History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

This book is best of the Magician Trilogy!
The Magician Trilogy
Too much Welsh
Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger
Delightful Read!

Chestnut Soldier (The Magician Trilogy)
Jenny Nimmo
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439846773

Book Description

Gwyn can feel danger coming in the wind. Somehow he knows the warnings have to do with the broken toy horse that holds the evil spirit of a prince who lived long ago. When Gwyn discovers that the prince's dark soul has escaped from the horse and is seeking revenge Gwyn, Emlyn, and Nia have to figure out how to save the mysterious soldier who claims to be Nia's distant cousin. With the help of the Snow Spider, can they recapture the prince's soul without hurting the Chestnut soldier?

Nimmo's fast-paced page turner fantasies appeal to boys and girls with its magical adventures.

Customer Reviews:

This book is best of the Magician Trilogy!.......2007-08-24

I rated this book a 4 because sometimes it exciting but i didn't get a big thrill like "oh my gosh that was so awesome!" I just kept reading and and usually the ending in the rest of the Magician Trilogy books, it just ends with a BAM!If you haven't read the rest of the Magician Trilogy read it!The Magician Trilogy are just like Jenny Nimmo's other series of books Charlie Bone!There big just a bit, but very exciting!If you would compare these books to Harry Potter books Harry Potter books would be better (no offense to Jenny Nimmo!).

The Magician Trilogy.......2007-07-13

This review is for all three books in Jenny Nimmo's Magician Trilogy (The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon, and The Chestnut Soldier).

Jenny Nimmo's writing style is very powerful, and her characters come to life as you read these books. The descriptions of locations (people's houses, the Welsh countryside, the town, the school) are so vivid that you can immediately picture yourself there. These books have a few scary parts, but the endings are very positive and satisfying.

These books are recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or Welsh mythology. Similar books include Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles.

Too much Welsh.......2007-06-15

I'm an adult, and I found this book difficult to understand. There was too much Welsh, the names are difficult to pronounce and the tales are too convoluted to follow. Stick with Charlie Bones.

Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger.......2007-06-10

Book three in the Magician Trilogy continues the saga of magician Gwyn, who faces further challenges to his magical powers when a wicked spirit escapes from a broken toy horse and unleashes havoc on his world. Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger: can he summon the forces to fight a final battle? This concludes a trilogy begun in THE SNOW SPIDER; prior familiarity with the other hard-hitting fantasy stories will enhance appreciation of this concluding adventure for advanced elementary to early middle school grades.

Delightful Read! .......2007-06-10

A Satisfying conclusion to a delightful series! This is the final book in the Magician Trilogy (The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon, & The Chestnut Soldier). When we first met Gwyn he'd just turned 9 and as this book concludes, he is turning 14...the books (themes and story lines) have evolved and matured just as the characters and as such, we find that The Chestnut Soldier has more mature subject matter than the previous two, however all three deal with subtle magic, human frailty, and no small amount of tragedy all thoroughly filtered through the lens of Welsh mythology/folklore. As with the previous books, the usual gang is all present, though Nia and Gwyn are most prominent here. As with the second book, the story is about Gwyn and his gift, but he really plays an almost peripheral role and here Nia and her mysterious soldier cousin Evan take center stage for most of the story.

In this final book, the final of the "five gifts" (the mutilated chestnut horse) his grandmother gave him at age 9 (the first book) finally comes into play. Here we find a soldier wounded badly coming "home" to the only family he has left in the area (the rest of his family having moved to Australia years before). At first things seem relatively normal with him, but as time goes on he becomes more and more angry, like anger is consuming him and his once supportive and worried cousins become frightened of him. Gwyn wants to help, but he's got issues he's dealing with too...he hasn't grown in nearly two years and is felling left behind in many ways. What once seemed a boon now feels like a curse to him. He wishes that he could be normal, that he hadn't inherited his ancestral "gift." Will Gwyn come to terms with all of this and be able to help Nia and Evan before the evil that escapes from the mangled chestnut horse takes over his troubled soul? With Gwyn struggling to find his right place and truly come to terms with who he is and Nia desperately trying to assert her identity and worth in the family when they are thrown into chaos as Evan becomes increasingly disturbed by the "injury" that befell him. Readers will feel the turmoil, angst, and edgy excitement as the story progresses and will certainly enjoy seeing how it all comes together in the end.

Overall I give The Chestnut Soldier four stars. It's got strong magical themes, Welsh mythology/folklore, an evil force trying to break into "our" world, an unwilling hero, a damsel in distress who manages to be a hero in her own way and as is the case with all three books, family is all important here. They are not shown as perfect things...each family here is full of flawed people all trying to work out who they are and striving to enjoy life for themselves and as a part of the larger family unit. What shines most of all here is that no matter how flawed they are, family is where the heart is and they are always there for one another in the end. I also like that the magic here isn't typical of the genre, it's not flashy or "in your face." In the Magician's Trilogy is it's more unknowable and mysterious, allowing the real focus to remain on the individual struggles, quests to find oneself, and most especially on familial relationships. Since it is common in this type of book for the family to be absent or so un-nurturing and unsupportive (as to be abusive in many cases), which serves to allow the child to enter in to the self-explorative adventure, I really enjoy the refreshing presence of a loving and supportive family by all the characters in the story...sure they've got issues, but at the heart of it all, the family IS an integral part of the storyline. We're sad to see the story come to a close...but it's a satisfying end!

Grandfather's Tale: The Tale of a German Sniper

Average customer rating:

A totally unbelievable poorly written fictional tale.
Real fiction
Super Sniper - I think not
What a load of rubbish
Action packed alright

Grandfather's Tale: The Tale of a German Sniper
Timothy Erenberger
Manufacturer: iUniverse Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0595164625

Book Description

Every grandfather has a tale and this is the tale of Georg Frick, a German sniper for the German Army during World War II. Georg Frick is an old man now, but in 1937 the German Army drafted him.

Grandfather’s Tale is the story of Georg’s transformation from reluctant new soldier into a master sniper. Georg fought in dozens of battles in several countries, including Poland, Belgium, the Soviet Union, Crete, Italy and Germany. After proving himself to be an exceptional sniper, he joined a special team of German paratroopers. This group of expert soldiers was parachuted into Eben Emael, the strongest single fortress in the world!

