Tag Archives: History

Book Reviews, Declan Waters, HIstorical

Book Review Shadowplay: Behind the Lines & Under Fire

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Tim Marshall bring a unique view of the Kosovo war following the breakup of Yugoslavia

I was at university when the breakup of Yugoslavia occured… and it was a brutal affair. In his book Shadowplay Tim Marshall brings us a journalistic view of the War in Kosovo which occured at the end of the overall conflict.

From the Book

The shattering of Yugoslavia in the 1990s showed that, after nearly 50 years of peace, war could return to Europe. It came to its bloody conclusion in Kosovo in 1999.

Tim Marshall, then diplomatic editor at Sky News, was on the ground covering the Kosovo War. This is his illuminating account of how events unfolded, a thrilling journalistic memoir drawing on personal experience, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with intelligence officials from five countries.

Twenty years on from the war’s end, with the rise of Russian power, a weakened NATO and stalled EU expansion, this story is more relevant than ever, as questions remain about the possibility of conflict on European soil. Utterly gripping, this is Tim Marshall at his very best: behind the lines, under fire and full of the insight that has made him one of Britain’s foremost writers on geopolitics.

Review

Before I begin just a note on this book – despite the cover this is only about the Serbia attacks on Kosovo and not the wider Yugoslav war… The cover is misleading which is unfortunate, but the description on the back is very clear.

This is also a story by a journalist who was there – Tim Marshall. It is not a step by step guide through the conflict, with troop movements, sorties flown, attacks made and defeated. It is about Marshall’s personal experiences and the experiences of those he interviewed. And of course the story of the main political and military leaders of the time.

It’s always a worry when the history I am reading was history I lived through – from the very safe distance of student halls at university. But none-the-less I have broken into the near past to understand more about the war in Kosovo – upsettingly no longer the ‘Europe’s Last War’.

Tim Marhsall is a very good writer, and that comes through throughout this book. His ability to go from large scale, worldwide events and bring in ordinary people and soldiers is brilliant. There is a lot of humanity in here and human emotion – something which is often lacking in purely factual accounts of conflict.

This does mean that he misses some of the detail that you would expect form a book purely about the Kosovo war. But that is definitely not a bad thing.

As with any human story of war, this is also harrowing – and reminds us how close we can be to ‘War in Europe’. And the importance of learning about war so as to learn that it is not a good thing and is to be avoided – although whilst carrying a large alliance with you for protection.

Verdict

Another very interesting book from Tim Marshall, and one I have no hesitation in recommending. As mentioned throughout, it won’t give details of every military engagement but it does provide a feel of what the war was like… and what being in a war means for the innocent population caught in the middle of it.

Harrowing of course, but a good source of information on the conflict.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters, HIstorical

Book Review Wreckers: Disaster in the Age of Discovery

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A look at some of failures of Europeans in their attempts to conquer the world; by Simon Park

I often read non-fiction books on the commute to work (audio books), and until this year rarely reviewed them on Woehammer. And so I found myself listening to Wreckers – Disaster in the Age of Discovery.

From the Book

Wreckers sinks the old narrative of imperialism. In place of swashbuckling adventurers bringing home great riches. We see a series of failures on the part of the Europeans. Christopher Columbus suffers several shipwrecks and dies trying to persuade the world that America was, in fact, China. Vasco de Gama, known as the first European to reach India by sea, was in fact guided across the Indian Ocean by a Gujrati pilot.

Wreckers taps into a thirst for stories of the sea and throws myths we have long been told about European empire-building overboard, transporting readers instead on voyages tragically cut short and introducing them to new characters whose lives illuminate dark spots of a foundational period in world history. By looking at the disasters rather than the accomplishments we get a new and exciting take on history.

Review

Unfortunately, this is definitely a case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover… there are a list of shipwrecks and some of the tales involve them but most of them involve no shipwrecks and no tales of the sea. This most definitely feels like a bait and switch of promising something unique whilst immediately going to Columbus, Vasco de Gama and the Conquistadors.

So the stories will have been heard before and whilst Simon Park tries to shed new light on them, or make it clear where locals helped the Europeans, there is not enough different from other books on the subject. And that is a disappointment as I had hoped for new stories, especially those from a non-British perspective…

But in the end it was mostly covering ground (or sea) that an occasional reader of history like myself has already read.

Verdict

If you need a quick reminder of the flows of the European conquest and colonisation of the world then this does provide a good overview and tries to include the non-Europeans involved. But that often comes across as trying to share any responsibility. I’m sure that isn’t the authors intention but by attempting to bring to light the involvement of others, he absolves the Europeans of the time of some of guilt.

