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warspite1 -> RE: What Book Are You Reading at the moment? (8/15/2014 3:38:07 AM)
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ORIGINAL: warspite1
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ORIGINAL: warspite1
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ORIGINAL: warspite1
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ORIGINAL: Orm
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ORIGINAL: warspite1
Coming toward the end of The Scramble For Africa - Its been enjoyable, if sometimes quite difficult read. The book could really do with more maps as the author would be talking about places and regions and I really had no clue as to where they were.
I really feel I could do with reading this book again, but am itching to get started on The Sleepwalkers. As I understand it this is a Pro-German view of the events leading up to WWI. I am firmly of the view the Germans were more responsible than any other country for the war, and so am interested in reading events from "their side".
Ordering The Scramble For Africa now. I was close to ordering The Sleepwalkers as well but I decided to wait until I hear what you think of it.
warspite1
I know you have read some stuff previously on a similar topic. I think you will enjoy this. This book gives - in one volume - a really good insight into what happened, when and why during that 30-or-so year period at the end of the nineteenth century.
One of the many things I find extremely interesting is that, when people sneeringly talk today about Empires - and particularly the British Empire (probably because it was the largest) the view is usually one that Britain and other such empire powers, were a bunch of imperialists, desperate to grab colonies and territory - either at the expense of the indiginous population or a.n.other imperial power (or both) - chiefly for the sake of power and resources.
What is clear is that the truth was often nothing like as simple as that. Certainly many of Her Majesty's (Victoria) Governments (particularly under Gladstone) were anything but imperialists. Colonies often came about by accident, or in order to defend other territories or in order to $%^& off another power - Bismarck was very good at that game! And yes, even in order to civilise and better the lot of the native (Livingstone).
Few people today believe that Empires were right (i.e. imposing your will and rule onto people who probably don't want you there is fundamentally wrong) but as with most things in life, the truth is a lot more complicated than people like to think.
warspite1
Ormster I will let you know on The Sleepwalkers in due course. Almost finished Scramble - on the last section now, starting with the Germans in German Southwest Africa (modern day Namibia).
warspite1
First 100 pages in. Its clear where the author is going but that's fine. Its a very readable book and its good to get a deeper understanding of the background.
I would be interested if anyone knows of a good book covering Balkan history, the retrenchment of the Ottoman Empire etc.
warspite1
Finally getting to the end of Sleepwalkers! The middle section of the book was really quite a struggle and i almost gave up a number of times. Glad I didn't as the 3rd section is interesting (as was the 1st). Whilst reading I realised I have never actually read an actual account of the assassination, I.e. how many conspirators took part, what each did, the itinery of the Archduke, the actions the Archduke and his entourage took in response to the initial failed attack etc.
A couple more weeks and it should be finished.... But what next? [:)]
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