Georg's story is one of adventure and survival under extreme circumstances, including the brutal Soviet winter, and the final battle, the Battle of Berlin. Join Georg as he recounts his harrowing experiences to his grandson, in hopes that he may learn the lessons of war, and not repeat them.

Grandfather's Tale is an action-packed journey through the entirety of the Word War II. German weapons, tactics and strategy on a platoon level are explained with meticulous detail. Several battles, including the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion of Crete are told from a German perspective.

"Erenberger's story is fast-paced, his descriptions of the conditions a sniper must undergo through in each engagement were unforgettable...This book is strongly recommended for all who want to know what 'the big war' was all about in the eyes of a German sniper."—Capt. M.R. Doehrmann, USMC

Customer Reviews:

A totally unbelievable poorly written fictional tale........2007-07-31

First just to clarify this book is 100% fiction, some reviewers seem to think this is a factual account.

Way over the top and poorly written. At one point in the novel the author has this guy carrying 4 rifles(Kar98k,BAR,M1,and a Tokarev along with a supressed pistol and a 30 pound bag of ammo.) Johny Rambo meets WWII.

Not for me at all.

Real fiction.......2007-07-04

I could only complete about 2/3rds of this book, frankly because this fictional account is quite unrealistic. If you have read first person accounts of sniper stories in any theater of war, you should stay away from this book in my opinion because you will really struggle with this fictionalized account. The method of storytelling (a grandfather's recollections each night to a visiting young grandchild) did not do much for me as well.

Super Sniper - I think not.......2007-07-03

The book is very light reading. I am sure it is great for the uneducated student of WW2. No sniper ever amassed the number of kills that this guy did. All head shots at 700-1100 meters with close to 100% hit ratio ??? No way.
Look at the authors credentials, a computer game player??
Anyway it is overpriced and silly.

What a load of rubbish.......2007-06-15

I only got to the second chapter of this book before putting it down and swearing that I would never pick it up again!! How inaccurate can a book be! The author has obviously never heard of research.
I was one of the poor suckers who got this in a 2 set with Sepp,s book (which is excellent) and don't I regret it!
According to this 'fantasy tale' the german ID tags had name rank and serial number on them...WRONG!!
And apparently they had divisional markings on there sleeves...WRONG!!
And the snipers were only issued 7 bullets a day..DON'T GET ME STARTED
And all the main characters training was held in places near ??? No distinct names given.

I think my 12 YO daughter (who has no knowledge of WW2) could have written a better book.
Just look at the credits, not a single wehrmacht veteran amongst them.

Do your self a favour and avoid this book if you want:
1 A factual account
2 A book that is well written
3 A book that has pictures of Germans on the cover, not Americans in 'fritz' helmets ( how bad is that)

Action packed alright.......2007-04-25

Yes it is action packed.

It follows a style which is commonly used in the movies where the character talks to someone in the present of events in the past. I don't like it in a book.

Overall how accurate is the book well it just seems over the top. This one sniper should have won Hitler the war. I suspect that snipers like fighter pilots have a tendency to exaggerate their kills.

I also thought it was a bit of a white wash of war crimes. What really got by annoyed was this line "There had been units of the SS soldiers who committed atrocities, such as killing Jewish and other civilians, but even regular army troops were brutally punished." Unfortunately this line is not true.

Having said that it certainly a good read. If definitely gives you a feel of how soldiers must have felt in the war.

If you like this book look at "The forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer" and "With the old breed by E.B.Sledge"

The Good Soldier: A Tale of Passion (Oxford World's Classics)

Average customer rating:

An Ironic Tale
Narrative Extradonaire [30]
Lame.
The good soldier
The Saddest Story

The Good Soldier: A Tale of Passion (Oxford World's Classics)
Ford Madox Ford
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 019283620X

Amazon.com

First published in 1915, Ford Madox Ford's The Good Soldier begins, famously and ominously, "This is the saddest story I have ever heard." The book then proceeds to confute this pronouncement at every turn, exposing a world less sad than pathetic, and more shot through with hypocrisy and deceit than its incredulous narrator, John Dowell, cares to imagine. Somewhat forgotten as a classic, The Good Soldier has been called everything from the consummate novelist's novel to one of the greatest English works of the century. And although its narrative hook--the philandering of an otherwise noble man--no longer shocks, its unerring cadences and doleful inevitabilities proclaim an enduring appeal.

Ford's novel revolves around two couples: Edward Ashburnham--the title's soldier--and his capable if off-putting wife, Leonora; and long-transplanted Americans John and Florence Dowell. The foursome's ostensible amiability, on display as they pass parts of a dozen pre-World War I summers together in Germany, conceals the fissures in each marriage. John is miserably mismatched with the garrulous, cuckolding Florence; and Edward, dashing and sentimental, can't refrain from falling in love with women whose charms exceed Leonora's. Predictably, Edward and Florence conduct their affair, an indiscretion only John seems not to notice. After the deaths of the two lovers, and after Leonora explains much of the truth to John, he recounts the events of their four lives with an extended inflection of outrage. From his retrospective perch, his recollections simmer with a bitter skepticism even as he expresses amazement at how much he overlooked.

Dowell's resigned narration is flawlessly conversational--haphazard, sprawling, lusting for sympathy. He exudes self-preservation even as he alternately condemns and lionizes Edward: "If I had had the courage and the virility and possibly also the physique of Edward Ashburnham I should, I fancy, have done much what he did." Stunningly, Edward's adultery comes to seem not merely excusable, but almost sublime. "Perhaps he could not bear to see a woman and not give her the comfort of his physical attractions," John surmises. Ford's novel deserves its reputation if for no other reason than the elegance with which it divulges hidden lives. --Ben Guterson

Book Description

"A Tale of Passion," as its subtitle declares, The Good Soldier relates the complex social and sexual relationships between two couples, one English, one American, and the growing awareness by the American narrator John Dowell of the intrigues and passions behind their orderly Edwardian
facade. It is the attitude of Dowell, his puzzlement, uncertainty, and the seemingly haphazard manner of his narration that make the book so powerful and mysterious. Despite its catalogue of death, insanity, and despair, the novel has many comic moments, and has inspired the work of several
distinguished writers, including Graham Greene. This is the only annotated edition available.

