Satirical memoir of officer life during the war.
Other books by this author reviewed on this blog:
Officers and Gentlemen ****
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Showing posts with label Military History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Military History. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Book 20 (2011) Officers and Gentlemen**** by Evelyn Waugh
Everyone who everyone whoever thought about war being necessary or righteous or doubted the harm it does to the individual and society must read this book. First read Crete by Anthony Beevor, the history of the fall of Crete during WWII, then read this book, the barely disguised experiences of Waugh as a British officer in the same incident.
Waugh's writing is of course unmatched and each paragraph can be read aloud.
At once humorous and deadly serious, this book will stay with me as few books have.
Waugh's writing is of course unmatched and each paragraph can be read aloud.
At once humorous and deadly serious, this book will stay with me as few books have.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Book 63 The Long Road Home ** by Fred Cederberg
This book provides a real soldier's account of the Canadian's Italian Campaign in WW II. It tells the human story to complement Dan Dancock's The D-Day Dodgers.
Again, I was often speechless in wonder at how these men and women not only endured war but threw themselves into bloody battle over and over.
The book is often short on details, and it seems to have been edited by cutting chunks out of it. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend it.
Again, I was often speechless in wonder at how these men and women not only endured war but threw themselves into bloody battle over and over.
The book is often short on details, and it seems to have been edited by cutting chunks out of it. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend it.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Book 45 The D-Day Dodgers The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945 **** by Daniel G. Dancocks
This is a fabulous book describing the experiences of the Canadian in the WWII in the Italian Campaign. I read it in preparation for a study tour of Italy, and the battlefields, and cemeteries, so my focus was on geography.
Dancocks covers the movements of divisions and regiments, and many stories of individual experiences, not leaving out any names of military units, individuals, and the houses and hamlets and riverbeds they fought through. He outlines the promotions, demotions, and medals won and why. Inspite of or because of this much detail, each paragraph is riveting and highly visual --- I could see the movements of the men ande how they won each inch of ground.
Dancocks includes some analysis of the reasons the Allies beat the Germans, and a little more political commentary --- I wished for more. He mentions the writings and opinions of other historians and the diaries of those present, and so presents all sides. I would have like more perspective, such as the relative manpower, and more background about the Italians, and better and more maps.
Despite the horrible tactical mistakes and very poor leadership at times, the Canadians eventually won every battle target they were assigned. It is hard to conceive of how brave these men and women were as there were many casualties and conditions were harsh.
Fans of history and war, read this one. I am giving it 4 stars due to originality, great research, and good story telling.
Dancocks covers the movements of divisions and regiments, and many stories of individual experiences, not leaving out any names of military units, individuals, and the houses and hamlets and riverbeds they fought through. He outlines the promotions, demotions, and medals won and why. Inspite of or because of this much detail, each paragraph is riveting and highly visual --- I could see the movements of the men ande how they won each inch of ground.
Dancocks includes some analysis of the reasons the Allies beat the Germans, and a little more political commentary --- I wished for more. He mentions the writings and opinions of other historians and the diaries of those present, and so presents all sides. I would have like more perspective, such as the relative manpower, and more background about the Italians, and better and more maps.
Despite the horrible tactical mistakes and very poor leadership at times, the Canadians eventually won every battle target they were assigned. It is hard to conceive of how brave these men and women were as there were many casualties and conditions were harsh.
Fans of history and war, read this one. I am giving it 4 stars due to originality, great research, and good story telling.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Book 15 Agent Zigzag ** by Ben Macintyre
The story of a criminal, master spy and con artist, and double agent for Britain and Germany during WW II. Eddie Chapman conned the upper classes who ran and manned both the German Abwehr and the British MI5. The spy runners were all easily charmed and manipulated by Chapman, who was only out for money and fame, although he was supposedly quite useful to the British. On both Allied and Axis sides, the individuals involved had a lot invested in the success of these projects.
The fascinating aspect of the story is that Chapman had the nerve, the intelligence, and controlled grandiosity to actually go into German held territory twice, remaining there for months each time, then parachute into England twice, and at the same time, quell the suspicions of the spy masters. He had the ability to socialize with and make friends with his minders, who liked him enormously while looking down on him. According to MacIntyre, he worked hard to memorize details, learn languages, etc. My suspicions are that he learned enough and read enough just to show off and make an impression on the average unsuspicious person.
