Book Description
Wednesday 22 January 1879 was one of the most dramatic days in the long and distinguished history of the British Army. At noon a massive Zulu host attacked the 24th Regiment in its encampment at the foot of the mountain of Isandlwana, a distinctive feature that bore an eerie resemblance to the Sphinx badge of the outnumbered redcoats. Disaster ensued. Later that afternoon the victorious Zulus would strike the tiny British garrison at Rorke's Drift. How Can Man Die Better is a unique analysis of Isandlwana v of the weapons, tactics, ground, and the intriguing characters who made the key military decisions. Because the fatal loss was so high on the British side there is still much that is unknown about the battle v until now. Mike Snook is the first military professional to scrutinize the battle in print since 1879. He has an unparalleled grasp of the nuances of the ground at Isandlwana and of their implications in practical military terms. Most compellingly he has an instinctive feel for the characters who forged this supremely dramatic history, for this is µfamily' history v the battle was fought by soldiers of the author's own regiment. This is a work of unparalleled depth, which eschews the commonly held perception that the British collapse was sudden and that the 24th Regiment was quickly overwhelmed. Rather, there was a protracted and heroic defence against a determined and equally heroic foe. The author reconstructs the final phase of the battle in a way that has never been attempted before. It was to become the stuff of legend, which the author brings to life so vividly that one can almost sense the fear and smell the blood. How Can Man Die Better is essential reading for anyone interested in Isandlwana, the wider Anglo-Zulu War or the Victorian Army.
Customer Reviews:
The new standard for Isandlwana.......2007-08-24
Been reading about this battle since the 70s. Starting with Morris and moving through Knight, we have evolved to this highly detailed and scholarly analysis based on evidence and professional insight. I was sorry when the book ended! Savor every word. This will be hard to top.
Great Battle Anlaysis.......2006-11-12
This is the best battle analysis of Isandlwana I have ever read! I have been a long time student of the Zulu War, in particular Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana. I was lucky enough last year to visit both battlefields and spent hours walking the field. I am a West Point graduate and former armor officer, so I do understand the nuiances of terrain and the disposition of troops. Lt Col Snook gets it right. Many of the histories I have read fall apart when you're on the battlefield. Why did Pulleine push his companies so far out, because he had to in order to see over the intervisibility lines present. Otherwise, he couldn't see into or shoot into the dead space on the other sides. I've always questioned the theories that the camp was simply overrun by sheer force of numbers. Men, no matter how aggressive, simply cannot charge into the face of disciplined fire and survive. Lt Col Snook's narrative agrees well with my own and follows a basic understanding of human bahavior, terrain analysis, and 19th century British doctrine. The British failed to laager the camp; that is known. If all #3 Column was in camp during the time of the battle, I believe, as Snook does, that the battle would have turned out differently. As it was, the camp had only half the numbers it needed to defend the frontages it had and was ultimately defeated in a double envelopement.
Based on this book, I am now looking forward to read Snook's book on Rorke's Drift.
From a Soldier's Practiced Eye.......2006-10-11
Col. Snook provides an in depth view of the battle at Isandlwana largely from a British/European perspective and does it masterfully. I am adding my review to others on Amazon and will not belabor the points well made by other reviewers. If you are interested in the Zulu wars from a tactical perspective (thus from a soldier's perspective), THIS IS THE BOOK TO BUY. I know Donald Morris and respect his work, THE WASHING OF THE SPEARS. Donald is not perfect and he made mistakes in his account of the battle and his drum has been beaten by others in their accounts. Col. Snook sets things straight. I attribute this to Col. Snook's soldier's eye for terrain and logical battlefield progressions. Col. Snook was a soldier and Donald Morris was a member of the American Intelligence Community. It's telling in their writings. ---oh, just buy the book!
WOW!.......2006-07-28
This is everything a military history book should be. This fantastic book, written by a serving British officer, Lt. Col. Mike Snook, tells the story of the battle of Islandlwana. Col. Snook calls on a plethora of sources, including his own training and experience, to tell the story of the opening battle in the Zulu war where the British lost 1200 men in an utter defeat.
The battle is laid out in great detail based on original sources, with some interpretation & re-interpretation from Col. Snook, until the point at which all the possible witnesses, except Zulu warriors, are gone. From that point on, Col. Snook goes into a forensic military mode, determining movements & positions of units from their origin points to the place where their corpses were found. This leads to a more thorough and complete story, founded on evidence if not eye witness testimony, that tells a lost portion of the battle. He also pops hoary old myths like the quartermaster who won't distribute ammunition or the ammo boxes no one can open as well as others.
It makes for a fantastic read. I can't wait to get on to "Like Wolves On The Fold", the second book by Col. Snook, which tells the story of Rorke's Drift. I hope we'll see lots more books from Col. Snook. His first is destined to become a classic.