Customer Reviews:

An Ironic Tale.......2007-07-25

Although this is a classic, I found it to be a hard read. I did not like any of the characters. I found the style intriguing, though convoluted. The narrator admits to telling the story in "a very rambling way." He explains, "One remembers points that one has forgotten and one explains them all the more minutely since one recognizes that one has forgotten to mention them in their proper places . . . ." It is a tale of irony, in which nobody gets what they want: "The things were all there to content everybody; yet everybody has the wrong thing. Perhaps you can make head or tail of it; it is beyond me." It is beyond me, too. Nevertheless, I am glad that I read it.

Narrative Extradonaire [30].......2007-06-26

Although formulaic in concept for early 20th century literature, this book's style separates itself from its peers.

During pre World War I, we meet the British Edward and Leonora Ashburnham and American Florence and John Dowell. As though it was a Fitzgerald novel -- the American couple resides in luxury, in Europe, the woman is talkative but fragile, and there is something brewing among the comrades -- it is definately somethin different. Although the same plot could be used and written by Waugh, Forster or maybe Woolf, it definitely is not their novel.

Unlike Waugh, unlike Fitzgerald or unlike all of the others, this book is light, very light, on dialogue. Instead, it is mostly a narrative by Mr. Dowell about the descent of his wife, of his best friend Edward and his love of life, Nancy Rufford.

Because it is a recantation of events, there are passages which repeat what was just previously read, but somehow the style (disjointed in a manner which narrative story telling would have to be) works. Oh, and how it works majestically as it passes in and out of time and through and around events so that the picture is delivered to you like a focus of a camera lens. This is not a temporal chronological recitation of what happened. The author circles us in and out of what he calls "the Saddest Story. . . because there was no current to draw things along to a swift and inevitable end." And in this sad story, "There is not even a villain in the story . . ." Reeling in and out of the sadness, it is an abstract-like collage, much like what his contemporary artists would depict with paint. This story surreally depicts Ashburnham's demise. And, the demise of those about him.

True to its form, it starts sad and ends sadder. Split into four parts, three parts end with tragic deaths (two in suicide and one perceived to be a suicide) and one ends with the acknowledgment of a failed marriage. Do not expect even one laugh from this novel.

I have not read anything by a living author which mirrors the style of this book. For that reason alone, I would recommend this novel. And, it is a classic - through and through.

I would also recommend getting a copy of Knopf's Everyman's Library edition with the edifying and insightful introduction by Alan Judd and Max Saunders. Much of Ford's life resembles one of the characters. If you get the Knopf edition, you will know why, and a lot more.

Lame........2007-03-12

This book is written by an annoying, weak man. The formal innovations are vaguley interesting, but in any case do not rescue the work from its primary deficit: you must sit there for several hours with the voice of a neurotic chatty little wimp who reminds one of a certain kind of homosexual man streaming through your mind, mostly in the form of digressions and non-sequitors. This is neither entertaining nor enlightening, and since it's the product of design it is actually a little infuriating. I too listen with good faith to the academic hierarchy present and past for recommendations, and I had in my version the hitherto utterly reliable Frank Kermode as Introducer; but damn, this book - its characters, its plots, its language, its taxing convolusions - is just annoying. Its only virtue is that reading it might raise awareness that vaguely condescending moralistic little works like this about unheroic, petty, neurotic, sordid, idle, superficially cosmopolitan people are a mistake to begin with, and - since we all have only 70 or 80 years on earth and aren't all compulsive aesthetes - time would be better spent elsewhere. There is nothing of the hard Sophoclean light here.

The good soldier.......2007-02-20

I know that I will outrage alot of people with this review but here goes... This is one of only 2 books that I have ever read that I truly REGRET devoting the time to , but once I start a book I always finish.I don't know what else to say except that it was painful for me to finish this. I just don't get it. The main character was quite annoying to me and the story was SO SLOW and predictable I really just wanted it to end. I would not recommend this book for fun and if it is required reading for you I am sorry.

The Saddest Story.......2006-12-13

I think this is the first novel I've ever read twice. It's an odd choice for that, as it's not my favorite. I read it in college at the recommendation of my creative writing professor, who thought it might be helpful in structuring a story on which I was working. And the structure, more than anything, is the most innovative part of the book. An example of literary impressionism, the narrator paints the story with small brush strokes, a scene here and there, out of order, from different perspectives. He examines each character individually, because it is more about the characters and their motivations than it is about the plot. It is left to the reader to put the pieces together--the narrator gives more of an impression than a complete picture.

But THE GOOD SOLDIER is #30 on The Modern Library's top novels of the 20th century, which means that it must have more than just structure. I have to admit that, until I got to the very end, both times I read the book, I wondered what the allure was. The book's first sentence is "This is the saddest story I have ever heard." But throughout, I kept getting the feeling that it was little more than a jumbled romantic melodrama. The characters are all flawed in ways that makes them real but not particularly likable. They are all extremely well off, which makes their dismal state even more frustrating--these people have everything--Why aren't they happy? But then in the end, somehow--and maybe it's just the last few pages that do it--I realize that these characters are great. Particularly Edward Ashburnham, the soldier of the book's title, is a very likable character. And we're almost willing to overlook his one vice--his womanizing--partly because he's such a sentimentalist but mostly because his wife is such a wretch, the only truly wicked character in the book.

As for the plot, it's almost not worth detailing. As I said, it's more about the characters and how the plot is structured than the plot itself. There are five principle characters: Edward and Leonora Ashburnham, John and Florence Dowell, and Nancy Rufford. Two commit suicide, one goes crazy, and the other two suffer perhaps the worse fate of living completely plain, boring, lonely lives. In the end, it is a very sad story, if for no other reason than that most of it is so unnecessary--with the exception of Leornora, any of these people could have lived happy lives if it weren't for each other.

