The book I am reading
- Thread starter moi
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Five Up: A Chronicle of Five LivesIn World War II Laddie Lucas became famous as a legendary fighter ace, and at the age of just twenty-six led the top-scoring 249 Squadron during the Battle of Malta. Later he commanded a Spitfire wing and led a Mosquito squadron operating in support of the Allied armies advancing through Europe. Before that he had achieved international honors on the golf circuit and had carved out a successful career as a Fleet Street journalist. Following the end of the war he served as a Conservative MP for nine years and later wrote numerous bestselling books based on his exemplary war service.
Next up. This book, came across it yesterday when looking for another book!
PloKoon13
I don't like that kind of talk
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The book features this comment from Arthur Schwartz, director of Night and Day (the film about Porter's life to date), which rather sums up the issue with a Cole Porter biography:
Stakes lacking perhaps, I did at least enjoy the name-dropping. I have since purchased the collected works of Dorothy Parker. She, and all of us, have benefited from the fight against censorship that Cole was such an ardent part of. Now that we no longer clutch our pearls at the glimpse of stocking, God knows that anything goes!
And while I have the excuse...
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Just finished ‘The Will of the Many’ by James Islington, the first in the Hierarchy series.
If anyone’s into their Fantasy books I can’t recommend this highly enough, 600+ pages but flew through it in 3 days. I’d say one of the most perfectly paced books I’ve read in a long time.
If anyone’s into their Fantasy books I can’t recommend this highly enough, 600+ pages but flew through it in 3 days. I’d say one of the most perfectly paced books I’ve read in a long time.
dermott
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Ginzburg published this in 1942. Joined the Communist Party in the 30s against Fascism. Jewish, her first husband was tortured to death by the Fascists at the height of anti-Semitism. She ended up as an independent member of the House of Deputies in the 80s. Lovely writer especially on the ins and outs and intrigues of families. Best of all, for anyone who has Italian as a second language, she writes simply and economically when, generally speaking, Italians won't write 10 words when they can write 1000.
From 2004.
Midge Ure is one of the most successful and innovative musicians of the last 25 years. With his band Ultravox, Midge consistently combined massive popular chart success with crediblitly, influence and respect.
On 25 November 1984, Midge spearheaded one of pop music's most historic events when 36 artists, collectively known as Band Aid, recorded 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', a song Midge had written with Bob Geldof in response to the famine in Ethiopia. Produced by Midge, the single sold over 3 million copies in the UK and led to Live Aid, the 1985 concert which featured the world's greatest music acts and raised millions for charity.
In 2004, 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was back at the top of the charts and in 2005 a global audience watched the world's biggest artists at the Live 8 concerts.
In this fully updated edition, Midge Ure candidly gives his side of the story of Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 and talks honestly about his rise to fame and his collaborations with some of the greatest figures in music.
If I Was...is a true testament to the talent and energy of a man who remains as vibrant today as when he first set out to become a musician
Boyne
We Are The People
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A shame that family politics stopped Park receiving the credit he deserved. I think that we've all probably worked with people we didn't get on with but paid credit where it was due.
I'll need to double check but as far as I know the only RAF personnel from WW2 who have statues in London are Dowding, Harris and Park. There are also memorials to squadrons and commands in London and beyond.
Boyne
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Finished this book the other day. A very good overview of the period 1292 to 1492, There are plenty of books which give more in-depth accounts of people e.g. Henry V and battles e.g. Poitiers but as already mentioned the book gives a good overview and mostly covers the area from a French viewpoint and France's relationship with not only England but also neighbouring provinces e.g. Burgundy and Brittany and also Spain and Scotland. The book starts with how the relationship - good and bad - between France and England started i.e. just before the Norman Conquest and through the reigns of English Kings from William the Bastard or Conqueror to Edward I.
Much has been written from the English victories e.g. Agincourt but in the end the French were victorious and England lost all possessions in France with the exception of Calais and the surrounding area. The failure of England in France was a major contributory factor in what became known as the Wars of the Roses.
Worth reading.
Boyne
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Finished this book today.
A good book which mainly as the title suggests is about the death of William the only legitimate son of Henry I in 1120 and the subsequent problems e.g. the Civil War between Henry's daughter and Matilda and his nephew, Stephen and the Anarchy in the latter's reign.