Solid analysis from a military professional.......2006-01-30
Lt. Col. Mike Snook's account of Isandlwana stands as a solidly researched, solidly written reconstruction of one of the most famous battles of the Victorian British Army. "The Secrets of Isaldlwana Revealed" subtitle is perhaps a publisher's effort to generate cover interest, as Snook's book really does not say much startlingly new about the battle. It might be called a Post-Revisionist history, rejecting those works of recent years that questioned the courage and competence of the British soldiers who fought and died at Isandlwana (Snook is particularly disdainful of those writers who challenge the appropriateness of the award of the Victoria Cross to Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill for their effort to save the battalion colors.) Although Snook certainly gives the Zulus credit for their bravery and skill, he assigns chief blame for the disaster to Lord Chelmsford (for setting up the whole situation) and to Lt. Col. Durnford (for tactical errors and poor leadership). It might be argued that Snook's service in the successor regiment to the 24th has led him to give a "free pass" to Col. Pulleine, as the author seems to find nothing remiss in that officer's handling of the battle, and in fact Snook vigorously defends Pulleine's actions. And Snook has nothing but praise for the men and officers of the 24th and the way they fought.
Although "How Can Man Die Better" may be too much a professional military man's book to fully engage the general reader, I certainly think highly enough of it to look forward to the publication of Snook's companion volume about Rorke's Drift.
Book Description
The story of Anton Dilger brings to life a missing chapter in U.S. history and shows, dramatically, that the Great European War was in fact being fought on the home front years before we formally joined it. The doctor who grew anthrax and other bacteria in that rented house was an American-the son of a Medal of Honor winner who fought at Gettysburg-on a secret mission, for the German Army in 1915. The Fourth Horseman tells the startling story of that mission led by a brilliant but conflicted surgeon who became one of Germany's most daring spies and saboteurs during World War I and who not only pioneered bio-warfare in his native land but also lead a last-ditch German effort to goad Mexico into invading the United States. It is a story of mysterious missions, divided loyalties, and a new and terrible kind of warfare that emerged as America-in spite of fierce dissention at home-was making the decision to send its Doughboys to the Great War in Europe.
This story has never been told before in full. And Dilger is a fascinating analog for our own troubled times. Having thrown off the tethers of obligation to family and country, he became a very dangerous man indeed: A spy, a saboteur, and a zealot to a degree that may have so embarrassed the German High Command that, after the war, they ordered his death rather than admit that he worked for them.
Customer Reviews:
"The Enemy Within".......2007-08-11
Robert Koenig's portrayal of Anton Dilger's mission to bring germ warfare to America during WWI is far more than just a gripping story of biological warfare and sabotage in one of its first modern instances. Koenig's work resonates to our own contemporary struggle against terrorism in a number of different ways. First, Koenig delves into the psyche and family history of Anton and with painstaking research presents to the reader the fascinating story of how an American born medical student becomes an agent for Imperial Germany. Second, we are reminded of the response of the US government in dealing with the supposed "enemy within", in both its indiscriminate nature and ineffective results. Finally, Koenig also reminds us of the societal response towards the supposed German-American "threat", one that had its own "liberty stakes" (taste great when combined with "freedom fries", one would assume).
This is a very well researched book that combines intrigue of the mysterious world of spies during WWI with a personal story of a man who chose to betray his country, one that his father served proudly during the Civil War. In a way, Koenig offers a reminder that our current predicament is not so unique.
A very well researched, well written book........2007-05-25
I've read the book a couple of times and have gotten more out with each reading. Bob Koenig has done a tremendous job in terms of the accuracy of his research. His writing style draws the reader into the story. Excellent and highly recommended.
Gripping book, painstakingly researched.......2007-04-06
To someone from outside the US, this book brought many revelations, foremost of which was the insight into the thriving German community that existed there prior to 1914, but now is no more. We are familiar with Italian, Greek and Polish influences, but the Germans, as the enemy after a bitter war, had to subsume their culture.
The anti-hero of this gripping book, Anton Dilger, belonged to a family which was more American than German already, but he felt the pull back to earlier roots. The personal letters and insights that Rob Koenig has painstakingly researched show how horrific incidents like the Corpus Christi Massacre in Karlsruhe can have far-reaching effects through people struggling with their identity.
Koenig tells this story in such a way that you do not know what is coming, and thus every chapter has an impact. Throughout, he reveals his mastery of scientific writing for the public. I've read some of his other work on contemporary science, and was delighted to see this historical work. I hope he does another book. This one, meanwhile, is highly recommended to those who like biography, travel, history, science and warfare, all rolled up in one.
Dogged Search for an Elusive Spy.......2007-03-14
My name is Tim O'Neil (husband of Christine). For a decade, Robert Koenig and I worked together as reporters at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I offer this as personal disclosure and testimony to my knowledge of Mr. Koenig's fine work. He is thorough in research and careful to confirm information. His writing is clear and absorbing. He applied those skills in writing The Fourth Horseman. He read family files and forgotten government archives. He searched hard for single documents to explain or confirm information on Anton Dilger, and then wrote a full narrative of the motivations and acts of a man who worked hard to cover his tracks. He took time to explain Dilger's era, especially its reliance upon horses, to provide the setting for one man's trail. The result is a fine book.
The Fourth Rider is Pestilence --.......2007-03-14
Because we now remember WWI for its industrialized slaughter, we have almost forgotten how important horses still were to the conduct of war -- so important that disrupting the shipment of horses from the U.S. to Britain and France was a priority for the German war effort. One of the first organized attempts at germ warfare was directed at infecting horses bound for Europe.
This story of Anton Dilger, an American surgeon who worked undercover as a saboteur for the Germans, has an historical sweep that will engage a broad audience -- particularly in light of our newly-heightened fears of biological warfare. The underlying research makes the book a resource for specialists in several areas -- WWI, military history, biological warfare -- and the graceful presentation also suits it to the general reader of history.
