Can Anyone Recommend Any Good Books?

[LadyCG]

Generally I prefer non-fiction and political and military history is my favourite genre.

I like books that are very factual and not politically biased by the author. I like survivor memoirs too.

Any suggestions appreciated.

[bednobs]

brian keenan - an evil cradling

[LadyCG]

Can you give a brief synopsis, Bednobs?

[AKMild]

"The Forgotten Highlander: My Incredible Story of Survival During the War in the Far East" by Alastair Urquhart

"Vietnam: An Epic History of a Divisive War 1945-1975" by Max Hastings

"Seasons in the Sun: The Battle for Britain, 1974-1979" by Dominic Sandbrook

[JimF]

>> Brian Keenan - An Evil Cradling21:50
> Can you give a brief synopsis, Bednobs?

On the assumption that you're not joking and you REALLY have no idea who Brian Keenan is:

1) Taken hostage in Beirut
2) Spent nearly five years as a hostage in Beirut
3) Released
4) Came home

[bednobs]

as above. I read it in the 90s and it was so good i couldnt even put it don to go to the loo

[LadyCG]

Yes I have heard of him, Jim, or whatever your name is this month. There's no needs to be so supercilious and patronising.

I haven't read the book so I don't know what angle it is written from (ie during his captivity or his adjustment to life following captivity).

Go and get yourself a nice Fleurie, M'dear...

[bednobs]

Sorry, it's his account of being in captivity in solitary and with the other bloke whose name temporarily escapes me. john something

[JimF]

McCarthy

[LadyCG]

Ahh... I remember vaguely another book ... "Some Other Rainbow" written by a John somebody. He was in a relationship with a woman called Jill but they eventually split (?).

[Rosie29]

In Extremis - The Life and Death of a War Correspondent by the TV journalist Linsey Hilsom.
This was recommended to me last Christmas by Toorak. Sounds like the sort of thing you might like.

[Peter Pedant]

project gutenberg

yeah who wrote dat den ? no no it is a free site where you can download texts of books
schiller - history of the 30 y war should be there
I think Churchill early books are there - nile campaigns etc

quite a few confederate diaries

there are still in copyright so you may have to buy
witch of endor - great war turkish POW
florence farmborough - nurse at the russian front
well met by moonlight - WW2 memoirs

I am doing soldier sahib - john nicholson
also - hero of delhi - also about Jack Nicholson

[Canary42]

These two are from my collection, both quite old so may be difficult to get hold of except through a library.

1. Hostage in Peking, by English journalist Anthony Grey.

I read it while convalescing from an operation in the early Seventies and it kept me absorbed but horrified during this period. It covers Grey's 2 years in solitary confinement in a Chinese jail during Mao's Cultural Revolution, an imprisonment which received widespread condemnation at home. Based on secret diaries he smuggled out on his release.

2. Wake Up It's a Crash by Earl Moorhouse.

Written by a survivor of the first 747 disaster, it covers the event and his escape (with his wife and two sons) from the burning aircraft which crashed shortly after takeoff in Nairobi. 98 survived, 59 were killed. One to save for the Departure Lounge possibly !

[tamborine]

I have the WW1 diaries of canadian soldier (I transcribed for his ggrandson). Find me on fb if you want a read.

[tamborine]

Miles looks gorgeous & growing fast x

[tamborine]

Far Pavillions by MM Kay is a good read; about India

[Coppit]

The Rest I Will Kill - by Brian McGinty.
A well-researched, astonishing, true American Civil War sea story. Copies for about a fiver from ABE Books. (Montague Amiel was an umpteenth times removed cousin of mine).

Any of the (mainly WWII) spy books by Ben Macintyre, especially Double Cross. The True Story of the D-Day Spies.

The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War.
(Watch Ben on YouTube)

The Great Hedge of India by Roy Moxham. Another of history's forgotten tales.

[LadyCG]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions which I'll mull over.

Any more suggestions greatly appreciated.

Tambo, I'm not on FB any more x