If you are a regular reader of history, there’s little new here to recommend it though.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters

Book Review A Line in the Sand

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A non-fiction history of the middle east by James Barr

I often read non-fiction books on the commute to work (audio books), and until this year rarely reviewed them on Woehammer. But this year I’ve decided to include more non-Warhammer books on the basis that if I find a topic interesting, our readers may do so as well.

So onto a Book Review A Line in the Sand by James Barr.

From the Book

Through a stellar cast of politicians, diplomats, spies and soldiers – including T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle – ‘A Line in the Sand’ tells the story of the short but crucial era when Britain and France ruled the Middle East.

Review

During the first and second world war and the times immediately around those events France & Britain were still keen to maintain and expand their empires. And the Middle East offered them both something they wanted – control of land… and oil.

And so it was, that they agreed to divide the territory of the declining Ottoman Empire between them – by drawing straight lines on the maps and through desert. As most readers will guess & know… this did not go well.

James Barr guides us through this slice of history. He explains the tension between Britain and France between the wars. And guides the reader through the impact of the second world war and the change from rivals to allies. The strained relationship of De Gaulle and Churchill and the actions of TE Lawrence (of Arabia).

This is a tale that many in Britain and France will have heard before. But told here with first hand accounts, superb detail, and with a cadence and detail that keeps the reader interested and reading on.

Knowing where things are now politically in this region, adds a sense of poignancy to it and the reader can’t help but think ‘what if…?’

Verdict

James Barr does a fantastic job here. He tells the stories and actions of all parties in the Middle East and none of the major countries come out of this well. From France & Britain and their arguments over the land and self-governance for the Arab locals, to the USA forcing the end of empire whilst building their own and financing Xionists in the region.

Great book, that answers some of the ‘whys’ behind the current political situations in the Middle East.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters

Book Review A Brief History of Japan

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A non-fiction history by Jonathan Clements

I often read non-fiction books on the commute to work (audio books), and until this year rarely reviewed them on Woehammer. But this year I’ve decided to include more non-Warhammer books on the basis that if I find a topic interesting, our readers may do so as well.

So onto a Book Review A Brief History of Japan by Jonathan Clements.

From the Book

This fascinating history tells the story of the people of Japan, from ancient teenage priest-queens to teeming hordes of salarymen, a nation that once sought to conquer China, yet also shut itself away for two centuries in self-imposed seclusion.

First revealed to Westerners in the chronicles of Marco Polo, Japan was a legendary faraway land defended by a fearsome Kamikaze storm and ruled by a divine sovereign. It was the terminus of the Silk Road, the furthest end of the known world, a fertile source of inspiration for European artists, and an enduring symbol of the mysterious East. In recent times, it has become a powerhouse of global industry, a nexus of popular culture, and a harbinger of postindustrial decline.

With intelligence and wit, author Jonathan Clements blends documentary and storytelling styles to connect the past, present and future of Japan, and in broad yet detailed strokes reveals a country of paradoxes: a modern nation steeped in ancient traditions; a democracy with an emperor as head of state; a famously safe society built on 108 volcanoes resting on the world’s most active earthquake zone; a fast-paced urban and technologically advanced country whose land consists predominantly of mountains and forests.

Review

Growing up in the 80s, Japan was the success story of the last 2 decades. And going to University in the late 90s I also caught the beginning of Anime and Manga arriving on the shores of the UK in force. My interest in Japan has therefore been with me a while. But, this is the first time I have picked up a book on Japanese history.

Jonathan Clements has lived in Japan and so – whilst a westerner – he does have a good knowledge of Japan and it’s history. He guides us through the main stories within Japan from Prehistoric & Mythical. To the years of Isolation. And onto the Japanese miracle that I referred to above.

By his own admission he doesn’t cover all of history as this would be impossible. So Clements picks stories from each era that reflect the era, and/or provide inspiration for these stories.

All tales are interesting, well selected, and well written. And each one leaves the reader wanting to read more around the subject – a sign of success.

It is, of course, impossible to provide a full history in a 300 page book. But Jonathan Clements gives it a good shot, and you will definitely know more after reading this book than before it. (Unless you are Japanese of course).

Verdict

A great book and introduction to Japan’s history. It’ll provide lots of fun stories to remember, or build a wargame around. And I’ve even decided to buy some toys to paint up!

And as a wargamer, that it is the best positive review I can leave!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters

Book Review A History of the World in 47 Borders

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A non-fiction history by John Elledge

I often read non-fiction books on the commute to work (audio books), and until this year rarely reviewed them on Woehammer. But this year I’ve decided to include more non-Warhammer books on the basis that if I find a topic interesting, our readers may do so as well.

So onto a Book Review The History of the World in 47 Borders by John Elledge.

