Harry Stanton Tillotson's 189 page book, The Beloved Spy was published in 1948. The account follows an unlikely character in the well-known story of General Benedict Arnold's betrayal of the American Revolution.
Major John Andre' was well liked by all who knew him, including his American captors. Unfortunately he was captured while out of uniform and using a false name. That led to a death by hanging as a spy.
That much most scholars of the War for Independence probably know. Tillotson delves deeper as he takes a look at Andre's early life, his abortive courtship, and entrance into the military. After a quick move up in the British military machine, Andre' found himself in the middle of a conspiracy with General Arnold that would eventually cost him his life.
The book closes with Andre's remains being disinterred in 1821 and sent back to England to be buried in Westminster Abby.
I found The Beloved Spy to be an interesting and informative read. I have to admit I did not know John Andre' or his meaning to England. Thanks to Mr. Tillotson I think I now have a better grasp of both who he was and what he meant to his country. Anyone interested in the War for Independence would be well advised to read Mr. Tillotson's work.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Book review - Civil War on Western Waters.
I was given Fletcher Pratt's Civil War on Western Waters as a gift some time ago and have just gotten around to reading it. The book was published in 1956 and runs 221 pages with an appendix adding an additional 19 pages of information, mostly fleet rosters and vessel descriptions.
True to the title, Mr. Pratt concentrates his account on naval actions in the west. The eastern theater, blockade, and high seas are mentioned only so much as they effect the west. The deep water navy sails from the pages of the book shortly after the fall of New Orleans. Land forces are only in the book when they are working with or opposing naval units.
Starting with the building of the Union and Confederate navies, the book traces maneuvers, engagements, and personalities from the declaration of war to the battle of Nashville on December 14, 1864. That was the last major engagement involving naval units.
I must say I found Mr. Pratt's work to be interesting. Naval accounts are not usually my area of interest, probably because of my lack of knowledge of the nautical arts. For the most part Pratt does not get involved in the minutia. When he does he explains clearly to the uninformed reader what he is talking about.
The book moves easily along and presents information in a well-written and understandable format. Mr. Pratt also takes time to explain not just the how but the why. Why things done the way they were and what the impact of those actions was on the war in the west and the war as a whole.
If you are looking for a quick and informative read detailing the naval involvement in the Western Theater of the American Civil War or if you are a naval buff who enjoys reading about ships and the men who sail them then Civil War on Western Waters is a book you don't want to pass up.
True to the title, Mr. Pratt concentrates his account on naval actions in the west. The eastern theater, blockade, and high seas are mentioned only so much as they effect the west. The deep water navy sails from the pages of the book shortly after the fall of New Orleans. Land forces are only in the book when they are working with or opposing naval units.
Starting with the building of the Union and Confederate navies, the book traces maneuvers, engagements, and personalities from the declaration of war to the battle of Nashville on December 14, 1864. That was the last major engagement involving naval units.
I must say I found Mr. Pratt's work to be interesting. Naval accounts are not usually my area of interest, probably because of my lack of knowledge of the nautical arts. For the most part Pratt does not get involved in the minutia. When he does he explains clearly to the uninformed reader what he is talking about.
The book moves easily along and presents information in a well-written and understandable format. Mr. Pratt also takes time to explain not just the how but the why. Why things done the way they were and what the impact of those actions was on the war in the west and the war as a whole.
If you are looking for a quick and informative read detailing the naval involvement in the Western Theater of the American Civil War or if you are a naval buff who enjoys reading about ships and the men who sail them then Civil War on Western Waters is a book you don't want to pass up.
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Book review - The Murder of Admiral Darlan.
Peter Tompkins' 272 page The Murder of Admiral Darlan was published in 1965. It covers the time leading up to the Allied landings in North Africa and the immediate aftermath during World War II. The focus of the book is the French role and their internal power struggles.
Leading up to the landings Admiral Jean Darlan was appointed chief of all French military forces by the Vichy government. Despite several conspiracies to prevent it, fighting broke out when the Americans and British landed. Darlan equivocated and tried to play both ends against the middle but eventually swung over to the Allies.
The result was a power struggle between the Free French and the left over Vichy officials. Darlan was assassinated during the showdown. Who exactly was behind the assassination was not clear at first. In typical French fashion it never became totally clear and the punishments for those involved were not consistent.
Tompkins seems to know the players in the drama well. That is probably because he was stationed in North Africa during the landings. Unfortunately I found the book hard to follow. It seemed like there was a lot of backtracking at times. It was not clear if that was a literary device or due to the complicated plots and counter-plots as the French quarreled among themselves.
