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Hello History Fans,
Since a few people have emailed or called to talk about their favorite books, I thought it might be smart to keep it light through the next week and do the same.
Here are two questions I hope a few of you will take the time to and trouble to answer:
1. Name your favorite Savas Beatie title from 2008 and why (a sentence or two will suffice.)
2. Name your favorite Civil War or military history title published by another press, and tell us why.
Thanks, and Happy New Year too all of you, and I hope 2009 offers us peace and prosperity. At the least, it will be interesting (and yes, I know the the old curse.)
--tps
8 comments:
1. "One Continuous Fight," by Wittenberg, Petruzzi and Nugent. Great research, all on stuff I never knew about before. Changed the way I looked at Gettysburg, Meade, and Lee. (I will begin the "Plenty of Blame" book by same authors soon).
2. "Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy," by Rick Atkinson. I never fully appreciated the yard-by-yard slog in Italy until I read this book. Great book, second in the three volume trilogy. Not quite as good as Army at Dawn.
Harold P.
Once a Marine by Popadithc and Steere. Just emotional, from beginning to end. I have never read a Marine memoir or any military memoir quite like this.
The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright. Should be required reading for everyone over 14.
Happy New Year. Keep up the good work.
Scott Nygard
Ted,
Thanks for the invitation!
Favorite S-B book of 2008 = "One Continuous Fight"...As I've written on my own blog, the last chapter is terrific and worth the price of the book.
Favorite non-S-B book of 2008 - Margaret Humphrey's "Intensely Human: The Health of the Black Soldier in the American Civil War" (John Hopkins University Press, 2008)
Favorite pre-2008 book but read this year = Michael W. Kauffman's "American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies"
2008 Book I most look forward to reading in 2009 = Jeff Danby's "Day of the Panzer"
2009 book I'm most looking forward to...my own co-edited volume of invited expert essays, "Years of Change and Suffering: Modern Perspectives on Civil War Medicine" (Edinborough Press, 2009)...just kidding! Haven't decided on that yet...do look forward to Jim Hornfischer's next book on Guadalcanal, but that may be 2010.
Best Wishes to You and S-B in 2009!
Jim Schmidt
http://www.lincolnslabels.com
Harold and Jim,
I want to thank you VERY much for the kind words about "One Continuous Fight" - it means a great deal indeed. Having your work thought highly of by discriminating historians is the best praise one can receive. And thanks about the last chapter, Jim - if you mean the Conclusion, we worked hard and long on it. I truly had a lot of fun ripping Pleasonton in print (I've done it once before and many times in speech!).
My favorite S-B book was the biography of General Robert Rhodes. I thought it was fabulously written. It's very hard to choose among S-B books because they're all first class, but I especially enjoyed that one.
J.D. Petruzzi
1. “One Continuous Fight,” by Wittenberg, Petruzzi and Nugent. It was a great follow-up to “Plenty of Blame to Go Around,” which is currently one of my top favorite CW books in recent years. While the rest of the world continues to remain wrapped-up in the three-day engagement that took place in Adams County from July 1-3, this historian trio presents the little-known events that took place from July 4-14, 1863. During that period there were over two-dozen skirmishes fought. With a compelling narrative that has become the collective style of Wittenberg and Petruzzi (and now Nugent), the reader is transported back in time to hop in the saddle with General JEB Stuart who was able to redeem his tardiness at Gettysburg by successfully defending the retreating column of Confederate casualties that stretched for over seventeen miles. An examination of Union General George Meade’s actions is also presented giving the book a nice balance.
2. “No Soap, No Pay, Diarrhea, Dysentery & Desertion” by Jeff Toalson (editor) This book presents the last 16 months of the Confederacy, as told from the first-person perspectives of a plethora of soldiers and citizens from all walks of life. Of those quoted, 220 men and 50 women recalled the War Between the States and the tenacity that was required in order to survive it. Beyond adverse living conditions, the recollections in "No Soap, No Pay" include some Southerners' insights into slavery, religion, inflation and an undying hope for their fledgling cause. The concept of this book is so simple, yet brilliant, and the collection of quoted material is superb.
Once a Marine
The Historian
Jonathan Roth
1. My favorite Savas Beatie title from 2008 was "One Continuous Fight". This was an excellent work on a little known portion of the Gettysburg Campaign. I had never realized how many engagements took place after July 3rd.
2. My favorite non-Savas Beatie title would be "Tried by War" by James McPherson.
I really enjoy all of the Savas Beatie titles. I recently started reading "Those Damned Black Hats" and this another good read. I look forward to the 2009 releases, especially J. David Petruzzi's "Complete Battlefield Guide" which is at the top of my list.
Great job!
Scott
Once a Marine, hands down. Although I admit it is the only one of your books I have read. Of all the modern titles I have been devouring the last few year I have to say this was the best of all of them. Who is making this into a movie? I bet it will be one someday. Have never seen a Marine Gunny who comes clean about his emotions and feelings like Popaditch.
Just finished Victor Davis Hanson's Carnage and Culture in paperback. Another fine book by this clasicist.
RIck
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