I find how history is remembered as fascinating and compelling as I do history itself because it says so much about a culture or society. Jackson's detailed and riveting account of the trial of Marshall Petain reveals a great deal about the cultural and political divisions that remind one of the Dreyfus Affair or the divisions characteristic of our own times. You won't need to have a special interest in French history to find this account riveting - it deals with a past that affected the entire world and left ramifications that still haunt us today.
For three weeks in July 1945 all eyes were fixed on a humid Paris, where France's disgraced former head of state was on trial, accused of masterminding a plot to overthrow democracy. Would Philippe Petain, hero of Verdun, be condemned as the traitor of Vichy?
In the terrible month of October 1940, few things were more shocking than the sight of Marshal Philippe Petain-supremely decorated hero of the First World War, now head of the French government-shaking hands with Hitler. Pausing to look at the cameras, Petain announced that France would henceforth collaborate with Germany. "This is my policy," he…
Karen Armstrong is one of my favorite writers on any topic and her approach to religion and religious history is both profound and based on great common sense. She has thought deeply and seriously about religious issues and one cannot read her books without doing the same. Consistently interesting, often profound, always insightful, this is a book you will want to read at a good, steady pace and not hurry through in order to absorb and reflect on the many lessons her book holds for our personal spiritual development as well as for gaining a better understanding of the great religious traditions that are too often misinterpreted by their own practitioners and defenders. A must read for anyone interested in the history of religion!
'An amazingly wide-ranging book, showing that the world's religious texts can be a force for good today' John Barton, author of A History of the Bible
In our increasingly secular world, holy texts are at best seen as irrelevant, and at worst as an excuse to incite violence, hatred and division. The Quran, the Torah and the Bible are often employed selectively to underwrite arbitrary and subjective views. They are believed to be divinely ordained; they are claimed to contain eternal truths.
But as Karen Armstrong, a world authority on religious affairs, shows in this fascinating journey through millennia of…
Gramm is great at description - geographical, biographical, and sociological. He interweaves the stories of various individuals that make the extremely dramatic and often terrifying experiences of the captain and crew of "The Wager" feel all the more real, allowing us to empathize, criticize, or fulminate at the decisions and actions of the individuals. He narrates an intense and riveting story with a style that evokes and recreates the world in which it is set with impeccable skill. An incredible adventure story told by a master of the craft of writing!
'The beauty of The Wager unfurls like a great sail... one of the finest nonfiction books I've ever read' Guardian
'The greatest sea story ever told' Spectator
'A cracking yarn... Grann's taste for desperate predicaments finds its fullest expression here' Observer
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER
From the international bestselling author of KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON and THE LOST CITY OF Z, a mesmerising story of shipwreck, mutiny and murder, culminating in a court martial that reveals a shocking truth.
On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the…
Bruce Songs is an authoritative guide that offers an in-depth exploration of Bruce Springsteen's musical legacy. Covering Springsteen's entire discography, from Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. to Only the Strong Survive, this unique book combines historical context, literary analysis, and meticulous research.
Unlike any other resource, it provides detailed analyses of each album, essays on their historical significance, and a chronological examination of every studio song. Discover the stories behind the recordings and gain insight into Springsteen's creative process.
Rich with contemporary reviews, insider accounts, photographs, and special sections highlighting pivotal moments and key figures, Bruce Songs is an indispensable companion for fans and scholars. It offers an immersive journey through the music of the Boss, making it an essential read for anyone captivated by Springsteen's enduring musical legacy.