Dilger, the son of a Civil War cavalry officer, betrayed his family, his country and his profession in organizing the infection of American horses with anthrax and glanders germs. The author follows him from his childhood in rural Virginia through his education in Germany, his recruitment and work as an undercover agent, to his probable death -- never entirely confirmed -- in Spain during the flu pandemic in 1918.
Even after almost a century, a sad immediacy clings to many aspects of this story. The horses are gone, but much else remains the same.
Book Description
As plans got under way for the Allied invasion of Sicily in June 1943, British counter-intelligence agent Ewen Montagu masterminded a scheme to mislead the Germans into thinking the next landing would occur in Greece. The innovative plot was so successful that the Germans moved some of their forces away from Sicily, and two weeks into the real invasion still expected an attack in Greece. This extraordinary operation called for a dead body, dressed as a Royal Marine officer and carrying false information about a pending Allied invasion of Greece, to wash up on a Spanish shore near the town of a known Nazi agent.
Agent Montagu tells the story as only an insider could, offering fascinating details of the difficulties involved-especially in creating a persona for a man who never was--and of his profession as a spy and the risks involved in mounting such a complex operation. Failure could have had devastating results. Success, however, brought a decided change in the course of the war.
Customer Reviews:
Ingenious.......2007-09-26
It seemed like a simple plan: Leave a dead body, supposedly a British officer carrying official papers, for the Nazis to find. If they accept the phony papers as genuine, they won't anticipate the planned invasion of Sicily, and will deploy their defensive troops to Sardinia instead.
Simple in concept, but extremely complicated in practice. The author, who was the British intelligence officer in charge of the scheme, had to make the deception plausible down to the last detail.
It worked! Hitler himself was fooled, as captured German documents later showed.
This book goes into the details in full, and it is fascinating every step of the way. The author clearly was brilliant at his work, and as a bonus he has a nice, dry wit.
This true story is at least as rewarding to the reader as any work of detective fiction.
First hand account of a brilliant espionage campaign.......2002-07-20
Modern novellists would never have thought of this simple yet highly complicated plan to deceive the Germans during World War II. This book is written by Ewen Montagu who actually undertook the whole operation. Due to the fact of its high secrecy it could not first be revealed until the Mid-1950's when the first edition came out. Even then the full story could not be told for one of the other great secrets of WWII (the fact that the British had cracked the German code 'Engima') meant that the progress of the deception was monitored throughout its progress.
The deception was simple - dump a body with highly secret documents in a place where the Germans will be party to the find. Make it so convincing that they will take the bait. This was to mislead the Germans over the true place where the allies wanted to land (Sicily) so getting them to fortify another part of South Eastern Europe instead - the Dodecanese and Sardinia. It was a plan to save lives - as many allied lives as possible by reducing German resistance. And it worked - beautifully.
This book by Montagu gives us the absolute inside story with all the twists and turns to how the idea was conceived and how it was implemented. And for such a simple idea it was of course relatively complicated to implement. How to find an appropriately dead body to dump - where to dump it - how to make sure the Germans would find it without being suspicious of the material and so on. All very fascinating stuff and makes for a good, quick and easy read - it is very well-written and if nothing else is such an amazing story it is hard to put down.
This story is well publicised now - it has been the subject of at least one film and one documentary in the "Secrets of World War II" series, however it is nothing like information straight from the horses mouth to make you appreciate what it was all about.
My conclusion - Relatively short book but highly readable and very well worthwhile picking up even if your interest isn't in the arena of either War or World War II.
Famous case.......2001-08-28
This case is very famous. I remember reading about it in a declassified article in a Swedish book meant to teach intelligence to students of journalism at Lund University.
Fun read, good story.......1999-01-08
"The Man Who Never Was" is a real page-turner, even though I already knew the basic story. Lots of good information on a well-conceived and -executed intelligence operation that the Germans fell for hook, line and sinker. Makes me wonder how many failed counterintelligence operations we suffered to achieve one success? Writing can be a little stuffy in a couple places but on the whole is good.
The British deception before the Sicily landing in WWII........1998-06-23
The book tells the story how British Intelligence decided to mislead the Nazis in 1943 about where the next landing in the Mediterranean would occur. The original story was that they waited until a young man died of pneumonia, so he would have fluid in the lungs as cause of death. In fact, he was an unclaimed homeless man who died from eating rat poison. A submarine slipped his body into the sea off Spain, making it look like he was a Royal Marine officer and courier, and a victim of an offshore airplane crash. This was done near a town with a known active Nazi agent. The brief case he was carrying falsely showed that the Allies would invade Greece, not Sicily. The Nazi agent was allowed to see his papers which showed a coming landing in Greece. The movie has King George himself meet with the family to convince them to give over the body, missing burial with his family. In reality, the man eventually was buried with military honors in Spain. Since the original book was published, a new edition has appeared (Oxford University Press, 1996). We have learned that the first edition would never have been written had not a novel appeared in 1950 with substantially the same plot. The new (1996) edition reveals approval by the Twenty Committee in charge of these projects (Twenty = XX = double cross). The new introduction also reveals the British monitored the progress of the deception using Ultra. In the original edition, the one who conceived the operation was "George." Now it can be revealed that it was created by a lowly Flight-Lieutenant, Charles Cholmondeley, and carried out by the author, who later became chief judicial officer of the Royal Navy. The deception was a success. The Nazis did move some forces away from Sicily. Even two weeks into the invasion of Sicily, the Germans were still believing the main attack would be in Greece. It is a great read on how long it takes to put together a successful deception, and the great risks as wel! l. If it had failed, the Nazis would have known for sure the invasion would be in Sicily. The benefit was Nazi forces sat in Greece waiting for an invasion that never came.