From the Book

People have been drawing lines on maps for as long as there have been maps to draw on. Sometimes rooted in physical geography, sometimes entirely arbitrary, these lines might often have looked very different if a war or treaty or the decisions of a handful of tired Europeans had gone a different way. By telling the stories of these borders, we can learn a lot about how political identities are shaped. Why the world looks the way it does – and about human folly. From the Roman attempts to define the boundaries of civilisation. To the secret British-French agreement to carve up the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. To the reason why landlocked Bolivia still maintains a navy, this is a fascinating, witty and surprising look at the history of the world told through its borders.

Review

I listened to the audio-book, and it took me a while to get used to the narrator (the author). But I got used to him and he certainly did the ‘surprise/not surprise’ element of the stories well.

This is another wide ranging book taking in the history of borders from 3,000 BCE through to the present day. And including sea, time and space – it’s a big task.

The stories are by necessity short and definitely open to debate and discussion (and likely disagreement) by readers. And there are controversial topics in here including the impact of European empires.

But, despite the large breath of this work, the author succeeds in giving an overview of the origins of our current world (political) map. He includes interesting tales throughout including why the District of Columbia (USA) is a strange shape. And why the Prime Meridian is no longer through Greenwich Observatory.

Verdict

The pacing is good, and the stories are short enough they can be read or listened to in bite-size chunks. Perfect for short and long commutes alike.

It reads a lot like the series of books by Tim Marshall of Power of Geography fame. Despite this similarity John Elledge’s book provides a different view and is well worth reading on it’s own.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters

Book Review – Robots in Space, The Secret Lives of Planetary Explorers

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By Ezzy Pearson

In our occasional series of looking outside the Worlds of Warhammer, I present for your reading pleasure – the story of man’s first explorations into space from M3.20. Written by remembrancer Ezzy Pearson.

Space Robots… a precursor to Warhammer 40k if ever I did see it!

Space may be the final frontier, but we no longer have to explore it on our own… we have robots to go out into the great dark abyss and do our bidding!

Dr Ezzy Pearson brings us the history of these Robots, their adventures, failures and successes. Pearson brings them to life and imbues them with goals and personalities, turning them into remote-human explorers… from those who are destined to die in the atmosphere of planets and moons, to those trundling around long beyond their expected time.

We couldn’t have learnt what we know about Space without these plucky explorers and this book is a superb, heart-felt, and well-written homage to them.

Dr Pearson takes us through the history of Robots in Space with the Moon, Venus and Mars and our solar systems neighbours a little further away – comets, asteroids, and the moons of the Gas Giants. The book covers much I didn’t know and all of it was interesting. It shows the importance of collaboration, teamwork and the army of people who work to get space exploration right… but also reflects on the failures and how the space agencies pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get going on the next mission(s). A moral for us all!

You’ll have to make your own minds up if the Great Expansion or the Wars of Unification were a good thing, but it is always good to know how and where we started, and why Holy Terra is the centre of the galaxy!

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

— Declan

Book Reviews, Declan Waters

Book Review – Erebus, The Story of a Ship

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By Michael Palin

Welcome to Woehammer – have you noticed the lovely feeling of no adverts (ads), no pop-ups and no auto-playing videos? Well, that’s the norm here at Woehammer.

But this is only possible because of our wonderful Patreons. So, some articles over 1 year old will now display our Patreon request at the top of the article… like this one! Don’t worry, we are not adding ads – but if you can afford to donate to the site, we would definitely appreciate it. Membership is available from just £1/month (plus taxes!!)

In our occasional series of looking outside the Worlds of Warhammer, I bring you news of a investigation into ships that went missing trying to find the Northern Passage – written by British National Treasure – Michael Palin.

Palin has made himself into a premier travel writer, but he also has links to the Geographical Society and it is these links that start him looking at the story of Arctic and Antarctic exploration by Britain in the 19th Century – in particular the crews and two small wooden ships – Erebus & Terror.

The story fairly wizzes along at a great pace with exploration, daring and danger throughout. The first of the two expeditions – to the Antarctic – is in most ways a success and as both ships return Palin draws on the historical records to tell the story of this adventure.

When he gets to the doomed Arctic expedition of course, there is less information and less story to tell, but Palin continues to tell it well, and brings us up to date with the searches for the ships since their disappearance on the search for the Northwest Passage.

There are times where the history is replaced with Palin’s anecdotes of travelling to the same places 150 years later, but there is no diminishing of the story for this, and – with Palin’s natural humour – adds to the understanding of the reader.

So, if you’re looking for a book outside the genre and fancy something a bit different you won’t go far wrong with this. I really loved it.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

— Declan

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

Check out the Woehammer Book Review Archive for more reviews!