What Are You Reading At The Moment?

[jainso31]

......and no we shan't go into details Edna

jainso31

[WGVSr]

Originally Posted by jainso31

Ploughing my way through Robert K Massie's tome "Castles of Steel" 865pp .published by Jonathan Cape 2004.To my mind there is a good month of solid reading in it; fortunately-it is surprisingly interesting.Strongly recommended reading for all lovers of the great ships.

jainso31

Interesting, I normally have a book in my desk at work for lunch. I'm about halfway through "Dreadnought". Good book that I haven't read in a while. As Bill & Don point out, it pretty much explains how we ended up in WWI.
Bill

[Hugh Williams]

Originally Posted by WGVSr

Interesting, I normally have a book in my desk at work for lunch. I'm about halfway through "Dreadnought". Good book that I haven't read in a while. As Bill & Don point out, it pretty much explains how we ended up in WWI.
Bill

I've got that book, but I wished I had when I wrote my third year college essay (4,000 words) on the Causes of the The Great War. Mind you, I had some fun digging into German Diplomatic documents. A great book for re-reading and highly recommended.

[INVINCIBLE]

Entirely agree "Dreadnought - Britain, Germany and the coming of the Great War" followed by"Castles of Steel - Britain, Germany and the Winning of the Great War at Sea" by Robert Massie are amongst the very best books covering the whole period from 1900 to 1918. They are very readable in style and certainly well worth the price on Amazon.

[Scatari]

Just finished "Eight Bells and Top Masts: Diaries from a Tramp Steamer" by Christopher Lee

Not naval ... but a wonderful story of a young lad who goes to sea in the late 1950s when, to quote the dust jacket, " ...the old tramping trade was coming to an end at the same time that the British flag was being hauled down on Britain's colonial history."

Highly recommended reading

Tim

[Mitch Hinde]

Hi All

Just had a email from Maritime Books of Liskeard saying that they will shortly have an unspecified number of copies of Janes 2010/11 for sale at the knockdown price of £99. If you want to reserve one give them a ring on 01579 343663.

Mitch Hinde

[Don Boyer]

Only way to get those "latest' Jane's these days! Last "new" issue I saw, Jane's was asking $1,407 for -- there goes the rent money! Fortunately, an online historical sales site had the 2010/11 for $165.00. Buying a Jane's is becoming a once a decade endeavour! Old Fred T. would be amazed at what his little annual of sketches has become...

[barracuda]

Just finished reading Captain Cook: The Seamen's Seaman by Alan Villiers. Excellent book in that the author spent many years on sailing ships and described the technicalities and difficulties of sailing a ship such as Endeavour for the officers and crew, especially being at sea for such extended periods without any possibility of effective maintenance except that which they carried out themselves.

Previously, I was unaware of the books by Alan Villiers, but I shall certainly make an effort to search out and read as many as possible, particularly those about his own experiences at sea such as Cruise of the Conrad. Also, I intend to read his biography by Kate Lance. Can anyone recommend any other of his many books?

Peter

[limeybiker]

Originally Posted by Mitch Hinde

Hi All

Just had a email from Maritime Books of Liskeard saying that they will shortly have an unspecified number of copies of Janes 2010/11 for sale at the knockdown price of £99. If you want to reserve one give them a ring on 01579 343663.

Mitch Hinde

Try your local library book sale or Ebay, got mine for $35.00 shipped
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Janes-Fighti...em4d037c eb5b

[Fairlead]

Just read "Soldier, Sailor and Airman too" - story of "Woody" who joined the RMLI from South Africa, fought in WWI with the Naval Division and the Army before going to sea in a gunnery capacity. He then goes on to become a Royal Marine FAA Pilot before transferring to the RAF where he was a pilot and later a much revered 'controller' in the UK and Malta during WWII. From 2nd Lt to Group Captain over two world wars, this book is the best look at a career in the services that I have had the pleasure to read.

Gordon

[Mitch Hinde]

Hi All

Just started "Forgotten Voices of D-Day" by Roderick Bailey, conversations and anecdotes transcribed from the audio library of the IWM. At least I have learned how the Mulberry harbours got the name.
Picked the book up from local charity shop £1.50.

Mitch Hinde

[johnny07]

Having recently finished Weihaiwei under British rule (The British navy base in North China). I have just started Commander Crabb is alive by J bernard Hutton.
I can't wait till 2057 when they open the file(after 100 yrs.) on this facinating story.

[scouse]

The Bosuns Call and When i was on the Tartar

[scouse]

Originally Posted by johnny07

Having recently finished Weihaiwei under British rule (The British navy base in North China). I have just started Commander Crabb is alive by J bernard Hutton.
I can't wait till 2057 when they open the file(after 100 yrs.) on this facinating story.

Defo dead!!! That's from the last man to see him alive who died a couple of years ago!!!!!

