What a selection!! I'm going for The Histories of Herodotus translated by Spider-man. Thieves of State by Sarah Chayes. The Black Death by Philip Ziegler. And Machiavelli's The Prince. And maybe I can squeeze in something else, but it has to be thin and painless.
Thanks Joe : ) Non fiction wise I'll be reading the optimistically titled The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation by Victor D Hanson and also Ultra Processed People by TV pundit Dr Chris van Tulleken and if I get my skates, on The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company by William Dalrymple
Antonia Fraser's biography of Cromwell is brilliant. The trilogy you are thinking of is an ongoing biography being written by Ronald Hutton (the second volume of which I reviewed for Open Letters and on my UA-cam channel). Antonia Fraser's is still the best popular biography written of the great man, though I haven't read it in seven years. It retains pride of place on my shelf. I have never read anything else by her, which is criminal considering how prolific she is. I highly recommend. I have the first volume of Martin Gilbert's book but have never read it. (I have however read his magnificent history of Israel.) I have had Zamoyski's biography of Napoleon on my shelf forever and have never read it, but I have listened to a good chunk of the audiobook. I know he takes a more negative attitude to the splendid Corsican - like Andrew Roberts, I am a dyed-in-the-wool Bonapartist, without apology, and have been since I was ten. The world would be a better place if he'd won. No German nationalism, no Nazism, a stronger version of the European Union, the list goes on. A large bust of him which I purchased during my sojourn in Paris takes pride of place on my desk. Philip Dwyer's biography of him is also marvellous. (I have only read the first volume of it, however.)
What is the funniest/most joyfull book to read this November? Wilde is surely not loved/liked by all people, and whether he was homosexual or not, his works are trully magnificient even today and real legacy for mankind. 👏🏻for Mr Wilde
After rereading some of the really beloved works, it is really hard for me to understand why would anyone be so thrilled with USA, whose ideas and themes are really different from the Brittain and Continent. They have great works, I do not even want to dispute that, but they are just different and it is just not it. It is not that important, but it is astonishing.
I don't understand, If someone assaults me and I jump up and down for reparations, it would be justified for them to say " why haven't other people who have assaulted not have to give reparations?". I'm trying to understand your point.
The person who has assaulted you is not ordered to pay you reparations. They are incarcerated for correction in a prison. If we stretch that thought experiment out so as to faithfully reflect humanity’s use of slavery, then two hundred people have been involved in a bloodbath until the 19th century, so this simplistic and reductive rhetoric helps nobody.
@@JoeSpivey02 I'm sorry if my example is simple and reductive, I did not mean to make this conversation about name calling. It's not about you being smarter than me, I was explaining your theory as I understood it. I still think countries that are able to give reparations, should. I believe it sets a tone for the future of this world to not descend into our pro-slavery past ( Of course, slavery is still a reality today) Regardless, it's important to be sensitive to a people's expression of trauma. They have a right to voice their frustrations, if nothing else.
His take on Napoleon is a really traditional aristocratic one. He looks down on him and his bourgeois hang-ups around sexual morality, emphasizing how "common" his attitudes were. His book is still interesting and worth reading because it focuses less on the military aspects and more on politics, repression, feuds, his personality and insecurities, etc.
What a selection!! I'm going for The Histories of Herodotus translated by Spider-man. Thieves of State by Sarah Chayes. The Black Death by Philip Ziegler. And Machiavelli's The Prince. And maybe I can squeeze in something else, but it has to be thin and painless.
please do show us derbyshire!
I’m reading Napoleon by Andrew Roberts and George Washington by Ron chernow.
Thanks Joe : ) Non fiction wise I'll be reading the optimistically titled The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation by Victor D Hanson and also Ultra Processed People by TV pundit Dr Chris van Tulleken and if I get my skates, on The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company by William Dalrymple
Antonia Fraser's biography of Cromwell is brilliant. The trilogy you are thinking of is an ongoing biography being written by Ronald Hutton (the second volume of which I reviewed for Open Letters and on my UA-cam channel). Antonia Fraser's is still the best popular biography written of the great man, though I haven't read it in seven years. It retains pride of place on my shelf. I have never read anything else by her, which is criminal considering how prolific she is. I highly recommend. I have the first volume of Martin Gilbert's book but have never read it. (I have however read his magnificent history of Israel.)
I have had Zamoyski's biography of Napoleon on my shelf forever and have never read it, but I have listened to a good chunk of the audiobook. I know he takes a more negative attitude to the splendid Corsican - like Andrew Roberts, I am a dyed-in-the-wool Bonapartist, without apology, and have been since I was ten. The world would be a better place if he'd won. No German nationalism, no Nazism, a stronger version of the European Union, the list goes on. A large bust of him which I purchased during my sojourn in Paris takes pride of place on my desk. Philip Dwyer's biography of him is also marvellous. (I have only read the first volume of it, however.)
Cromwell didnt cancel Christmas, the Parliament did, and many ignored it. His worst actions were in Ireland. You'll enjoy the Trollope biography.
What is the funniest/most joyfull book to read this November?
Wilde is surely not loved/liked by all people, and whether he was homosexual or not, his works are trully magnificient even today and real legacy for mankind.
👏🏻for Mr Wilde
The best love story ever?
After rereading some of the really beloved works, it is really hard for me to understand why would anyone be so thrilled with USA, whose ideas and themes are really different from the Brittain and Continent.
They have great works, I do not even want to dispute that, but they are just different and it is just not it.
It is not that important, but it is astonishing.
You're a living caricature.
I don't understand, If someone assaults me and I jump up and down for reparations, it would be justified for them to say " why haven't other people who have assaulted not have to give reparations?". I'm trying to understand your point.
The person who has assaulted you is not ordered to pay you reparations. They are incarcerated for correction in a prison. If we stretch that thought experiment out so as to faithfully reflect humanity’s use of slavery, then two hundred people have been involved in a bloodbath until the 19th century, so this simplistic and reductive rhetoric helps nobody.
@@JoeSpivey02 I'm sorry if my example is simple and reductive, I did not mean to make this conversation about name calling. It's not about you being smarter than me, I was explaining your theory as I understood it. I still think countries that are able to give reparations, should. I believe it sets a tone for the future of this world to not descend into our pro-slavery past ( Of course, slavery is still a reality today)
Regardless, it's important to be sensitive to a people's expression of trauma. They have a right to voice their frustrations, if nothing else.
I didn't catch the word you said when comparing yourself to Oscar Wilde. something with an f? what's that word?
Isn't Zamoyski biased?
His take on Napoleon is a really traditional aristocratic one. He looks down on him and his bourgeois hang-ups around sexual morality, emphasizing how "common" his attitudes were. His book is still interesting and worth reading because it focuses less on the military aspects and more on politics, repression, feuds, his personality and insecurities, etc.
@@Richard.HistoryLit he has on an opinion on the Corsican upstart which differs from the historical consensus. Most terrible I know!
@@JoeSpivey02 The mystery continues!