What are you reading?

[Deadmanwade]

Hi all,

As I get more into historical gaming, I find that (aside from the time and resources to assemble massive armies of figures) the one thing I lack is historical knowledge having never studied much history beyond the GCSE/High School level. So, to catch up, I have been trying to read more about the periods that catch my attention. Having just finished 'Rifles' by Mark Urban, which I found fascinating, and a short biography of the Duke of Wellington from the British Library, I am looking around for more sources of information about the Peninsular War and Waterloo.
I have a copy of 'The Man Who Broke Napoleon's Codes,' also by Mark Urban to read next, but after that I'm not sure what to look for. I like books which have an easy to follow writing style and a bit of a narrative to them rather than history textbooks and I am interested in the AZW and WW2 as well. Any suggestions would be most appreciated*.

So what are you reading and how is it?

*Of course, stuff like Sharpe is also acceptable.

[Thaddeus]

As part of my research for my Rzeczposplita vs Cossacks project, I just finished reading the novella Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol. It's pretty inspiring, and has some characterful detail that nicely confirms other sources ("trousers wide as the Black Sea" indeed!). The depiction of the character Yankel is rather unfortunate, but I suppose the antisemitism is historically accurate, and Gogol's own era was hardly better. I also plan to re-read his short story "A Terrible Vengeance", though that's fantastic enough that it applies more to Witchfinder General than Pike & Shotte. One of these days I'll also read With Fire and Sword, to get the Polish side of the story.

I'm not much for Napoleonics (read a Sharpe book once, but that's it unless you count coloring books...) so I'm afraid I can't help you there.

[Chilledenuff]

Asterix and the Golden Sickle. Researching celts

[steharan]

Commando omnibus in preparation for Bolt Action. Oh and continually reading any Simon Scarrow and Conn Igguldons Emperor series. Also highly recommend Antony Beevors D-Day book for anyone interested in the pre invasion and subsequent battles up to D-Day +30

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Orlando Figes' 'Crimea'.
Just started but it seems very good and far less dry than other books on the Crimean War.

'Dudley's Fusiliers', British military pulp par excellence but I love it.

And sadly I have to confess I got the 'Commando Comics' iPhone app and every new issue appears magically on my mobile

Cheers

SP

[Lucius Vorenus]

On the fiction side of things I am reading Simon Scarrow's The Eagle in the Sand at the moment on train/bus etc.

When not travelling I am reading The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes, which I received recently as a fantastic birthday present.

On the non-fiction side I recently read two Ospreys, Armies of the Irish Rebellion 1798 and Napoleon's Line Infantry.

Next up, Roman Britain by Guy de la Bédoyère.

[Undave]

I've just finished a bit of a Sharpe marathon, Tiger to Company, but before that I've been battling through "A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses" in between reading other historical novels.

The "Brief History" series are kind of a mixed bag from different authors in different styles and with varying quality. The Viking one was very good, easy to follow and a nice clear writing style. The Roses one is less stellar as it ostensibly focusses on several characters on the periphery of the conflict and tells it from their point of view. It starts off doing this but it soon goes off on a tangent and several chapters don't seem to feature the named person at all. It meanders through the conflict not really sticking with any particular person and not introducing new ones very well. It's not the easiest period to explain but I can't recommend this book for doing it very well.

If you want a really good historical read with a bit of a laugh thrown in try "1000 Years of Annoying the French" by Stephen Clarke. It probably won't help you plan many wargaming projects but it's a fantastic book.

[Chesh]

I've just finished a bit of a Sharpe marathon, Tiger to Company, but before that I've been battling through "A Brief History of the Wars of the Roses" in between reading other historical novels.

I keep saying I am going to re-read Sharpe again from start to finish. Must of taken me roughly 2-3 years I think with reading some other bits as well inbetween last time.

I have all the novels somewhere (think some are with the old man who started off). I want to convert them all to my Kindle but means re-buying them all and am a bit hummmmmppphh on that idea.

[pbeccas]

The Criminal Investigation Act 2007.

[canadasteve]

Me, Im re-reading Band of Brothers again because it is such an inspiring story.