The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq

Average customer rating:

The Reader Deserts the Deserter
Loved this book
A Must-Read
Exposes the "Poverty Draft"
ALL SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND HERE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK

The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq
Joshua Key , and Lawrence Hill
Manufacturer: Atlantic Monthly Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0871139545

Book Description

In the first ever memoir from a young soldier who deserted from the war in Iraq, Joshua Key offers a vivid and damning indictment of what we are doing there and how the war itself is being waged. Key, a young husband and father from a conservative background, enlisted in the Army in 2002 to get training as a welder and lift his family out of poverty. A year later, Key was sent to Ramadi where he found himself participating in a war that was not the campaign against terrorists and evildoers he had expected. He saw Iraqi civilians beaten, shot, and killed for little or no provocation. Nearly ever other night, he participated in raids on homes that found only terrified families and no evidence of terrorist activity. On leave, Key knew he could not return so he took his family underground, finally seeking asylum in Canada. The Deserter’s Tale is the story of a patriotic family man who went to war believing unquestioningly in his government’s commitment to integrity and justice, and how what he saw in Iraq transformed him into someone who could no longer serve his country.

Customer Reviews:

The Reader Deserts the Deserter.......2007-09-17

I bought this book because I have a son in the armed forces who has already been to Afghanastan and is scheduled to go to Iraq in Dec '07. I wanted to get a feel for what my son might go through by seeing Iraq through another soldiers eyes. This soldier purports himself to be a true American, would die for his country, and so on. What he did after 5 and a half months was walk away from his Company, and his Country and not only became a war criminal, but turned his wife and four children into criminals. Nowhere in the book could I find one resonable excuse for what he did. Military life is hard, service in Iraq in the early days was often shameful, but he had other avenues, and he should have explored those before going to Canada. So far Canada has turned him down for political aslyium, and I hope his appeal is turned down as well. Keys need to come back and face those he left behind. I'm also sorry that the money I spent on the book is helping to support him even a little.

Oh, I did talk to my son about the concerns I had in the book, he told me that someone was lying. So, if you do go ahead and read this book, keep that in mind.

Other "facts" I found disturbing is how he was able to use his own name and not once, but twice, file and receive a tax return. The "facts" in the book are not facts at all. I talked to my son about what I read, and he did not have to sign a paper stating he would be shot by firing squad if he went AWOL. He was also never beaten with a sock, and never asked to beat anyone with a sock. He's had 13 troops in his division go AWOL, and some took their punishment and stayed or took their punishment and left. There was no need for Keys to jump the border.

Loved this book.......2007-08-19

I loved this book, though it is a disturbing read. I am wondering about those who think it is a pack of lies - the book sounds pretty convincing to me, and am glad someone had the guts to tell their truth. The fact he as post traumatic stress disorder should speak volumes about what he experienced over there, and the way people want to call him a coward, only speaks volumes about them.

A Must-Read.......2007-07-17

Anyone with half a conscience cannot read this book without being moved to tears. This is a major indictment on our involvement in a country that was no threat to us. This is very difficult reading, but absolutely necessary if you are interested in the truth and not what we are being shown on TV and what the government is telling us.

Exposes the "Poverty Draft".......2007-07-14

"The Deserter's Tale" starts out as an all too typical account of a young man growing up poor in Oklahoma and later joining the Army in the hope of building a better life for his family.

Like so many other young men and women, Joshua Key was afire with patriotism during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, believing that Saddam Hussein was a threat to America. His motivation for joining the Army, however, was a pressing need for steady employment. Married with two children and a third on the way, Key had no interest in going to Iraq. His recruiter assured him that he would never be sent overseas, and would be assigned to a non-combat unit within the continental U.S. The recruiter even went so far as to put this provision in Key's contract.

Key, who scored 49 out of 99 on the Army's aptitude test, was told by his recruiter not to mention an existing medical condition, prior arrests and number of children. With his application thus fabricated, Key became a soldier.

Shortly after completing basic training, however - where he was encouraged during bayonet practice with cries of "kill the sand n*ggers" - Key discovered that he would indeed be sent to Iraq, despite the terms of his contract. After being punished for objecting to the violation of his contract, Key was shipped out to Iraq.

The story of Key's experience in Iraq is, unfortunately, typical of those of other soldiers. Key tells of food, water and armor shortages; of fruitless raids, wherein soldiers destroyed homes, arrested men and stole everything they could get their hands on. Worst of all, he tells of the abuse and murder of civilians, including children, admitting that he, too, took part in these criminal acts.

The images presented by Key of the rape of an entire family of women as officers looked on, and of soldiers playing football with the decapitated heads of murdered Iraqis are haunting. But more than an account of wartime atrocities, Key's tale is an indictment of those in command who turn a blind eye to the crimes of those in their charge and punish those who dare to speak up about the "poverty draft" that lures the most desperate of young people into serving as cannon fodder.

Up to this point, Key's story is characteristic of the accounts of many soldiers serving in Iraq. Key's tale takes an uncharacteristic turn, however, when he is granted a two-week vacation to return to the U.S. and visit his family.

Stricken with nightmares and flashbacks and tormented by his conscience, Key knew he could not return to Iraq. Seeking the advice of an Army lawyer, Key was told "get back to Iraq or you go to jail." With no viable alternative, Key packed up his family and went into hiding. Eventually, they made it to Canada where Key awaits a decision by the Canadian courts as to whether he will be granted refugee status.

Although Key's story is in many ways typical of the war stories of soldiers in wars from World War I to Vietnam, his is also the unusual story of a young man willing to act according to his conscience, no matter the consequences.

ALL SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND HERE NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.......2007-06-30

I found the book not only compelling but also corroborating so much of what we have learned about what is actually happening in Iraq since March 2003. Joshua Key didn't write this book to make money or to create controversy, as do some like Ann Coulter, et. al. He takes full responsibility for his actions and saves his most soul-baring comment for the last: "I deserted an injustice and leaving was the right thing to do. I owe one apology and one apology only, and that is to the people of Iraq." We all do, Mr. Key, we all do.