If the reader is a true student of World War II, or of France, The Murder of Admiral Darlan will probably be of interest. For the rest of us it might be better passed over for other material.
Leading up to the landings Admiral Jean Darlan was appointed chief of all French military forces by the Vichy government. Despite several conspiracies to prevent it, fighting broke out when the Americans and British landed. Darlan equivocated and tried to play both ends against the middle but eventually swung over to the Allies.
The result was a power struggle between the Free French and the left over Vichy officials. Darlan was assassinated during the showdown. Who exactly was behind the assassination was not clear at first. In typical French fashion it never became totally clear and the punishments for those involved were not consistent.
Tompkins seems to know the players in the drama well. That is probably because he was stationed in North Africa during the landings. Unfortunately I found the book hard to follow. It seemed like there was a lot of backtracking at times. It was not clear if that was a literary device or due to the complicated plots and counter-plots as the French quarreled among themselves.
If the reader is a true student of World War II, or of France, The Murder of Admiral Darlan will probably be of interest. For the rest of us it might be better passed over for other material.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Book review - Ashes of Empire.
When I picked up Marguerite Vance's Ashes of Empire from my grandfather's library I was interested to read it. The book covers the ill-fated attempt to set up Maximilian as emperor of Mexico. Since I have read little about this event I took to the book with enthusiasm.
Published in 1959 and running 159 pages the book begins with the courtship of Maximilian and Carlota. From there it traces the path of the political forces leading to Maximilian's appointment as emperor. The book ends with the Maximilian's execution and Carlota going insane from grief.
While not badly written, I found the book to be a disappointment. Instead of the historical account I expected it is a brief overview. The reasons for Maximilian's coronation are reasonably well explained. Nothing of his reign in Mexico or his downfall is. Events are not explained and principle parties are not developed. The result is a rather hazy account where I was left with more questions than answers.
If you are looking for a quick overview of Mexico's encounter with European royalty and don't want to bother with specifics then Ashes of Empire is for you. If you want to delve into the how and why of events then I suggest skipping ahead to a more in depth account.
Published in 1959 and running 159 pages the book begins with the courtship of Maximilian and Carlota. From there it traces the path of the political forces leading to Maximilian's appointment as emperor. The book ends with the Maximilian's execution and Carlota going insane from grief.
While not badly written, I found the book to be a disappointment. Instead of the historical account I expected it is a brief overview. The reasons for Maximilian's coronation are reasonably well explained. Nothing of his reign in Mexico or his downfall is. Events are not explained and principle parties are not developed. The result is a rather hazy account where I was left with more questions than answers.
If you are looking for a quick overview of Mexico's encounter with European royalty and don't want to bother with specifics then Ashes of Empire is for you. If you want to delve into the how and why of events then I suggest skipping ahead to a more in depth account.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Book review - Profiles in Courage.
I have to admit up front I am not a fan of John F. Kennedy so it was with some misgivings I began to read his book Profiles in Courage. The book presents a series of accounts concerning senators in the United States Senate who stood against the odds for what they believed. I could not help but wonder if President Kennedy's personal political views would come into play in selecting the subjects of the book.
The book starts off with a forward by Robert F. Kennedy and an explanation from the author concerning the purpose of the book and discussing the pressures facing senators to compromise their beliefs. Then it proceeds to the profiles. Each section of the book starts with a short explanation of the issues or situation being faced by the nation. Each chapter profiles a senator who took a stand for what he considered to be the right course despite pressure to do the opposite. Some sections contain just one chapter while others have two or three.
The subjects of the chapters range from John Quincy Adams to Robert A. Taft. In between some famous Americans such as Sam Houston and Daniel Webster make appearances. Other forgotten men such as Edmund Ross and George Norris appear as well. Some I was aware of, others were new to me. Some were correct in their views, others clearly incorrect. Some were rewarded for their stands, others condemned and forgotten.
President Kennedy was an excellent writer. I found his accounts of events to be interesting and accurate so far as I could tell. He clearly favored those more in accordance with his own personal political views but that is understandable. He also seems to celebrate courage for courage sake, in spite of warning the reader not to do so. If you keep these in mind you will find Profiles in Courage to be an interesting and informative read.
The book starts off with a forward by Robert F. Kennedy and an explanation from the author concerning the purpose of the book and discussing the pressures facing senators to compromise their beliefs. Then it proceeds to the profiles. Each section of the book starts with a short explanation of the issues or situation being faced by the nation. Each chapter profiles a senator who took a stand for what he considered to be the right course despite pressure to do the opposite. Some sections contain just one chapter while others have two or three.
