ParkCungHee
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What sort of history? Military, political, social?
I would say all all three if possible. If not then military -> political -> social
SS-18 ICBM
Oscillator
Can I get a recommendation for a good, non-partisan history of the US in the 20th century? If it must include the 19th century, hopefully it starts at the end of Civil War.
The few books I've read in the "Oxford Histories of the United States" series have always been top-notch quality and not aggressively partisan, although I haven't gotten around to the 20th century yet.
I'm getting my teeth into Ronald Syme's book The Roman Revolution, a history of the transition of Rome from republic to empire. Not one I'd recommend for the casual reader; it assumes a reasonably detailed knowledge of the events at hand, and regularly references (although these references are mostly in footnotes, and can be ignored without losing the flow of the work) Latin or Greek texts without a translation: my schoolboy Latin is good enough for the most part, but I struggle with the Greek. That said, the interpretation is very interesting: it concerns itself with the oligarchical politics of Roman society rather than with biographical details of the 'great men' involved, and notably brings it up to date somewhat. It's very easy with ancient history to present it as if it all happened in a world not quite like our own, but you can imagine Augustus as a present-day revolutionary dictator - indeed, it was written in 1937, and undoubtedly drew inspiration from Mussolini and Hitler. Very fascinating.
i have just discovered this myself and have listened to about 30 in the last week.
also, if you're enjoying syme and are looking for more late republican rome i would recommend tatum's patrician tribune which is his biography of clodius. syme (as well as many other historians) presents the fall of the republic as an inevitability, with the ascendency of caesar and his successors as inevitable. tatum's work presents clodius as a man operating in a system where it was understood that caesar's rise was anything but inevitable. besides, clodius is a fantastic character.
just started pacific worlds http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-World...qid=1349645085&sr=8-1&keywords=pacific+worlds for class. it's quite good thus far.
LightSpectra
me autem minui
Since the only subject that I could conceivably call myself an "expert" on (i.e. "broadly above amateur") is medieval European philosophy, I thought maybe I could expand my berth and maybe become the board's resident medieval historian. I've read a butt-load of primary sources and I can't possibly list all of them. Some secondary books I've already read:
The Wars of the Roses: Politics and the Constitution in England, c.1437-1509 by Christine Carpenter (Cambridge University Press: 1997)
Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted by Susan Reynolds (Oxford University Press: 1996)
From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist by Edward Foley (Liturgical Training Publications: 1991)
A Short History of the Middle Ages, Third Edition by Barbara H. Rosenwein (University of Toronto Press: 2009)
Carolingian Civilization: A Reader by Paul Edward Dutton (University of Toronto Press: 2004)
Imperial Spain: 1469-1716 by J. H. Elliott (Penguin Books: 2002)
Not included because I can't recall the titles: some stuff on the Italian Renaissance (I think it was focused on Milan), some stuff on the Hundred Years' War, some stuff on Anglo-Saxon England. I also intend to read Guy Halsall's books on the end of the Western Roman Empire. Would anybody care to recommend a handful? On things like cuisine, household economics ("feudalism", slavery, serfdom, vassalage, etc.), specific wars or events, trade, stuff like that.
The Wars of the Roses: Politics and the Constitution in England, c.1437-1509 by Christine Carpenter (Cambridge University Press: 1997)
Fiefs and Vassals: The Medieval Evidence Reinterpreted by Susan Reynolds (Oxford University Press: 1996)
From Age to Age: How Christians Have Celebrated the Eucharist by Edward Foley (Liturgical Training Publications: 1991)
A Short History of the Middle Ages, Third Edition by Barbara H. Rosenwein (University of Toronto Press: 2009)
Carolingian Civilization: A Reader by Paul Edward Dutton (University of Toronto Press: 2004)
Imperial Spain: 1469-1716 by J. H. Elliott (Penguin Books: 2002)
Not included because I can't recall the titles: some stuff on the Italian Renaissance (I think it was focused on Milan), some stuff on the Hundred Years' War, some stuff on Anglo-Saxon England. I also intend to read Guy Halsall's books on the end of the Western Roman Empire. Would anybody care to recommend a handful? On things like cuisine, household economics ("feudalism", slavery, serfdom, vassalage, etc.), specific wars or events, trade, stuff like that.
I liked Ian Mortimer's books on (mediaeval) Edwardian England - The Perfect King (Edward III) and A Time-Traveller's Guide to Mediaeval England. He also did one about Edward II and Sir Roger Mortimer - The Greatest Traitor. That second book is probably what you're after more though.
LightSpectra
me autem minui
isn't Mortimer the guy that argues that Edward II wasn't assassinated but secretly shuffled into Ireland where he sailed to Italy to become the Shadow Pope?
LightSpectra
me autem minui
Not too hot on that I'm afraid. It's partially why I'd never recommend Alison Weir works to anybody, she loves her yummy outlandish fringe theories.
LightSpectra
me autem minui
Looks interesting! I'll look for it next time I go to the library.
I did not read the thread so excuse me if already named.
Id like to recommend Conn Iggulden`s books about Julius Cæsar and Djengis Khan. He uses his fantasy to some extent to make it a better story, but I really liked the afterword in his books. There he explains what we know for certain and what is fantasy.
Id like to recommend Conn Iggulden`s books about Julius Cæsar and Djengis Khan. He uses his fantasy to some extent to make it a better story, but I really liked the afterword in his books. There he explains what we know for certain and what is fantasy.
LightSpectra
me autem minui
This thread's about nonfiction. Fictional alt-history would be more appropriate on OT or Arts & Entertainment.
Sure, but I still think its kinda relevant, since he explains in afterword what is fiction and what is not.
Edit: Besides its not really alt-history. He mostly just take a guess of the things we cant know for sure. A few things he altered to make a good story, but I forgive that, since he admits it in afterword. (and also present all avaible evidence). So I still think his books about Cæsar and Djengis Khan are relevant to understand history.
Edit: Besides its not really alt-history. He mostly just take a guess of the things we cant know for sure. A few things he altered to make a good story, but I forgive that, since he admits it in afterword. (and also present all avaible evidence). So I still think his books about Cæsar and Djengis Khan are relevant to understand history.
History_Buff
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- 6,529
How do we feel about memoirs? I posted about James Brabazon's My Friend the Mercenary over in the Tavern, but it's at least semi-applicable to (very modern) history.
Aside from that, and I'm not sure that I haven't mentioned it before, but Nicholson Baker's Human Smoke, which is a collection of contemporary writings in the run up to the holocaust, is also amazing.
Aside from that, and I'm not sure that I haven't mentioned it before, but Nicholson Baker's Human Smoke, which is a collection of contemporary writings in the run up to the holocaust, is also amazing.
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