Book Description
After 30 years of researching and reporting on men's sexuality, Michael Castleman is the kind of expert readers relish. Knowledgeable, compassionate, and down-to-earth, he illuminates the total sexual experience, including the needs and desires of women. His previous book, Sexual Solutions, has been in print continuously for more than 22 years. In Great Sex, Castleman expands his scope beyond problems and solutions to reveal the total-body secrets that lead to a lifetime of great sex. Incorporating the latest research, Castleman covers many topics other guides only gloss over, including: lSexual fitness-how nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle choices can enhance sexual function and pleasure lCommon hang-ups that sabotage men-frank discussions of topics such as penis size, masturbation, fantasies, and sex addiction lTotal-body sensuality-an advanced guide to kissing, touching, erotic massage, and more lSuperb ejaculatory control-the simple secrets to lasting longer lBeyond Viagra-preventing and treating erectile dysfunction without drugs lWomen's sexuality and pleasure-the latest thinking on women's sexual anatomy and response cycle, plus information on treating arousal problems, desire differences, and other difficulties lSex stimulants that actually work
Customer Reviews:
Total S???.......2006-04-19
2 stars for effort.
The authors main idea appears that be that we (men) are doing it wrong.
Ide say theres a few billion people on the planet today, including all of their departed ancestors that would disagree with that.
Pornography,in his opinion,is one of the main culprits.
The exploition of loose women and well built men with large penises, along with its many lurking fetishistic dangers,are to blame for the failures of society with being unable to properly enjoy ourselves...
Performance anxiety ? Great.
Dont look for life/sex to get easier folks - just try harder !
Pornography is a relatively recent vice that market forces driven by our modern insatiable thirst for 'infotainment' has developed, but sex itself is as old as breathing.
Most young men dont get a proper education on how to deal with the bewildering variety of sexual approaches women expect us to be able to deal with, and without at least some idea gleamed from these B gade efforts they may well fail altogether!
If anything, pornography has helped the last few generations to relax about enjoying orgyistic sex, and unfortuantely the modern conservatives are trying again to put the hedonistic genie back in the 'dirty' bottle. Like the rest of their rhetoric goes- its for our own good!
Stress is another target. Hello? - what isnt stress being blamed for these days???
The frustrations and confusion most men feel with sex, isnt about what to do - its more with the almost random and conflicting responces we get to our efforts from the women in our beds. What works with one woman, doesnt with another....
Read Robin Bakers "Sperm Wars" for the real insight into sex.
What a joke that all of these gurus are making of the worlds greatest game.
Castleman, you kinky little pervert.......2005-10-18
This author knows nothing! Of course it is written by a man, there is no FEELING in this rubbish. Come to me Castleman, I'll show you what a lover can really do......
Poorly written.......2005-08-05
Author repeats same thought several times. Author developed pages rather than content.
The difference between a good lover and a great lover!!!.......2005-03-12
As a sex researcher and educator, men always ask me what makes a good lover. I still try to answer their questions but now I can also recommend a book that will explain to them what a good lover is AND teach them how to become one. I encourage all my students to get this book, especially the men. Most complaints I hear from women are covered in Dr. Castleman's insightful and informative text. But these techniques can be used in more than just heterosexual relationships. Anyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation could benefit from "Great Sex." And who doesn't want to have great sex?! Thanks, Michael!
One of the few books everyone should read or at least browse.......2005-03-01
He does repeat some of the same things over again, as one annoyed reader said, but I found that to be important because people forget. If it's an important thought, bring it back up in various chapters in different ways. I read something on page 50, and didn't "really" grasp it until page 150. Once was not enough to achieve the ahhh-haa experience of grasping a new idea/concept/view.
Now granted, I knew a lot of the things in here about the psychology of sex/behind sex, or the changes in the body that affect sexual habits and thoughts, however, I feel it was highly worth reading every word in the book to find out the rest. If someone asked me for advice on an issue, I feel I would be able to give him or her enough info to help them, or guide them in toward the right direction.
If you're looking for a "how to book" with pictures, this isn't for you. If you looking for how to have great sex by understanding the other person, and yourself (yes, yourself), I would recommend it.
Average customer rating:
- Cambridge 5 were really 6.
- Is this a Cover Up?
- Will the Real Fifth Man Stand Up?
- Food for very much more thought. Why is not available?
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The Fifth Man: The Soviet Super Spy
Roland Perry
Manufacturer: Sidgwick & Jackson
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ASIN: 0283062169 |
Customer Reviews:
Cambridge 5 were really 6........2001-11-17
'Just as the three musketeers were really four so we were really six' Anthony Blunt. This book is a result of high class investigative journalism and has left me totally convinced. In regards to John Cairncross, it is my belief both Cairncross and Rothschild were traitors as Blunt admitted they were really six. Only Rothschild had the ability and position to betray the UK so totally and there certainly has been a cover up.