The subjects of the chapters range from John Quincy Adams to Robert A. Taft. In between some famous Americans such as Sam Houston and Daniel Webster make appearances. Other forgotten men such as Edmund Ross and George Norris appear as well. Some I was aware of, others were new to me. Some were correct in their views, others clearly incorrect. Some were rewarded for their stands, others condemned and forgotten.
President Kennedy was an excellent writer. I found his accounts of events to be interesting and accurate so far as I could tell. He clearly favored those more in accordance with his own personal political views but that is understandable. He also seems to celebrate courage for courage sake, in spite of warning the reader not to do so. If you keep these in mind you will find Profiles in Courage to be an interesting and informative read.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Book review - With Walker in Nicaragua.
James Carson Jamison was one of William Walker's filibusters in Latin America. In 1909 he published a 181 page account of his adventures entitled With Walker in Nicaragua.
Jamison starts off with an overview of how Walker got his start in Nicaragua and the course of events prior to his arrival. He then explains how he enlisted in Walker's force and recounts the battles he was engaged in. An account from a comrade of Walker's final capture and execution finishes out the book.
With little available on Walker's expeditions, I found With Walker to be fascinating. Jamison writes well while splitting the difference between a history and a personal account. He doesn't always explain the over-arching view but does an admirable job recounts the events of William Walker's rise and fall in Central America. He also gives a short account of his reasons for joining Walker.
I found the account interesting and easy to read. Jamison leaves out some dates and other particulars but he is writing 50 years after the fact so the omissions are understandable. What is amazing to me is that he is able to remember as much as he does. For anyone interested in the filibustering period of American history or just wanting to read about an often over-looked historical event, I highly recommend With Walker in Nicaragua.
Jamison starts off with an overview of how Walker got his start in Nicaragua and the course of events prior to his arrival. He then explains how he enlisted in Walker's force and recounts the battles he was engaged in. An account from a comrade of Walker's final capture and execution finishes out the book.
With little available on Walker's expeditions, I found With Walker to be fascinating. Jamison writes well while splitting the difference between a history and a personal account. He doesn't always explain the over-arching view but does an admirable job recounts the events of William Walker's rise and fall in Central America. He also gives a short account of his reasons for joining Walker.
I found the account interesting and easy to read. Jamison leaves out some dates and other particulars but he is writing 50 years after the fact so the omissions are understandable. What is amazing to me is that he is able to remember as much as he does. For anyone interested in the filibustering period of American history or just wanting to read about an often over-looked historical event, I highly recommend With Walker in Nicaragua.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Book review - A Blaze of Glory.
I have to admit up front, I am a fan of Jeff Shaara's work. From his novels to bookend his father's Killer Angels through the other historical novels from the American Revolution to World War 2. Seems like each is a fine work. My one complaint about Shaara's Civil War work is that he wrote only about the eastern theater of the war.
With A Blaze of Glory Shaara renders that complaint moot. In 435 gripping pages he tells the tale of the battle of Shiloh - the first major blood-letting in the west. A quick overview to set the table and the story is off and running. Generals Sherman and Johnston wrestle with issues of command and the morality of the war. An infantryman in Sherman's command and a cavalryman under Colonel Nathan Forrest confront the more common dilemma of staying alive. All join the nation in having the innocence ripped away by the bloody fighting around a small country church.
Shaara does an excellent job in bringing his characters to life. The story flows well for the most part and the sequence of events is clear and understandable. While not a history book, the novel conveys the story of Shiloh in a way that both holds the reader's attention and sparks an interest in learning more. Perhaps the best part is a note on the flyleaf stating A Blaze of Glory is the first of a new trilogy of books on the war in the west. That is good news indeed.
With A Blaze of Glory Shaara renders that complaint moot. In 435 gripping pages he tells the tale of the battle of Shiloh - the first major blood-letting in the west. A quick overview to set the table and the story is off and running. Generals Sherman and Johnston wrestle with issues of command and the morality of the war. An infantryman in Sherman's command and a cavalryman under Colonel Nathan Forrest confront the more common dilemma of staying alive. All join the nation in having the innocence ripped away by the bloody fighting around a small country church.
Shaara does an excellent job in bringing his characters to life. The story flows well for the most part and the sequence of events is clear and understandable. While not a history book, the novel conveys the story of Shiloh in a way that both holds the reader's attention and sparks an interest in learning more. Perhaps the best part is a note on the flyleaf stating A Blaze of Glory is the first of a new trilogy of books on the war in the west. That is good news indeed.
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