War's Relentless Hand: Twelve Tales of Civil War Soldiers (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)

Average customer rating:

The dignity these unsung soldiers deserve
The Real heroes

War's Relentless Hand: Twelve Tales of Civil War Soldiers (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)
Mark H. Dunkelman
Manufacturer: Louisiana State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0807131903

Book Description

A happy-go-lucky soldier falls at Gettysburg. An officer survives a hair-raising escape after capture at Gettysburg, only to die in the Atlanta campaign. A young volunteer retreats into insanity. Though they did most of the fighting and dying in the American Civil War, "ordinary" soldiers largely went unheralded in their day and have long since been forgotten. Mark H. Dunkelman retrieves twelve of these common soldiers from obscurity and presents intimate accounts of their harrowing, heartbreaking, and occasionally humorous experiences. Their stories, true to the last historical detail yet as dramatic as the most powerful fiction, put a human face on the terrible ordeal of a country at war with itself. These were soldiers from the 154th New York Volunteer Infantry, a regiment that Dunkelman has studied for forty years. He weaves a complex and intimate portrait of each man—portraits that reveal how, even for the common soldier, war was a cataclysmic event forever marking his life and the lives of those around him. Through a vast array of primary sources, Dunkelman reconstructs the lives and legacies of soldiers who died on the battlefield and others who later died of war-related injuries, some who were permanently disabled and others who saw their families undergo trauma. A reluctant soldier is doomed by red tape. A veteran is crippled for life because of his brutal treatment as a prisoner of war. Father and son are killed at Chancellorsville. A dying private is immortalized by Walt Whitman. Separated by the war, a husband and wife agonize when their children contract a deadly disease. A veteran claiming he was blinded by campfire smoke is at the center of one of the largest pension scandals of the postwar era. Recalling a lost world, War's Relentless Hand tells of the resilience, perseverance, and loyalty that distinguished these men, the families and communities that supported them, and the faith and character that sustained them. Though the full human cost and grief of the Civil War can never be calculated, deeply felt and carefully retold lives like these help convey its magnitude. AUTHOR BIO: Mark H. Dunkelman is the author of Brothers One and All: Esprit de Corps in a Civil War Regiment and other books on the 154th New York. An artist, writer, and musician as well, he lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Customer Reviews:

The dignity these unsung soldiers deserve.......2007-07-14

I've known Mark for twenty or so years and know when he publishes an article or book it will be a well polished,honest, accurate item. This book is another example of a true artist and his lifes work--Studying the 154th N.Y.V.I

If you love the story of the common man more than what the Generals were up to, then this is your next Civil War book. This volume remembers that the true cost of war is tapped from the lifes-blood of its participants in the ranks. When a soldier dies in battle it is always a violent death. Something nobody deserves. Let alone a young person on the very threshold of life.

I am fortunate enough to be related to one of the Soldiers immortalized in Dunkelmans book. I am proud of his finished product and feel he has at last made Captain Crosby's story known to those who wish to read it. If I had a writers talent I could not have written a better sum of the Captains life. Thanks Mark.

Thanks for these very human tales told with love, compassion and complete understanding. My guess is these tales are as close as any of us will ever get to seeing the real humans beings who fought that war against slavery. These "Lincolns men".

Buy it,read it,and mostly, learn from it.

The Real heroes.......2007-02-15

There are no stories of generals and strategy here. The author has crafted a well written book that reminds us of the personal side of the war and of the heroism of the individual soldiers of the 154th infantry. In fact this is representative of any unit. This is nuts and bolts history at its best. This book is excellant and deserves a wide readership.

Average customer rating:

Classic tale, well told
THIS STORY MADE ME CRY AS A CHILD
great book!
Brilliant! Improves on the original version.

Steadfast Tin Soldier
Adrian Mitchell , and Hans Christian Andersen
Manufacturer: DK Preschool
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1564583104

Book Description

The classic tale of bittersweet love, "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" chronicles the story of a toy tin soldier and his love for a beautiful toy dancer. It is believed that author Hans Christian Andersen's unrequited love for the singer Jenny Lind inspired this timeless story.

Customer Reviews:

Classic tale, well told.......2003-11-12

This book tells the classic tale of the one-legged tin soldier who falls in love with a paper ballerina. The soldier suffers a series of misadventures, including being placed at the helm of a doomed paper boat, being chased by a rat, and swallowed by a fish. It's a wonderful tale that will hold older children spellbound. The illustrations are delightful. All told, the book has about 2000 words.

THIS STORY MADE ME CRY AS A CHILD.......2000-12-18

A little boy had a set of tin soldiers that were made from a melted spoon. One soldier was missing a leg because there was not enough metal left over from the melted spoon.

Tossed aside by the boy, the one-legged soldier sees a paper cut out figure of a ballerina. She is poised on one leg and he feels an instant bond. He has found another one-legged toy and believes this to be love.

The steadfast tin soldier has a series of mishaps. He falls off the window sill into a stream. From there, he is transported to a rat infested sewer. He is swallowed by a fish and through an unlikely stroke of luck, winds up back in the boy's playroom with the other toys and the ballerina.

The ending is what gets to me every single time. A gust of wind lifts the paper ballerina up and she flutters into the fire place, winding up a charred heap of ashes. Devastated, the tin soldier joins her. The remaining metal that was once the tin soldier is a charred piece of heart shaped metal.

I still think this is a very sad story. The photographs really emphasize the feeling this story evokes.

great book!.......2000-11-08

I taught 1st grade for 4 years and all of the teachers in my grade passed this book around at Christmas to read to our class. I cried everytime I read it. It has a wonderful message and my kids in my classroom always loved it! I have now (finally) purchased my own copy of this book to read to my little girl. It is a classic and I know she will love it as much as I do. Every home should have this book to read at Christmastime.

Brilliant! Improves on the original version........2000-03-26

This is a really good book. It has all the characteristic's that made the original a cherished and remembered fairy tale. It is a great gift for any young child, and can be enjoyed by adults too. It maintains the feel of the original tale, but is more like a poem. The art work on each page is beautiful, and the pictures are totally devine. I would recomend buying this for a different and fully enjoyable version of the original.

