Reviews and Comments

Murf

murf@alexandria.the1977project.org

Joined 1 year, 9 months ago

"Why, yes, I am still upset that the Library of Alexandria burnt down"

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Review of 'Crimea : the last crusade' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Fascinating and absorbing read, detailing the background and buildup to the war and the social and political changes thereafter. It's impact on the collective memory of each nation involved is shown, and the Russian signposts to the recent Crimean crisis are now all too obvious in hindsight.

David Westwood: German Infantryman (2005) 3 stars

Review of 'German Infantryman' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Good short overview of the average landser's life on the eastern front during the years of constant retreat for the German Army. The descriptions of the small scale tactical actions in the varied terrain of the Eastern Front are very interesting, and show how much planning, effort, manpower and logistics go into even the smallest of unit actions.

Robert Davis: Death on the streets: Cars and the mythology of road safety (1993) 5 stars

Review of 'Death on the streets: Cars and the mythology of road safety' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

An absolutely fascinating look at the source of road danger, and how the general approach to road safety is misguided. A must read for anyone interested in the areas of walkable cities, cycling and benign modes of transport. Written in 1993 and sadly still very relevant. Out of print, but available second hand or in PDF form from rdrf.org.uk/death-on-the-streets-cars-and-the-mythology-of-road-safety/

Max Hastings: Catastrophe : Europe Goes to War 1914 (2014) 4 stars

Review of 'Catastrophe : Europe Goes to War 1914' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Having also read [b: The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914|18669169|The Sleepwalkers How Europe Went to War in 1914|Christopher Munro Clark|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1384804367s/18669169.jpg|21905061] by [a: Christopher Munro Clark|7792163|Christopher Munro Clark|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1426362492p2/7792163.jpg], I found 'Catastrophe' to be rather light on the lead up to war, particularly on the Serbian state and the personalities involved. Hastings excels once the war starts, his descriptions of the battles, full of colour and detail, are brilliant. He makes god use of first-hand accounts from the time, which really bring home the realities of not only trench life (and death), but the 'home' front as well. Most interesting are the descriptions of civil life in the occupied and fought-over areas, several of which evoke vivid impressions of the hellish experience of families caught in a warzone.
Well worth reading, but for a more in depth look at the causes and lead up to the declaration of war, …