[scouse]

Originally Posted by Don Boyer

Only way to get those "latest' Jane's these days! Last "new" issue I saw, Jane's was asking $1,407 for -- there goes the rent money! Fortunately, an online historical sales site had the 2010/11 for $165.00. Buying a Jane's is becoming a once a decade endeavour! Old Fred T. would be amazed at what his little annual of sketches has become...

I have a copy of 1950/51 janes in excellent condition, for sale!!!

[johnny07]

Originally Posted by scouse

Defo dead!!! That's from the last man to see him alive who died a couple of years ago!!!!!

The last man to see him alive was the man who killed him.

[limeybiker]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jane-s-Fight...em2321bd 4ea3



Jane’s Fighting Ships 1981 – 82 Captain John Moore

Standing at $12.00 44.00 Shipping 4hrs to go.

[derek s.langsdon]

RAF Bomber Command,Reflections of War,Volume 2. ('42-'43) by Martin Bowman (Pen & Sword) £25 . (estimated he will need five volumes to complete comprehensive Bomber Command History,but this volume good on first person stories and pictures).

Lessons from the Top (How successful leaders tell stories to get ahead an stay there) by Gavin Ester of"Newsnight" and other TV/Radio broadcasting---- (Profile Books) £12.99.

dsl
-

[scouse]

Originally Posted by johnny07

The last man to see him alive was the man who killed him.

Or just maybe his non diving Occifer buddy, from the boat in Pompey harbour then???? Who waited for him, never to return ??

[BlackBat242]

Reading Edmund Morris' trilogy on Teddy Roosevelt (now partway through the 3rd volume).

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan. 1979. ISBN 0-375-75678-7.
Theodore Rex. New York: Random House. 2001. ISBN 978-0-394-55509-6.
Colonel Roosevelt. New York: Random House. 2010. ISBN 978-0-375-50487-7.

I am reading the Modern Library (Random House) edition of 2001.

Very interesting reading... especially the revelation that, rather than Teddy's views on Naval matters being influenced by Alfred Thayer Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power upon History as so many popular works claim, it was rather Mahan who formed his thesis after studying Teddy's The Naval War of 1812 (among other books)!

This book was written by Roosevelt in 1980-81, and was published by G. P. Putnam's & Sons in mid-1882. It is notable that he finished the manuscript during the month of November 1881, having won election to the New York State Assembly in the election held at the beginning of November 1881 (the manuscript was delivered to Putnam's 3 December 1881). Teddy was 25 years old.

According to an article published in the New York Tribune on 16 October 1886, a special regulation was in place ordering that "every U.S. Navy vessel must carry at least one copy of The Naval War of 1812 aboard".


Mahan had joined the staff of the Naval War College in 1885, and became its commander in 1886. In a letter to Teddy dated 13 February 1888 Admiral Stephan B. Luce (founder of the Naval War College) said "Your book must be our textbook".

Mahan had even met Teddy and discussed The Naval War of 1812 with Teddy personally before giving his series of NWC lectures that became The Influence of Sea Power upon History!



A current publication can be purchased via Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Naval-1812.../dp/0375754199, or you can download it via Project Gutenberg: http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenb...05/7trnv10.htm

[BlackBat242]

Just to expand the above... Teddy had a habit of, in every book he wrote, and there were scores, expounding on larger themes dealing with his subject matter.

The Naval War of 1812 contained much exposition of the place of a Navy in the larger scheme of international power, and relations between nations... as well as the interlocking of maritime commerce and naval might.

[oldsalt]

Just finished reading HMS Rodney, Slayer of the Bismark & D-Day Saviour.
It was a very good read lots of accounts from various ex-crew. I must say I never thought she only had two prop shafts, HP 45000. same as a destroyer. My only complaint is the author preceeding every HMS with "the", strange how things like that stand out & are so annoying.

[Scatari]

Just finished "HMS Warspite: The Story of a Famous Battleship."

Written by the eminent British naval historian/writer Captain S. W Roskill who served in her as Gunnery Officer/First Lieutenant, then as Commander.

Originally published in 1957 ... my edition published in 1997 as part of the United States Naval Institute's "Classics of Naval Literature" series.

ISBN 1-55750-719-8

A great read for anyone with an interest in the grand old lady.

Tim

[jainso31]

Whilst on holiday-I managed to read Sir Max Hastings' latest 748 pp tome "ALL HELL LET LOOSE" pub.Harper Collins 2011.A work which covers every aspect of WW2 which concentrates heavily on the people involved in that war ,military and civilian.
In my opinion it is a magnificent work-a veritable "tour de force"-powerful and gripping text -a fascinating read.A better primer of this war will be hard to find.
I commend this book to all members interested in WW2

jainso31

[scouse]

Just finished reading The Bosuns call by Hugh Willis..... Funniest book I have ever read