The Soldiers' Tale: Bearing Witness to a Modern War

Average customer rating:

A Useful Gathering of Anglo American Tales
Ponderous account, but worthwhile
It is indeed "bearing witness to modern war."
Through the eyes of those who fought
A detailed examination of the soldiers'literature of war.

The Soldiers' Tale: Bearing Witness to a Modern War
Samuel Hynes
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0140261540

Amazon.com

Having served as a Marine pilot in World War II and the Korean War, Princeton literature professor Samuel Hynes is closely acquainted with conflict. He collates his experiences with those of dozens of other witnesses--poets such as Wilfred Owen and Ernst Jünger, conscience-stricken warriors such as Ryuji Nagatsuka and Philip Caputo, and resistance fighters such as Lucie Aubrac and Elena Skrjabina. Many of these witnesses are men and women from all sides of many struggles and from whom we've not heard before. Their voices add weight to Hynes's ideas that war is strange and terrible, and is waged largely against the innocent and powerless.

Book Description

The Soldiers' Tale is the story of modern wars as told by the men who did the actual fighting. Hynes examines the journals, memoirs, and letters of men who fought in the two World Wars and in Vietnam, and also the wars fought against the weak and helpless in concentration camps, prisoner-of-war camps, and bombed cities. Interweaving his own reflections on war with brilliantly chosen passages from soldiers' accounts, he offers vivid answers to the question we all ask of men who have fought: What was it like? In these powerful pages the experiences of modern war, which seem unimaginable to those who weren't there, become comprehensible and real. The wide range of writers examined includes both famous literary memoirists like Robert Graves, Tim O'Brien, and Elie Wiesel, and unknown soldiers who wrote only their war stories. Using these testimonies, Hynes considers each war in terms of its special circumstances and its effects on men who fought. His understanding of the psychology of warfare--and of each war's role in history--gives this study its intellectual authority; the voices of the men who were there, and wrote about what they saw and felt, give it its powerful dramatic impact.

• Samuel Hynes was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Download Description

The Soldier's Tale is the story of modern wars as told by the men who did the actual fighting. Hynes examines the journals, memoirs, and letters of men who fought in the two World Wars and in Vietnam, and also the wars fought against the weak and helpless in concentration camps, prisoner-of-war camps, and bombed cities. Interweaving his own reflections on war with brilliantly chosen passages from soldiers' accounts, he offers vivid answers to the question we all ask of men who have fought: What was it like? In these powerful pages the experiences of modern war, which seem unimaginable to those who weren't there, become comprehensible and real. The wide range of writers examined includes both famous literary memoirists like Robert Graves, Tim O'Brien, and Elie Wiesel, and unknown soldiers who wrote only their war stories. Using these testimonies, Hynes considers each war in terms of its special circumstances and its effects on men who fought. His understanding of the psychology of warfare--and of each war's role in history--gives this study its intellectual authority; the voices of the men who were there, and wrote about what they saw and felt, give it its powerful dramatic impact.

Customer Reviews:

A Useful Gathering of Anglo American Tales.......2001-12-28

Having looked at this book with my primary interest in the experiences of the common soldier in mind, I am struck with the many interesting personal narratives herein. That said, I was disappointed to some extent that there were not any narratives from opponents or from other allies whose native tongue is not English. Perhaps this was the author's purpose, perhaps he did not have source permissions, or perhaps the publisher did not want to acquire rights to other stories.
That said, although this is therefore a one sided view, it has much literary merit and deserves a place in the personal narrative collection.
I would also recommend the author's own personal narrative of service as an aviator. Flights of Passage (c.f.)

Ponderous account, but worthwhile.......2001-12-26

Reads like a very long, tedious history term paper. He wrote his outline, he did the required reading, and he slogs through everything he read. For a short book I found it very very hard to finish, but it's a good source for other books that sound interesting, some of the ones he is writing about.

The concept of "war in the head" being formed by the books and movies soldiers watched growing up is useful.

Some peculiar opinions make it interesting and memorable, for example, he mentions twice that World War I is "our favorite war." News to me. Also, that all the dope-smoking in Viet Nam is a myth traceable to some articles in Esquire Magazine. Who knew?

At least two typographical errors in the text.

It is indeed "bearing witness to modern war.".......2001-01-27

Who best can describe war but the men who fought them? True, all personal accounts of war are highly focused, confined as they are to the tight little theater of each writer's involvement. Or involvements as in the case of that German officer's memorable account of his entire career, "Soldat."

Here, Hynes zooms out, assembling with great skill personal micro-views that together are a broad picture of war. His narrative weaves the recollections into a whole fabric.

Some sage once observed that old men start wars and young men fight them. Old men write glorious and expansive military histories, the young men who fought the battles write about the miseries of the battlefields -- and, occasionally the humor -- and the miseries of captivity. Soldiers who were unlucky enough to be prisoners of the Japanese became the real experts on the miseries of captivity.

This excellent book is marred at the end by an almost apologetic discussion of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That kind of warfare was unique, says Hynes, and so it was, being the only uses of nuclear bombs in world history. But what was the alternative? An invasion of a nation that had demonstrated repeatedly that every soldier would fight to the death? And at what cost, another several hundred thousand allied dead? Hynes writes:

"And although [the bombing] was an attack not on a specific military target but on a city, that was not new in August 1945; many cities were in ashes by then. But it was a strange, unique act of war; an action without a battle, without armies, without a visible enemy, in which neither courage nor cowardice mattered; an action for which there was no possible retaliation; an action so far outside the capabilities of armies up to then that it seemed like some catastrophic natural disaster -- only it was UNnatural. That was what was most disturbing about it, and still is. . . . So it was different from other bombed, burned-out cities, where there were guns and fighter planes to oppose the attack. . . It is more entirely a victim war than Auschwitz, where resistance was just barely possible and survival might be an act of will; more than the prisoner-of-war camps, helpless though those captives sometimes were. It was a unique event in the history of man's capacity to destroy his species."

By demonstrating that the U.S. DID have the capacity to level the entire island nation of Japan -- if not the ability to destroy the species of man -- a beaten but still ferocious warring nation was brought to the table.

