What are you reading right now?

[Oberfrankengamer]

Well, i've started reading "Die Wölfe und der Admiral" by Wolfgang Frank for the 3th time, a really awesome book

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD!

[Sailor Steve]

I just recieved my copy of Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships: 1922-1946. I now have a complete set, save for the modern ones, which I don't want. I may get the last one sometime in the future, but it can wait.

[Egan]

Last night I started reading Richard O'Kane's 'Clear the Bridge' which I finally acquired a copy of over the weekend - a lovely hardback edition at that. Have been enjoying a leisurely re-read of 'Wahoo' over the last week or two so have been looking forward to getting stuck into this one.

[Egan]

Originally Posted by Wxman

And just before that I re-read I, Claudius, and Claudius, The God (both by Robert Graves).

Quite possibly my favourite novel (I tend to think of them as volumes of the same book.) Anyone with even a passing interest in the ancient world should read them. The same goes for Count Belisaurius, also by Graves.

I heard an interesting rumour a while ago that the scriptwriters who wrote the TV series 'Rome' are working on a new show based on 'I Claudius'. that was a while ago, and it might be nonsense, but it would the perfect logical step from where Rome finished.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Egan

Quite possibly my favourite novel (I tend to think of them as volumes of the same book.)

Mine too. I intend to reread it if I ever get my storage cleaned out.

Anyone with even a passing interest in the ancient world should read them. The same goes for Count Belisaurius, also by Graves.

I haven't read that one.

I heard an interesting rumour a while ago that the scriptwriters who wrote the TV series 'Rome' are working on a new show based on 'I Claudius'. that was a while ago, and it might be nonsense, but it would the perfect logical step from where Rome finished.

That is interesting. The original is wonderful, as long as you don't mind it being shot on a sound stage. A new version would be most welcome.

[Egan]

Belisarius is set in Byzantium in the reign of Justinian, in the 6th century. It's quite a different story, being about a general rather than an emperor but it's well worth a read if you can find it. My interest in it was piqued by some amazing mosaics in a church in Ravenna a few years ago. They contained portraits of Justinian, his wife Theodora and members of the court including Belisarius. He reconquered North Africa and Rome for the empire and what he achieved is on a par with the great generals of the past at least, and, given the problems he faced, they probably exceed many of the Roman deeds of antiquity. In the end he fell out of favour with Justinian and, IIRC, was blinded by him.

If you like Graves I also recommend his memoir of the first world war, particularly as they tie in with those of Sigfried Sassoon in several places (the two of them being close friends.)

[Sailor Steve]

I know who Belisarius was. I just hadn't read Graves' book.

[Egan]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I know who Belisarius was. I just hadn't read Graves' book.

I think there was a recent biography of him as well. Can't remember the writer,though.

[STEED]

The Killing of Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich
By Callum Macdonald

The Terrible price paid to rid the world of this evil man was far to high.

[Sailor Steve]

Well, I'm still not reading anything, at least not like I did five years ago.

On the other hand I got another new reference in the mail today. Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting, by John Campbell (author of Naval Weapons of World War Two and a whole lot of great articles for Warship). It's a detailed look at the battle itself, showing all ship movements, ammunition expenditures and a precise study of where each shell landed and what damage was done. Many people prefer books that talk about Beatty and Jellicoe and Scheer. This one suits me fine.

I have a copy in paperback, but it fell apart about the third time I read it.

[Sailor Steve]

Today the mail brought an actual reading book. I got the first in Conway's History of the Ship series: The Earliest Ships. It covers the oldest discovered hulls and traces the development of the boat into the ship, ending with oared galleys and Viking ships. It looks like fun.

[STEED]

Now reading..


World War II: Behind Closed Doors - Stalin, the Nazis and the West
By Laurence Rees

[Egan]

Originally Posted by STEED

The Killing of Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich
By Callum Macdonald

The Terrible price paid to rid the world of this evil man was far to high.

It's an interesting book. The movie Operation Daybreak was on TV a couple of months ago and I hadn't seen it in a long time. Not bad but not great either. As for the price paid by the Czechs, I was alway under impression that Price was part of the reason for the assassination was the brutality the Allies knew would come would shake the Czechs into greater resistance.

But I agree with what you said: The Nazi reprisals were horrific.

There is a photo taken before the war of a number of very senior SS staff taken at some gathering. The likes of Himmler and Theodore Eike are all there. Standing there in there stupid trousers and boots, with half-drunk leers on their faces - and almost without exception - they just look like a bunch of idiots. All except for Heydrich, that is, he just looks like the embodiment of evil. Just this awful, nasty look on his face that kind of shines out of the picture.

Have you ever seen 'Conspiracy' -the TV play about the Wansee Conference?

[Esanssi]

Originally Posted by STEED

The Killing of Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich
By Callum Macdonald

The Terrible price paid to rid the world of this evil man was far to high.

Does the book mention at all the possible usage of a biological weapon during the assassination?

Right now I'm reading Imperium by Robert Harris and Das Boot by Lothar-Günther Buccheim. Both are insanely good reads. I was especially awestruck by how good Imperium is. Didn't think ancient Rome would've interested me this much, but it does.

Harris' writing style just appeals to me(longtime fan of Fatherland).