Is this a Cover Up?.......2000-12-01
While browsing in a local Public Library, I came upon this very well presented, and convincing, professional account by Mr Perry, of the unveiling of The Fifth Man. I am astounded that a spy story, detailling the activities of an individual traitor, who was responsible for the greatest influence on world history ever revealed, has apparently been concealed from the history of the twentieth century. I recommend this book by Roland Perry to all interested readers of history, and to those of us fascinated by the espionage history of the twentieth century, and of the Second World War.I further recommend that the publisher of this book (Sedgwick & Jackson, London)consder reissuing this title.It is an absorbing read. This book is an astonishing revelation of History.
Will the Real Fifth Man Stand Up?.......1999-11-07
I read this excellent book by Roland Perry some time ago and became convinced of the assignation of the role of the Cambridge University's 'Fifth Man' to Victor Rothschild. Perry's narrative was convincing and thoroughly researched. The book is an excellent read yet I, like the previous reviewer, am puzzled as to why the 'revelation' was not picked up by the press as would have been expected in such cases. I am now even more puzzled. Reading through Christopher Andrew's and Vasili Mitrokhin's book "THE MITROKHIN ARCHIVES" no mention is made of Rothschild as the Fifth Man. Instead the pre-Rothschild fall guy John Cairncross is once again fingered as the last of the Magnificant Five. Can someone tell me - who is the REAL Fifth Man?
Paul Hellander, Travel Writer - Photographer
Food for very much more thought. Why is not available?.......1998-01-12
Some sources seem unreliable or too secretive. Not easy to confirm. Several picayune errors like timing of Cazelet & Sikorski's death. Generally leaves me very convinced, but yet the book and subject matter are unknown in Canada and the United States - Why?
Has this book been suppressed I wonder. The response I received from Macmillan in Basingstoke left me with that impression. Spycatcher contained nothing compared to this book. Since reading this "library book" I have developed a new hobby, researching many other books in the genre, including several written since The Fifth Man. Some of Perry's explosive revelations have been blatently ignored.
Is it possible to contact the author, or hear from him as to why this interesting subject matter has not received world-wide attention. If Victor really did do all of this, then it must surely rank him as one of the greatest influences on the entire world in this century. A family tradition, I suppose.
I doubt very much that in all the century and millenium trivia which is about to be thrown at us, Victor Nathaniel Rothschild will receive one mention and that will be a travesty.
Where does it leave the Rosenbergs for instance. Is it right that Maclean, Burgess, Philby and many others should shoulder what they did, whilst this powerful figure remains ultra vires?
Is Mr. Perry working on any sequel to this?
Book Description
The Ambassadors' Secret is a radical reinterpretation of one of the world's most famous paintings. Holbein's celebrated portrait of two French diplomats at the court of Henry VIII has usually been linked to the political and religious unrest of the day. John North shows that the painting has a very different, and previously undetected, central theme and many other meanings. Far from being random, the objects in The Ambassadors are deliberately, and very accurately, placed. In revealing exactly what they, and the painting, mean, The Ambassadors' Secret opens a remarkable window on the world of the Renaissance.
Customer Reviews:
Gives a Well-Known Work New Meaning Five Centuries Later.......2007-04-02
Author John North likens the title of the well-known National Gallery painting, "The Ambassadors" to calling a scene of the Christmas nativity, "Joseph and Mary". Indeed Holbein the Younger's 1533 painting of two French ambassadors at the English court of Henry VIII inspires thinking of symbolism immediately due to the array of scientific instruments depicted between the two subjects and the distorted scull placed below them. North exhaustively examines each item in the scene and ties each to themes dominating the politics of the day such as the growing friction between Henry VIII and Rome and the overall fascination of royal courts with science, alchemy, astrology, and astronomy. Several lines through the work are examined for their thematic relevance of the objects they connect and bisect, and other elements such as horoscopes are overlaid on the work for analysis. Included in the analysis is the setting of the exact time of the "sitting" to 4pm on Good Friday. It is clear that North came upon this subject from his past work investigating similar devices employed in the written works of Chaucer, and he presents a convincing argument here as well though his work is heavy of background information that tends to distract from the thesis rather than to support it in many ways. An interesting read, and true "fans" will be interested to know that Good Friday 2008 will mark the 25th 19-year Easter cycle since 1533. Is that some sort of silver jubilee?
Dissecting a masterpiece.......2006-06-29
Previous interpretations of this enigmatic painting, far more than a mere dual portrait of Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve, focussed upon symbols of Catholic, melancholy momento mori. Reminders of death abound: the skull (anamorphic representations were common - note the NPG portrait of Edward VI), the broken lute string, a world turned upside down (alluding to the Reformation), references to a universe divided, and a crucifix to remind man of Jesus' sacrifice, death and redemption.
North offers a radical, thorough interpretation of the religious and secular objects, astronomical devices, geometrical patterns of the floor, and, of course, the floating diagonal skull, relating them all to April 11, 1533, at 4:00 pm, Good Friday. He shies away from the political/religious schism of the day, stating it cannot be proved nor disproved.
Far more sophisticated than Dan Brown's silly, simplistic "Da Vinci Code" (the bane of art historians, legitimate as seeing faces in cloud formations), North proposes the geometrical lines of the piece, once extended and analyzed, are repeatedly at 27 degrees; significant, as 27 is divisible by three, the number of the Holy Trinity. Jesus was supposedly crucified at age 33, precisely 1,500 years before this painting. One could conclude Holbein's work contains subtle references to the Crucifixion and Golgotha, often represented as a mount of skulls (the present day site of the supposed tomb in Jerusalem contains an enormous, naturally formed skull in the rockface). A spiritual reminder to remain moral during troubled times, but perhaps not the previously assumed political statement. It is intriguing to note that Holbein, the German born court painter of Henry VIII, was a friend of astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Kratzer.