The casualties in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined were perhaps less than the deaths in that single massacre in Nanking, China, where Japanese soldiers systematically killed between 100,000 and 300,000 men, women and children. Shot them one by one. But somehow, in Hynes's view, that kind of killing is war, where the unprecedented atomic explosions were not war, but something else, something UNnatural. I don't agree. Was the barbarism of the Japanese military during WWII natural? I don't think so.

Regardless of this objection, I consider "The Soldiers' Tale" to be an outstanding contribution to war literature.

Through the eyes of those who fought.......2000-02-27

Samuel Hynes background as a Marine bomber pilot in World war II helped intensify his focus in bringing "Soldier's Tale" to life. His keen eye for detail and brilliant anaylsis of human experiecnce makes this a fascinating read.

The accounts bear witness to the difficulties men faced in World War II and Vietnam and is a discovery of mankind and how they act and react during times of intense struggle.

The accounts, filled with fear, anger, frustration and courage must be remembered and not just stored away on some dusty shelf. Within these pages you stare face to face into the brutal reality of survival versus death, and walk away with a glimpse into what it was like for those who were there.

A detailed examination of the soldiers'literature of war........1999-01-02

Along with the three great books on war by Paul Fussell, Samuel Hynes' book will stand as a landmark. Hynes, like Fussell, as a veteran of World War II writes with a deep personal as well as a literary insight. Unlike Fussell he also participated in the Korean war. Both men became professors of literature at major universities, and both men write with skill and feeling. This work exhibits a very special form of literary criticism. No doubt other books will be written about the effects of the 20th Century's wars on the men who fought them, but there will be none that is better conceived or better executed. By examining the extensive literature of the century's wars, particularly the literature of the wars' participants, he comes closer than any writer I have read to date, with the possible exception of Paul Fussell, to understanding and explicating its effects. Hynes tells the truth by citing from and describing the works of war's participants. The excellent notes and an extensive bibliography of personal narratives of modern war add immeasurably to the book's value.

Average customer rating:

Compelling stories by ordinary people
Living in hell through Asian eyes..
very dissappointing
Interesting
An excellent collection of personal experiences

Tales By Japanese Soldiers
Kazuo Tamayama , and John Nunneley
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945

ASIN: 0304359785

Book Description

"...consists of recollections by Japanese survivors of this terrible campaign, who describe instances of poignant sacrifice, heroism, and occasional compassion shown toward the enemy on both sides....full of imagery and information on the Burma Theater and is recommended, especially for the military historian."--Library Journal.

Customer Reviews:

Compelling stories by ordinary people.......2005-03-20

This is a collection of stories and memories by Japanese soldiers that fought in Burma between 1942 and 1945. The collection does not intend to give a comprehensive picture of the war, or of its participants. It is a series of snapshots of war as seen by the eyes of the ordinary people that actually fight it. Neither does the collection have literary ambitions: they have just told us their stories dircetly as they experienced them, with no special narrative technique or refinement. It actually does make the book so much more powerful.
Some people have complained that it is mainly about marching or waiting, well: that's what war is for ordinary soldiers: No maps, no situation reports, no overview, no moral justification. They walk in the direction they are told, the lie down when bullets start buzzing around their ears, and they try and kill the enemy before he kills them. In between actions they try and puzzle together a life away from fear.
Maybe we are spoilt by the magnificent war memoirs by some of the German generals, which, on the other hand, were educated cultured men with a bird's view of the war.
There are some especially poignant stories about meetings between British and Japanese soldiers which are far away from the Hollywood image of the raving yellow lunatics that must be killed on sight.
These men and women were not so much different from the allied soldiers we are taught to revere. And, indeed, they were often hailed as liberators by the colonial subjects of the US, Britain, France, and Holland.

Living in hell through Asian eyes.........2004-12-26

I bought this book hoping to get a view on how the Japanese soldiers experienced the war in Burma and war in general, but more importantly i was hoping for a different view than the one we are "accustomed" to through books written by Westerners.

The western market is saturated with such books describing experiences from various wars and times, but when i searched in Amazon i found only a handful translated into english and written by Asians.

In that regard i was surprised to see that most of the content of the book could've been written by a Westerner as well. There are, naturally, several accounts in the 60 and over stories included that do provide an insight into the Japanese psyche but they arent the majority.

One prevailing element is that most of the authors of the stories are very cynical in their desciptions, but in strange matter of fact way. They describe very scholastically what the situation was but as if from the eye of a distant observer.

Is this a worthy read generally speaking? Absolutely. Even if some of the stories are paradoxically boring for being battle accounts most are nothing less than gripping. There is one story in particular, that stood out in my mind where a japanese soldier not only narrates a harrowing account of a very ritical battle in Burma but also provides sketches he did in order to describe the horrors he witnessed. These sketches along with the accompanying descriptions will stay on your mind because of their sheer intensity.

Otherwise, this book is also very interesting from a military point of view as it provides a historical account of the difficulties and hardships as well as the strategical approaches of the Japanese during the war in Burma..

Another thing that is amongst the more noteworthy things here is that the Japanese would prefer suicide rather than fall into the hands of the enemy. Several such accounts are to be found in the book.

The last few stories are told by Japanese nurses and have a very special interest of their own.

very dissappointing.......2001-10-16

I was excited when I heard about this book, having exhausted myself with books about the European Theater, I wanted to see the Japanese side of the Pacific war. What a major dissapointment! All this is short personal accounts which are all bascially the same...Quick example..."We marched through the rough jungle of Burma, then we fought the enemy" Thats it, no insight about their fanatical beliefs, no comments about their prisoners, and nothing interesting about their views on the defeat. the only redeeming quality I got out of this book is the fact that I didn't waste any money on it, got it from the library.

Interesting.......2001-09-07

This is the voice of the real forgotten war. This book relates numerous first person accounts of the Burma Campaign. The tales come from officers, common enlisted men, to female nurses. Their descriptions are very vivid, and show the tragic side of war. One can also get a better feel of the Japanese culture and their views towards the war. They view the war from the ground level, without any question such as "why are we here", regardless of that they seem to have an almost casual attitude towards their own demise, which I found very interesting. I would rate this book very highly if you have an interest in both the Pacific theater and Japan.

