efforts at recruiting. Burnside's humanity comes through very clearly. Marvel does an excellent job of showing
   how the Civil War transformed Burnside's thoughts on race. The prewar Jacksonian Democrat became a Republican as the nature of the war changed. Unlike his friend George McClellan, Burnside seemed to understand that the war had become about more than preserving the Union and started drifting along the same tide as others. The conservative who at the start of the war seemed willing to preserve slavery recognized that the institution of human bondage had to be ended with the Confederacy. Burnside, more than most Union generals, also appreciated the use of African-American soldiers. Marvel shows Burnside in a much more complex light than the caricature of an affable incompetent. Marvel also shows that Burnside had his own circle of subordinates and friends who remained loyal to their chief.
   
   But the book has its flaws. While excellent on the war years, Marvel has little to say on Burnside's pre-war career inlcuding his friendship with George McClellan, his 1858 campaign for Congress and his failed attempt to produce rifles for the Army. Even more astonishing, Marvel has almost nothing to say about Burnside's important post-war political career. Burnside served three terms as governor of Rhode Island and was an important senator for seven years. Some of the more interesting stories which help humanize Burnside are burried in the endnotes (such as a funny tale of Burnside playfully whacking an aide over the head with a slipper).
   
   Still, the book remains an excellent one and is of interest to any Civil War scholar. The book is also very readable. While a bit savage to McClellan, the author seems as affable as the subject; high praise indeed since Burnside's charitable nature comes through on almost every page.



5. This is a true honest work of a General who had some excellent ideas but was often too naive with initiating action or from truly evaluating his staff. He was politically inept in being aware of the political cabal of McClellanites that undermined his command of the Army of the Potomac and contributed to his failings at Fredericksburg. Marvel does an excellent job demonstrating Burnsides successes at Roanoke Island with amphibious landings, perhaps the first in American war, and his occupation of coastal N.C. Marvel explains that Burnsides beat Lee to Fredericksburg but was held back by Halleck's failure to organize the pontoon train needed to cross the Rappahannock. The author's most interesting part of the book is his explanation of Burnsides' battle plan at Fredericksburg and his misunderstanding of the terrain features of Marye's Heights. In addition, one of the cabal generals commanding the left wing failed to execute his flanking movement properly yet communicated success causing Burnsides to unleash full scale attacks on Marye's Heights. Another fascinating piece centers on Burnsides' plan of the "crater", blowing up a confederate section of line and exploiting the breach with specially trained African American units. Unfortunately, the plan was severely hindered by Grant's and Meade's last minute disallowance of the black units to execute the plan resulting in untrained units commanded by an intoxicated officer. In between Burnsides does well keeping Longstreet out of Tennessee but inflames Sherman by providing Sherman a feast upon his arrival. Sherman misunderstood the meal as evidence that Burnsides' needed no relief. Burnsides is depicted as a very intelligent man that invented a breech loaded rifle but was politically naive particularly that even his alleged friend, McClellan undermined him for his own purpose without Burnsides being aware of it. Hard to defend Burnsides' limited action on McClellan's left flank at Antietam where any early action could have resulted in defeat of Lee. Regardless that McClellan didn't not ask Burnsides to attack earlier but any initiative by Burnsides would have made for a different outcome. Also, if Burnsides was aware or more personally involved with the crater attack, he should have recognized that the officer in charge of the attack was unfit and when the attack was misdirected, perhaps organized a better follow-up of troops although Meade aborted support. One of the last McCellan's generals of the Army of the Potomac to resign, only Warren lasted longer until his encounter withh Sheridan. The book leaves one thinking that if Burnsides had just a little of Sheridan in him and a little less of Burnsides, he would have been more successful. From a biography standpoint, Burnsides seems to havea lot in common with Confederate Genenral Ewell whose failures were also more pronounced than his victories.