The arguments are brilliantly realized, although not easily followed unless one has extensive knowledge of the period.
Why this painting? Why did Holbein paint this in 1533? Fifteen hundred years after the Crucifixion, the End of Days, the Apocalypse, seemed imminent. Charles V sacked Rome in 1527, Luther's Protestant heresy threatened Catholicism, Renaissance humanism clashed with medieval piety, a pregnant Anne Boleyn (Holbein's patroness) would be crowned Queen of England in less than two months' time - the stability, security of the old order had disappeared in the blink of an eye.
This book, over 400 dense pages long and extensively annotated, is one of the finest examples of art historical research I have ever encountered - innovative, securely grounded in history, religious speculation, art, and mathematics. A perfect reflection, indeed, of the era.
Understand the difference between looking and seeing.......2002-06-15
Art, history, religion, alchemy - these and more are the tantalizing ingredients with which John David North creates a singular work. "The Ambassadors' Secret" is a look at Hans Holbein's painting of Jean de Dinteville and Georges de Selve, two important 27-year-old Frenchmen who were in London in 1533. Even on the surface of things, this portrait is an unusual work: the two Ambassadors stand at either side of a curious collection of bric-a-brac that seems to be the real focus of the painting. North shows us how these items can be interpreted to determine a number of things, such as the date on which the two men are depicted (April 11th, 1533 - Good Friday). He discusses the nature and significance of the rhomboid shape at the men's feet, a geometrically perfect distortion of a human skull. Was the artist merely showing off by throwing in such a diabolically complex element, or was the skull meant to be a comment on the fleeting nature of life compared to the higher forces (time, the elements, religion) alluded to by the knickknacks on the shelves? Why is one string on the lute broken? Why does the painting suggest so many multiples of 3, even the men's ages, 3 x 3 x 3? Possible answers to these and many other questions are addressed by North, and once you've read this book, you will delight in looking at the painting again and seeing all the things you overlooked whenever you first encountered it.
Whether you approach this book for serious inquiry into an obviously intentional riddle, or just for entertaining scholarly conjecture about the intent of one of history's great painters, you are sure to enjoy it.
Amazon.com
Little is known--and less has been published--about American submarine espionage during the Cold War. These submerged sentinels silently monitored the Soviet Union's harbors, shadowed its subs, watched its missile tests, eavesdropped on its conversations, and even retrieved top-secret debris from the bottom of the sea. In an engaging mix of first-rate journalism and historical narrative, Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew, and Annette Lawrence Drew describe what went on.
"Most of the stories in Blind Man's Bluff have never been told publicly," they write, "and none have ever been told in this level of detail." Among their revelations is the most complete accounting to date of the 1968 disappearance of the U.S.S. Scorpion; the story of how the Navy located a live hydrogen bomb lost by the Air Force; and a plot by the CIA and Howard Hughes to steal a Soviet sub. The most interesting chapter reveals how an American sub secretly tapped Soviet communications cables beneath the waves. Blind Man's Bluff is a compelling book about the courage, ingenuity, and patriotism of America's underwater spies. --John J. Miller
Book Description
The dramatic history of America's highly clandestine, dangerous, and sometimes deadly submarine espionage missions is a real-life Hunt for Red October.
Customer Reviews:
Blind Man's Bluff.......2007-10-02
I worked alongside the members of the submarine service and can testify that their deeds were harrowing, critical to national security, and seldom appreciated. I applaud the authors (despite a little downplaying of the true nature of the HORSE COW Bar in Vallejo, California) for their tenacity in digging out the truth, their wisdom in choosing to leave out some interesting stories they doubtless heard, and their honesty in portraying the whispered role of the "silent service". My heartfelt thanks to all concerned!
G. L. Spears
Finally the Silent Service has a voice.......2007-08-15
I ordered "Blind Man's Bluff" because of a friends reccomendation. I retired from the Navy in 1992 and during my active duty time, I served on three submarines. This book brought back many memories and emotions. I want to thank Sherry Sontag for telling our story. As I read the book, I felt like I was back on my boat. I began to remember some of my deployments and my shipmates. The times at sea, the boredom and the panic. I would reccommend this book to anyone who has an intrest in submarines or submariners. I especially reccommend this book to the families of submarine crews. Finally you get a picture into our lives on the boats. For years, I could not tell my family what I did, now they can read for themselves. Please read this book and get to know some of the heros of the Silent Service.
Finally!.......2007-08-08
After years of not being allowed to tell friends or familty about what we did on submarines, this book lays out some of the missions. Now I can tell my family "Just read the book."
Well Researched and Written.......2007-06-12
As a former submariner, I have mixed feelings about this book. I am still not convinced it should be publicly available, but the book is well-researched and written.
I particularly like that there is none of the Tom Clancy hype - no supermen here - just ordinary guys doing their jobs under difficult and dangerous conditions.