As all con artists and sociopaths do, he used his victims' superiority against them. By letting them look down on him and believe they are more intelligent and have power, he controls them. They, including the author, naively never quite realize that his motivation is solely money and thrills or the totallity of his betrayal.
Macintyre's theme is that even a harded criminal and incorrigible liar like Chapman was loyal to England, which means he also was conned. I am surprized that the book had such acclaim (as bragged about on the cover), but then the publishing industry will promote one of its own. However, it is well researched and well written and I see he has now written another book, which I will read.
In any case, a great story well researched and well told, set in one of the most interesting times in living memory with lots of historical detail.
The fascinating aspect of the story is that Chapman had the nerve, the intelligence, and controlled grandiosity to actually go into German held territory twice, remaining there for months each time, then parachute into England twice, and at the same time, quell the suspicions of the spy masters. He had the ability to socialize with and make friends with his minders, who liked him enormously while looking down on him. According to MacIntyre, he worked hard to memorize details, learn languages, etc. My suspicions are that he learned enough and read enough just to show off and make an impression on the average unsuspicious person.
As all con artists and sociopaths do, he used his victims' superiority against them. By letting them look down on him and believe they are more intelligent and have power, he controls them. They, including the author, naively never quite realize that his motivation is solely money and thrills or the totallity of his betrayal.
Macintyre's theme is that even a harded criminal and incorrigible liar like Chapman was loyal to England, which means he also was conned. I am surprized that the book had such acclaim (as bragged about on the cover), but then the publishing industry will promote one of its own. However, it is well researched and well written and I see he has now written another book, which I will read.
In any case, a great story well researched and well told, set in one of the most interesting times in living memory with lots of historical detail.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Book 1 Crete** by Anthony Beevor
This one is from my shelf of half read books. I love Anthony Beevor, after reading the unputdownable Stalingrad. Crete is not in that league, but still well written, fascinating, and full of well researched opinion.
Beevor's thesis is why the Brits very incompetently lost Greece to the Germans in WW II and then followed suit by even more incompetently losing Crete. He blames it on the British officers running the show there and on one particular officer, Major General Freyburg, who "misread" Ultra communiques from Britain and prepared for a sea invasion instead of an airborne one. The son of this officer wrote a defence of his father so it is a well known controversy.
Beevor admires the Cretan partisan defence, made up of mainly priests, women, and kids (the Cretan men being in Greece defending the mainland) that went into action as the German paratroopers landed and kept it up through the entire occupation.
The Med was teeming with boats and submarines making secret landings on Crete and other islands, dropping off and picking up Brits and partisans, including the King of Greece.
Beevor as usual makes the whole story fascinating and easy to read, and I eagerly and constantly referred to the maps provided to follow the battles and other events.
Although there are many characters, he describes them and their relationships in interesting detail as to make them distinct and memorable. He especially likes to include opinions the players had of the others. He mentions Evelyn Waugh several times, as he was one of these officers --- Officers and Gentlemen was based on his experiences in Crete (it's on the reading pile).
The story ends with well drawn explanation of the Greco/Cretan political rivalries leading to civil war and chaos as the Germans leave Crete.
Beevor's thesis is why the Brits very incompetently lost Greece to the Germans in WW II and then followed suit by even more incompetently losing Crete. He blames it on the British officers running the show there and on one particular officer, Major General Freyburg, who "misread" Ultra communiques from Britain and prepared for a sea invasion instead of an airborne one. The son of this officer wrote a defence of his father so it is a well known controversy.
Beevor admires the Cretan partisan defence, made up of mainly priests, women, and kids (the Cretan men being in Greece defending the mainland) that went into action as the German paratroopers landed and kept it up through the entire occupation.
The Med was teeming with boats and submarines making secret landings on Crete and other islands, dropping off and picking up Brits and partisans, including the King of Greece.
Beevor as usual makes the whole story fascinating and easy to read, and I eagerly and constantly referred to the maps provided to follow the battles and other events.
Although there are many characters, he describes them and their relationships in interesting detail as to make them distinct and memorable. He especially likes to include opinions the players had of the others. He mentions Evelyn Waugh several times, as he was one of these officers --- Officers and Gentlemen was based on his experiences in Crete (it's on the reading pile).
The story ends with well drawn explanation of the Greco/Cretan political rivalries leading to civil war and chaos as the Germans leave Crete.
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