The book touches upon the invasion of France by Norsemen in the early 10th century and taking over the area which would be known as Normandy and that territories relationship with French kings. The Norman conquest is mentioned and the reigns of William I and William II and Henry's possible involvement in the death of his brother William II and his turbulent relationship with his other brother Robert who had been promised the territory of Normandy. Henry I was granted England but both he and Robert wanted both territories. That led to conflicts and dragging in France and other territories e.g Maine.
Henry's ambition was to introduce strong but fait government in England and employed men on merit rather than wealth and status. Roger of Salisbury is a good example and he was put in charge of the Exchequer. Henry wanted to pass on a strong and secure kingdom to William but that was derailed by William's death in 1120. Henry was encouraged to remarry - his first wife, Matilda had died a few years before - so he could have another son. That wasn't to be. The leading nobility and churchmen were asked to pledge allegiance to Matilda and accepting her as Henry's successor but soon after his death some switched allegiance to her cousin Stephen, one of the reasons being that Anglo-Normans couldn't or wouldn't accept a queen. In the end Matilda was the winner as it was agreed that her son would succeed Stephen on his death and that son would be Henry II. Henry II's reign and his relationships with his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine and his sons makes for great reading and study.
A good book which mainly as the title suggests is about the death of William the only legitimate son of Henry I in 1120 and the subsequent problems e.g. the Civil War between Henry's daughter and Matilda and his nephew, Stephen and the Anarchy in the latter's reign.
The book touches upon the invasion of France by Norsemen in the early 10th century and taking over the area which would be known as Normandy and that territories relationship with French kings. The Norman conquest is mentioned and the reigns of William I and William II and Henry's possible involvement in the death of his brother William II and his turbulent relationship with his other brother Robert who had been promised the territory of Normandy. Henry I was granted England but both he and Robert wanted both territories. That led to conflicts and dragging in France and other territories e.g Maine.
Henry's ambition was to introduce strong but fait government in England and employed men on merit rather than wealth and status. Roger of Salisbury is a good example and he was put in charge of the Exchequer. Henry wanted to pass on a strong and secure kingdom to William but that was derailed by William's death in 1120. Henry was encouraged to remarry - his first wife, Matilda had died a few years before - so he could have another son. That wasn't to be. The leading nobility and churchmen were asked to pledge allegiance to Matilda and accepting her as Henry's successor but soon after his death some switched allegiance to her cousin Stephen, one of the reasons being that Anglo-Normans couldn't or wouldn't accept a queen. In the end Matilda was the winner as it was agreed that her son would succeed Stephen on his death and that son would be Henry II. Henry II's reign and his relationships with his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine and his sons makes for great reading and study.
Next up.
Paperback edition from Oct 2007.
Picked this copy up for a mere £1.00 in a local charity shop!
I’ve got the hardback copy up in the loft.
Drawing material from the Imperial War Museum's extensive aural archive, Joshua Levine brings together voices from both sides of the Blitz and the Battle of Britain to give us a unique, complete and compelling picture of this turbulent time.
In June 1940, British citizens prepared for an imminent German onslaught. Hitler's troops had overrun Holland, Belgium and France in quick succession, and the British people anticipated an invasion would soon be upon them. From July to October, they watched the Battle of Britain play out in the skies above them, aware that the result would decide their fate. Over the next nine months, the Blitz killed more than 43,000 civilians. For a year, the citizens of Britain were effectively front-line soldiers in a battle which united the country against a hated enemy.
We hear from the soldiers, airmen, fire-fighters, air-raid wardens and civilians, people in the air and on the ground, on both sides of the battle, giving us a thrilling account of Britain under siege. With first-hand testimonies from those involved in Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, Black Saturday on 7th September 1940 when the Luftwaffe began the Blitz, to its climax on the 10th May 1941, this is the definitive oral history of a period when Britain came closer to being overwhelmed by the enemy than at any other time in modern
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Finished ‘The English & Their History’ by Robert Tombs recently after going back to it over the past few weeks.
Fascinating look at the development of the country over the centuries. Would be nice to say we’ve come a long way but…
If anyone wants the copy I’m happy to post it out as I don’t have space on the bookshelf, just drop us a message.
All Barco no bite
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Post it to me, first class.
Clearlake Cartel
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There aren’t that many pictures in it. Will you be OK?