The authors portray more 2nd guessing among the crew than I ever personally encountered. "Is it worth it?" is a useless question when you are doing what is necessary. Now that the first Cold War is over, I think it is easy to forget that the outcome (the West winning) was neither obvious or inevitable. I am convinced that it is only because of sacrifices like the ones portrayed in this book that we enjoy the security that we do (yes, we are much safer today, war on terror and all, than we ever were in the 50's - mid 80's)
Parts of the book were illuminating to me. I've had friends who served on all the subs discussed, but submariners don't discuss these things even amongst ourselves. The description of being stuck in the mud on the bottom of a Russian harbor is riveting and perhaps the most frightening thing I have ever read. Submarine disasters usually happen in an instant, but the really nasty ones take hours and days and maybe even weeks...
So, as I mentioned, I don't know that the book should have been written. I personally applaud the men who turned the authors over to the NIS. But, now that it has apparently been cleared for publication, I highly recommend it.
Blind Man's Bluff (Book Review).......2007-06-06
Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage by Sherry Sontag & Cristopher Drew
The book is basically about submarine espionage undertaken by the United States Navy during the Cold War. I initially thought it had a relatively boring topic, after all, what is so exciting about submarines undertaking espionage missions, which I initially thought just involved listening or gathering signal data?
But I bought it anyway, because I felt it should be well-written since it was a New York Times bestseller. So no matter how boring the topic may be, it should still be good read, because the authors know how to spin a good yarn.
Well, it turned out I was wrong about submarine espionage being boring. Yes, they do gather signal intelligence, basically listening for signals in the USSR, most of time during weapons launch, & following other subs.
The story was written so well you learn a LOT about soviet subs, underwater sea technology, etc.
Aside from signal intelligence, the USN subs also undertook even more daring missions: Tapping Soviet submarine cables (which is probably one of the best intelligence coups ever), & retrieving submarine & missile parts from the depths of the ocean.
If you are interested in military naval topics, then this book is a M-U-S-T read. You learn just SO much about submarine military technology in general just by reading it.
Book Highlights:
- Stories of the first signal intelligence gathering missions into the USSR.
- How American submarine commanders had to develop new tactics & procedures on tailing the then newer, more stealthier & more capable nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the Yankee-class.
- Secret programs to develop unmanned deep sea submersibles to locate Soviet missiles that splashed down to the sea during live-fire testing, & located sunk Soviet missile submarines.
- Additional & more accurate details on the recovery of an Echo-class submarine that sunk in the Pacific by the CIA using the "Glomar Explorer".
- How the program to tap Soviet undersea telephone line cables got underway, & resulted in perhaps one of the best intelligence coups of all time.
- Details on submarine disasters all throughout the Cold War.
Average customer rating:
- Linda (A Scot In U.S.A)
- This book is a big let down!
- Disgusting...
- Very good, it will leave you with him on your mind
- Don't listen to these other reviews
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Dead Man Running
Martin McGartland
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Fifty Dead Men Walking
ASIN: 1840182768 |
Book Description
This gripping sequel details Martin McGartland's attempts to find the truth.
Customer Reviews:
Linda (A Scot In U.S.A).......2005-02-27
A fo;;ow up to Martin McGartlands "Fifty Dead Men Walking"
A must read , It tells of his story once he was relocated to mainland Britain . He finds out that he was sacrificed by MI5 and should have been dead , only his determination to live by jumping out a 4th storey window , head first, while still bound, is why he is here today to tell his story .
This book is an account of him searching for the truth. He is being harrased almost daily by the local police , stopped for so called motor violations , and the superintendant, knowing who he was .
The Police even giving his name out in open court, his new identity of "martin ashe" formely MARTIN MCGARTLAND this astounds me .. As the IRA would have no trouble now of TARGETING HIM! In search of the truth , he evn makes a trip back to Belfast .........
Martin MCGartland 's COURAGE astounds me ... He tries in vain to tell the authorities that he will always be a target as the IRA has a very long memory....READ THIS BOOK AND YOU WILL SEE HOW THEY HAVE REPAID HIM FOR ALL THE DANGEROUS WORK HE DID FOR THE SPECIAL BRANCH WHILE BEING AGENT CAROL...
as he feared the ira did catch up with him and shot him several times....and if it wasnt for the quick thinking of his neighbors , he would be dead today ......
I WONDER HOW MARTIN IS GETTING ON TODAY?
i just hope that he has been given the protection and finances that he deserves....
GOD BLESS.
This book is a big let down!.......2004-03-13
Martin McGartland's life story has all the ingredients to make a fascinating, spell-binding book - or several books as the case may be. Unfortunately, Dead Man Running is greatly disappointing.
The biggest problem is that it is poorly written and horribly edited. McGartland thanks several professionals for, seemingly, helping him write the book, but the book reads like the work of an amateur. For example, he repeats himself over and over and over. I lost count of how many times he crowed at the brutality and thuggery of the IRA, or the sense of betrayal he felt by the duplicitous acts of various arms of the British government. The book could easily be thirty pages shorter if some of his repetitive diatribes were removed. Additionally, he inserts curse words in his narrative where they do not belong. I have no objection to foul language in a book, but at points it seems he uses it only to emphasize a point that, from the sentence or paragraph, is otherwise clearly emphasized. As for the editing, it is atrocious. There are misspelled or misused words and errors in simple addition/subtraction. McGartland's repetitiveness could have been cured by the editor. When you pay $16.95 for a book you expect that book to be done professionally, at least I do.
