THE SECRET LIFE OF J.EDGAR HOOVER - Anthony Summers

 

A man who abused his position like no other public servant in history.  A vile little man.

TRAITOR KING- Andrew Lownie

 

He was not a traitor, his intelligence was way too limited to even comprehend what an act of treason was.

A vile couple of humans. 

This is a light read, borders on the melodramatic at times but the sources are impeccable.  They were both horrible people, the selfishness is truly epic.

THE MAN WHO MADE IRELAND - Tim Pat Coogan

 

I've spent years trying to understand Irish politics and I'm still no closer even after reading this very interesting biography.

Complex would be understating what Collins was, if he hadn't been assassinated who knows how things would have panned out , but reading this I'm suggesting much of the blood shed 50 years later wouldn't have occurred.

A much easier read than Coogan's book on De Valera.

FRENCH AND GERMANS, GERMANS AND FRENCH-Richard Cobb

A strange wee book, not sure if its a memoir with history thrown in or visa versa.  Its premise is the occupation of France during the two World Wars.  World War One, gets 41 pages so it concentrates on WWII.

It's strange in part that parts of the supposed history are taken from novels written about the time.

Cobb apparently rejected that he was a Marxist but its hard to discern this from the text.

The preface is outstanding, the cover photograph is brilliant.  But, a strange wee book.

 

A HISTORY OF WARFARE - John Keegan

 

A detailed history that starts asking and finishes supporting  "On War" by General Carl Von Clausewitz, that war is just an extension of politics'.

From the stone age to modern times we have the history of man killing man,with the various ways they have devised to do this.  Fascinating reading

THE BATTLE FOR HISTORY - John Keegan

 

A short book about books on the World War II with commentary and criticism.

Added immensely to the reading list. 

THE ORDER OF THE DEATH'S HEAD The Story of Hitler's - Heinz Hohne

 

A fantastic book. The Nazi's were monsters and the SS took it to the next level.

Himmler may have been the head of the SS but Heydich was the prime monster of the entire regime.

Published in 1970 this should be compulsory reading in schools