No comments about Dictionary of Scandinavian Biography.

No comments about Martin Luther King Jr.,: The Pastor Who Had A Daring Dream (Heroes of Faith and Courage Series).

5 comments about Jutland: The German Perspective.

1. This book earns its stars through being great value at this price. The book does not attempt much analysis - it is mostly just the generally agreed history, illuminated with a collection of quotes from German sources such as the Official history and von Hase' memoirs.



2. One of the reasons for Germany and Britian being on opposite sides in the First World War was the decision of Germany to build a battle fleet to rival Britian's. By the start of the war Germany had a large modern fleet but it was considerably smaller than Britian's.

   The battle of Jutland was an attempt by the German Admiral Scheer to bring to battle a smaller part of the British Fleet and to even up the odds. What occured was a confusing battle which has been very clearly explained in this book. Basically a smaller unit of German Battle Cruiser entered into an engagment with a large unit of British Battle Cruisers. The Germans tried to lure these on to their fleet and instead precipitated an short engagment between both fleets. The Germans returned to port losing some ship to torpedoes.

   During the initial fight the German Battle Cruisers were able to sink a number of the British Battle Cruisers. The reasons for this were that the British ships were lightly armoured. British shell design was also faulty and this led to a large number of their "hits" not exploding.

   Whilst the Germans sank more ships the engagment was not decisive and the British were able to continue their Blockade of Germany something which contributed significantly to the German defeat. (At the end of the war front line troops were on a ration of 1,500 calories a day)

   The book as well as explaining everything clearly and well has a very large number of maps to explain the position and movement of the ships in the battle. In all and example of how naval history should be written.




3. A very nice research work since this is the first time the battle is narrated as seen from the german point of view (to english readers). In fact the battle of Skaggerak (german name for it) is a classical sea battle (gun vs gun), but amazingly plenty of data and sources are mainly filed on english side. This book tries to fill the gap since official report, archives, wireless messages and countless files are cited to unveil the encounter plot. The review of most significant facts before the clash is quite intersting and instrumental to catch the genesis of moral ascendancy of British naval power over German High Seas Fleet.

   The author work is compelling: sometime the narrative brings the reader on board as witness of action and demage report to the bridge. Comunications are vividly narrated, by the way they were so poor that occasionally they approach hilarity. Unfortunately psychological traits of Adm. Jellicoe and Adm. Beatty are quite clear while Adm. Hipper and Adm. Scheer attitudes fail to pop up from the perspective. So this unbalance (perhaps lack of solid sources on the German eminent players) and a consolidated english historical background are the only limits to this fascinating volume for seriuos fellow of naval history or a general reader like me.




4. I can't say I disagree with the reviewer from Hamburg.. this book hardly possesses a German spin at all but instead seems to be unaligned at best.

   It does, however, work nicely as a solid overview of the battle, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book to allow a full understanding of the decisions made in the Battle and what context they sprang from. If you already have such a book on your shelf, you may not find this valuable.

   Its appendices capture the germ of the information contained in the altogether dry Campbell work (which deals almost exclusively with forensic examination of shellfire), mixing it with the commanders' actions and a modicum of anecdotes by sailors in various roles within the swirl.




5. I found the attempt to view the Battle of Jutland from the perspective of the High Seas Fleet to be a long overdue attempt to compensate for the axiom that "winners write history". It is my view (and apparently Mr. Tarrant's) that this battle must be taken in the context of the German Naval expansion, and the Kaisers pronounced reluctance to risk his fleet in an attempt to reduce or eliminate British naval superiority in the North Sea. The pages devoted to the Dogger Bank bank action and other "preliminaries" are absolutely necessary. It must always be remembered that the failure of the German Fleet percipitated the reliance on U-Boats, which in turn were responsible for the entry of the U.S. into World War I

No comments about A STEADY TRADE: A BOYHOOD AT SEA.

No comments about Danish-American Life and Letters: A Bibliography (Scandinavians in America).

2 comments about Something About Mary: From Girl About Town to Crown Princess.

1. How do I describe this book? If Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" ever done an A@E style biography show, this book would be it.
   
   What do I mean by this? An example would be when the author described the priest whom married Mary and Frederick; she said he spoke like the Swedish chief from "The Muppet Show." You know the one who went "Knoucky, knouck, knourk, knourk!"
   
   There are a few things I didn't like about this book; there is this one chapter that tells the paparazzo's point of view on Mary Donaldson's path to Denmark. As well as the paparazzi style pictures that is found in this book. Particularly, this one picture which was taped back together by one of paparazzi; whom dug it out of the then Ms. Donaldson trash can. If this is what Ms. Kate Middleton is currently going through she has my complete sympathy.
   
   Another thing I didn't like about this book was the Aussie slang, which I didn't understand it and the author offered no explanations about what the particular Aussie words mean.
   
   Other than that, the book is like I said humorous and serious at the same time. Also, the author should clearly try to get on "The Daily Show," I believe she would fit in perfectly with the cast members.



2. This book, though not an authorised biography and contains only 'researched' information, is a great read. Especially for the fellow Australian who can understand some of the references made - like the stories told in the Little Golden Books etc. This provided a few laughs, though not sure if they'll be understood by the non-antipodean!

No comments about Danish Writers from the Reformation to Decadence, 1550-1900 (Dictionary of Literary Biography).

No comments about Henrik Ibsen: A Study in Art and Personality.

No comments about Madam Prime Minister.

No comments about Erasmus.