Spy stories lend themselves to suspense and intrigue, and this story is quite riveting in spots. But
it gets bogged down just as it seems it's going to take off. The several chapters about how the Northumbria Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, allegedly at the direction of higher ranking British agencies, repeatedly tried to frame McGartland, and his solicitors counter-actions, are somewhat boring.
For all the good McGartland might have done as a Special Branch informer, he is not the most sympathetic figure. Despite, by his own count, at least 50 traffic stops by Northumbria Police, and an untold amount of other run-ins with the law, McGartland takes no responsibility for even a single incident. In his mind, he has always been a victim of someone else's agenda.
McGartland states and re-states, literally dozens of times, how he risked his life to save others. There's a sense of entitlement in his tone that gets quite nauseating. A true hero doesn't need to convince his readers that he is one; his actions should speak for themselves.
Maybe everything he claims in the book is completely true, but there is something in his telling that makes him somewhat incredible. I would not call him a liar, but I found some of his accounts hard to believe.
I understand that a broader view of the "Troubles" is beyond of the scope of this book. However, Dead Man Running gives a reader with little knowledge Irish history absolutely no understanding as to why the IRA and the RUC operate they way they do. I am no apologist for the IRA, but I was disappointed that McGartland never explains why the IRA is so brutal to those in their own communities. One reason is that the brutality of the RUC over the decades has created such distrust and hatred in the Republican/Catholic communities, that community policing has, in essence, been dumped in the laps of the IRA, and they have gladly seized that power.
Likewise, to read this book one might conclude that the only struggle in Northern Ireland is between the provincial law enforcement agencies and British military, on one side, and the IRA on the other. There is exactly one (1) reference to Protestant paramilitaries in the entire book and it is exactly that a reference to "Protestant paramilitaries." Clearly, if the IRA is the sole villain in Northern Ireland than his battle against that organization seems all the more heroic. But, the IRA's position, or that of the Republican community at large, is better understood if one knows that Protestant paramilitaries engage in bombings, sectarian murders, intimidation, drug trafficking, punishment beatings, and the like. The provincial law enforcement agencies also appear less justified in their actions toward the IRA with the knowledge of their collusion with Protestant paramilitaries. Because these matters are entirely left out of the book, the reader does not get a true picture of what happened throughout the whole of Ulster during the Troubles.
In all, the book has some bright spots but its downside is, sadly, bigger than its upside.
Disgusting..........2003-11-16
Any Irishman who betrays his own race by working for the sassenach deserves whatever fate has in store for him... Hopefully a painful death.
Dimestore Liam
Very good, it will leave you with him on your mind.......2003-10-14
This book is the true story of Marty McGartland who successfully infiltrated the IRA and escaped with his life only to find out that his would-be murder was set up by MI5 and the IRA jointly.
This book is almost heartbreaking to hear of the treatment he has recieved since his ordeal, being harassed by the local police force, being pulled over 3 times a day and being brought to court on trumped up charges.
In this sequel to 50 Dead Men Walking he tries to discover who exactly was behind his betrayal.
****UPDATE ON MARTY*****
This is for those who have read the book and are wondering what else has been happening since the end of the book...
Since his assasination attempt, instead of the authorities finally giving him the protection he needs, they blame his assasination attempt on drug dealers! Ridiculous, this is just typical of the type of treatment he has recieved, after having served his country and a foreign one for 4 years risking his life, inevetably giving up all that he holds dear.
So, in conclusion, he still hasn't made much progress, unfortunately.
This is a man you will want to keep in your prayers, he has done nothing but good and deserves to be rewarded, not cast out as some sort of nuisance.
Don't listen to these other reviews.......2001-12-26
I can't believe what these other reviews are saying about this book. To my mind Martin McGartland is a man who was responsible for saving a lot of inoccent peoples lives. Anyone who undertakes infiltration of the IRA purely to gather intelligence for the British government deserves the Victoria cross. This guy sacrificed his life and family for what he saw was the greater good, at times he is naive in his actions, but he is forthright and honest enough to admit this. He was not 'apparently a supergrass' as a previous reviewer wrote, he was a British agent, a supergrass is an out and out IRA member who sings like a sparrow to save his own skin,whilst pointing the finger at all his associates, He/they are not someone who tries to save lives and prevent bombings,shootings etc. I don't see this book as a money making excercise either, it is a remarkable story and since being uncovered as a British agent and sent into a life of false names and various addresses the story has become more intriguing. The way the Northumbria police force treat him is shocking, trying to expose him at every turn and so on, for some strange reason. If you had an organisation like the IRA after you, I'm sure if you caught sight of a car tailing you, you would put the foot to the floor to get away. Ask Salman Rushdie for his opinion on this, or even Sean O'Callaghan (someone in a similar boat).
Also I would like to say that McGartlands hatred for Belfast has nothing to do with the people but everything to do with the IRA and sinn fein. His hatred was not borne out of a punishment beating his brother got either, that happened long after he had been rumbled (His brother was beaten for being a relation of a so called 'IRA Traitor'). The man's life is not about self-promotion, it's about self preservation. Pure and simple. His book is a fascinating insight into the IRA and the special branch, who have really scored an own goal for any future spies out there, You need only look at how they abandoned the author when he needed them most, think twice before you consider that career path. This is not a tiresome read from a tiresome man but an intriguing read ...God bless Martin McGartland and those like him who put the survival of others before their own safety. A great, honest and forthright read.
Average customer rating:
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Fourth Man
Andrew Boyle
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0385270453 |
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