Slitherine

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finished Lawrence in Arabia

Difficult to know exactly what to make of the book but at worst its a very entertaining read and gives the reader a potted history of why the Middle East looks like it does today (in terms of countries and borders).

The book appears fairly balanced, although the author - while not afraid to outline some of Lawrence's peculiarities - does perhaps give him too much credit in certain areas. On occasions its as if only Lawrence knew what was happening and was right and everyone else was a buffoon.

Not really sure what to make of Lawrence either - other than he was a strange chappie in more ways than one.

I definitely enjoyed reading the book but do not have the urge to read more on TE Lawrence having done so. I do however want to read up on the Treaty of Versailles and have ordered a book on just that subject.

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ORIGINAL: wings7

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finished Lawrence in Arabia

Difficult to know exactly what to make of the book but at worst its a very entertaining read and gives the reader a potted history of why the Middle East looks like it does today (in terms of countries and borders).

The book appears fairly balanced, although the author - while not afraid to outline some of Lawrence's peculiarities - does perhaps give him too much credit in certain areas. On occasions its as if only Lawrence knew what was happening and was right and everyone else was a buffoon.

Not really sure what to make of Lawrence either - other than he was a strange chappie in more ways than one.

I definitely enjoyed reading the book but do not have the urge to read more on TE Lawrence having done so. I do however want to read up on the Treaty of Versailles and have ordered a book on just that subject.

Robert, could you post a link for the book? Thanks.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: wodin

Never could get through Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence...

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: wings7

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finished Lawrence in Arabia

Difficult to know exactly what to make of the book but at worst its a very entertaining read and gives the reader a potted history of why the Middle East looks like it does today (in terms of countries and borders).

The book appears fairly balanced, although the author - while not afraid to outline some of Lawrence's peculiarities - does perhaps give him too much credit in certain areas. On occasions its as if only Lawrence knew what was happening and was right and everyone else was a buffoon.

Not really sure what to make of Lawrence either - other than he was a strange chappie in more ways than one.

I definitely enjoyed reading the book but do not have the urge to read more on TE Lawrence having done so. I do however want to read up on the Treaty of Versailles and have ordered a book on just that subject.

Robert, could you post a link for the book? Thanks.

warspite1

There you go!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lawrence-Arabia-Deceit-Imperial-Making/dp/1782392025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480765332&sr=1-1&keywords=lawrence+in+arabia

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

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ORIGINAL: wings7

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finished Lawrence in Arabia

Difficult to know exactly what to make of the book but at worst its a very entertaining read and gives the reader a potted history of why the Middle East looks like it does today (in terms of countries and borders).

The book appears fairly balanced, although the author - while not afraid to outline some of Lawrence's peculiarities - does perhaps give him too much credit in certain areas. On occasions its as if only Lawrence knew what was happening and was right and everyone else was a buffoon.

Not really sure what to make of Lawrence either - other than he was a strange chappie in more ways than one.

I definitely enjoyed reading the book but do not have the urge to read more on TE Lawrence having done so. I do however want to read up on the Treaty of Versailles and have ordered a book on just that subject.

Robert, could you post a link for the book? Thanks.

warspite1

There you go!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lawrence-Arabia-Deceit-Imperial-Making/dp/1782392025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480765332&sr=1-1&keywords=lawrence+in+arabia

warspite1

Sorry Patrick I just realised you may have meant the Versailles book. If so here the link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0719562376/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0521628881&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=5PAG9AVPJ8PJS9SW4J3H

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Three chapters in and I have to say that Margaret Macmillan's book is thoroughly engrossing. She writes in an easy to read style too.

Still scene setting at the moment - let's hope the section on the actual negotiations is as good.

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Finished Margaret MacMillan's Peacemakers.

Having finished it I just want to go back and read it all over again. A wonderful, interesting, well written, thought-provoking book. As all good books should, this tome makes me want to read more on the subject (if anyone knows another good work on the Treaty of Versailles please let me know).

The conclusion chapter could have been a little longer, but that is my only real gripe.

Anyone interested in World War I and II should read this. It is pleasing to see three of the most oft repeated and tired, lazy comments and accusations about the Treaty thoroughly demolished - specifically:

a) the ridiculously simplistic idea that Versailles caused World War II
b) the sweeping statement that the British and particularly the French were the cause of the problems and that if only they had listended to the Americans all would have been right.
c) Versailles created Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Poland.

MacMillan spares no one, French, British, American, Italian, or anyone else. She makes clear that each power had their own needs and requirements, fears and hopes, and that within each power, there was rarely a unified voice - not to mention the court of public opinion which those who dealt with the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars never had to face in the same way - particularly difficult if you are from a democracy....

Not least is the fact that at the end of the day we are talking about human beings, with their individual strengths and weaknesses, and personal prejudices that could affect, to a surprising degree, whether they supported a view point or worked against it.

Superb stuff

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ORIGINAL: warspite1

Okay so the brilliant Peacemakers finished, I now move on to James Holland's The War in the West. This is the first of three books and covers 1939-1941.

Bad start... he's spent 2 pages on baseball and some guy who had nothing to do with the war.... Er, okay...

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ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Geez....some 1500+ pages over three volumes and someone's got their knickers in a twist about 2 pages of literary alliteration? Sounds like someone is impatient and wants to hurry up and get to the "pew pew pew" part of the book. Patience, lad! There'll be time enough for the bangety-bangety pew pew pew later. Why doncha relax and enjoy the ride?

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805