An excellent collection of personal experiences.......2001-05-19

_Tales by Japanese Soldiers_ is a much needed addition to the very small number of Japanese sources on the Second World War available in the English language.

The book deals with the Burma Campaign where a very large number of Japanese faced the combined British, Indian, Chinese, and US forces. In fact, the Japanese suffered their largest defeats on land in Burma. On the other hand, the Allies also suffered their longest retreat of the war here in 1942.

Several Japanese officers and soldiers recount their experiences in _Tales by Japanese Soldiers_. Descriptions are given in chronological order, beginning with the 1942 invasion of Burma and ending with the British return in 1945. The biggest section is on the Battle of Imphal-Kohima, the great battle of attrition in 1944, in which the entire Japanese 15th Army was decimated. Stories of the retreat from Imphal are particularly compelling, especially a set of drawings by Yasumasa Nishiji.

This is an important book that adds valuable perspective on the experience of the Japanese in the Second World War.

Average customer rating:

An Overview of Cavalry Operations: But for the CW Novice

Don't Waste Your Hard-Earned Money

Those Damn Horse Soldiers: True Tales of the Civil War Cavalry
George Walsh
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | 19th Century | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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Battle of Monroe's Crossroads and the Civil War's Final Campaign

The History Buff's Guide to Gettysburg (Key People, Places, and Events) (Key People, Places, and Events)

ASIN: 0765312700
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Book Description

Many accounts of the Civil War battles, armies, and key figures have been written over the years, but none have looked at the bloodiest war in our nation's history through the eyes of the cavalry. The horse soldiers in the Civil War are often referred to as the last of the cavaliers, men who valued their honor as much as their cause. In this sweeping saga George Walsh brings to life anew the gallant horse soldiers of the North and South, showing in dramatic detail how their raids and expeditions affected the outcome of the war and how their fortunes waxed and waned.

Customer Reviews:

An Overview of Cavalry Operations: But for the CW Novice .......2007-02-16

This is not a deep book on Civil War Cavalry operations but basically a catalogue of famous to pretty well known cavalry operations during different phases of the Civil War. What you will find are activities by notable cavalrymen such as Forrest, Stuart, Mosby, Sheridan and Morgan along with lesser known such as Grierson, Stoneman and Wheeler. But giving the author credit, he does have the fascinating Wilson-Kautz raid that is a long raid behind the Petersburg line all the way to the Staunton River Bridge (near South Boston) while being pursued from behind by Fitz Lee. However, like most chapters dedicated to the various raids, it is typically a too short capsule. The book is a pretty good primer for someone with a novice interest in the Civil War but, for the well read, experience Civil War student, the tales of the raids are limited in depth and to a degree, too familiar, telling the basic, well known story. But for the less familiar, not a bad book to start with, particularly if you have limited knowledge of the primary subjects and are looking for short renditions. The limitation of virtually any maps does make these wide traveling raids difficult to follow.

Don't Waste Your Hard-Earned Money.......2006-12-25

George Walsh's _hose Damn Horse Soldiers: True Tales of the Civil War Cavalry_ was just published. The book is intended to be a one-volume study of Civil War cavalry operations. As a long-time student of Civil War cavalry operations, I had high hopes for it.

Instead, what I got was EVERYTHING that I hate most about Civil War books. The book is VERY broad brushstrokes overview, attempting to cover all Civil War cavalry operations in 480 pages. It covers the period 1862-1865, and tries to cover all theaters of the war. That, by definition, means that the book cannot provide the sort of detailed examination that I would otherwise expect out of this kind of a book. The discussion of the Battle of Brandy Station covers a total of six pages. A fourteen hour long battle that was the biggest cavalry battle ever fought on the North American continent, and it gets six pages. There is no depth and no analysis. It's just a narrative. I guess that's okay, but there is absolutely no substance to the book.

The book has no bibliography. That, in and of itself, precludes it from the list of books I would ever considering purchasing. The lack of a bibliography permits the author to hide the lack of substantive research since there's no recital of what sources were reviewed. It's a cheap and very lazy way out.

I had a chance to take a look at the end notes. They're quite spare, and what notes there are cite mainly to secondary sources. More than half of them cite to secondary sources. The rest are to readily available published primary sources such as the Official Records, the Southern Historical Society Papers and other similar sources. There were no references to any unpublished manuscript material whatsoever or to any newspaper sources. Few of the published primary sources are particular rare or difficult to find. In short, it is clear that the author did almost no research of any depth, and that what research he did was shallow at best.

There is not one single map in the book. Given the fact that it addresses several dozen actions (albeit not in any depth), unless the reader is familiar with those actions on his or her own, the readder will get absolutely no guidance or assistance in understanding these events from maps. In my humble opinion, books can never have enough maps, and the failure to include them is indicative of either extreme cheapness on the part of the publisher, laziness on the part of the author, or, worse yet, a combination of the both.

Finally, there is not a single illustration anywhere in the book. Again, given the numerous personalities who pop in and out of the story along the way, being able to match up a face with the name is an extremely useful and helpful thing, but there's not a single illustration to be found. Again, that represents either chintiziness on the part of the publisher, laziness on the part of the author, or some very unpleasant combination of both.

Another thing interested me. There are five blurbs on the back of the dust jacket. Two of them pertain to other books by the same author. The other three are about this book, but none of them are by anyone known or recognized as an authority on the Civil War. One of them is by the novelist Steven Coonts, best known for writing techno-thrillers. I have never heard of the other two blurbists. That nobody know as being a Civil War expert was asked to endorse this book ought to tell you everything you need to know about it.

Save your money. Don't buy this book. If you want an overview of Civil War cavalry operations, your money will be better spent on Samuel Carter's excellent 1982 book The Last Cavaliers: Confederate and Union Cavalry in the Civil War or Stephen Z. Starr's classic three-volume set, The Union Cavalry in the Civil War.

If I could give this book no stars, I would. Since I can't, I have to give it one.

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