Category: History – Fact & Fiction

Walking Through History – Georgia & Turkey 2023

We explore traditional and classical sites and seldom visited areas.  Originally scheduled for spring 2020, we’re offering these tours starting in April 2023, dependent on pandemic conditions. There are 4 segments which can be combined: Georgia and Northeastern Turkey Southeastern Turkey Lycian Coast light hiking Cappadocia light hiking These can be combined for trips of… Continue reading Walking Through History – Georgia & Turkey 2023

Washington’s Crossing – The 1776 Trenton Campaign

While it could be ripped from today’s headlines, this is actually a book about the American Revolution.  This is an impressive work on many levels.  It’s an excellent history of George Washington’s first year as commander of the Continental army.  It also provides insights into the conduct of the war and the morale of the armies that provided the ultimate success. 

Bernard Cornwell’s The Fort: Revolutionary War Expedition

In July 1779, the Penobscot Expedition, a minor event in Revolutionary War history, took place. That year, the British were drawn to the Penobscot peninsula (Castine) for several reasons: because of its potential as a Loyalist refuge, because of its timber for the King’s navy, and because of its strategic naval position and coastal trade.… Continue reading Bernard Cornwell’s The Fort: Revolutionary War Expedition

Forgotten books of World War II

 I discovered Pipeline to Battle a few years ago, in its original 1943 pocketbook edition, along with yellowed paperback editions of the other books described below.  It’s one of a neglected / forgotten series of books written shortly after the war by mostly lower rank active participants. These give a better overall understanding of World… Continue reading Forgotten books of World War II

Pipeline to Battle – a Memoir of World War II

When the Jasmine revolution of early 2011 erupted, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt returned to the headlines; probably the most active coverage since World War II with the Desert Rats and Rommel’s Afrika Korps.  Libya’s eastern province was known as the Western Desert in World War II since it protected Egypt’s western border.  Throughout the early… Continue reading Pipeline to Battle – a Memoir of World War II

King Hereafter – Dorothy Dunnett’s recreation of Macbeth

The King Hereafter is Dorothy Dunnett ‘s unique retelling of the Macbeth story — actually, most resemblance to Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish Play’ is purely incidental.  Like the revisioning of the Arthur tales by Bernard Cornwell, Mary Stewart and many others, the barebones of what we think we know of the story become mere background whispers. For… Continue reading King Hereafter – Dorothy Dunnett’s recreation of Macbeth

The Road to Wigan Pier – George Orwell on Fascism

Hoard of United States penny coins isolated on table

He realizes that the standard progressive stance fails to see that many of the goals of MAGA are compatible with a progressive program – it’s the higher-level ideology that results in the cause ‘that dares not speak its name ‘– fascism.

Alexander’s Path – Freya Stark

This was the perfect complement to be reading during our hiking trip in Lycia. Challenged by the meagerness of the historical record of Alexander’s progress along the Lycian coast, Stark set out in the 1950s to retrace and discover his most likely trail.  Alexander had come to Xanthos, then after starting to the north, towards Gordium, suddenly made a sharp change of direction towards current day Antalya.