Difference between revisions of "Top Ten History Books of 2013"
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|author=Christopher de Bellaigue | |author=Christopher de Bellaigue | ||
|title=Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Very British Coup | |title=Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Very British Coup | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary= An account of the life of Muhammad Mussadegh who became Prime Minister of Iran after the Second World War. This 72 year-old man presided over the nationalisation of his countries oil resources. Consequently the British and American Intelligence services launched a coup to remove him. Very useful reading for those wanting background on the current Iranian situation. | |summary= An account of the life of Muhammad Mussadegh who became Prime Minister of Iran after the Second World War. This 72 year-old man presided over the nationalisation of his countries oil resources. Consequently the British and American Intelligence services launched a coup to remove him. Very useful reading for those wanting background on the current Iranian situation. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0099540487 |
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|author=Jung Chang | |author=Jung Chang | ||
|title=Empress Dowager Cixi | |title=Empress Dowager Cixi | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary=Jung Chang presents an extensively researched account of the life and times of Dowager Empress Cixi, a monumental figure in both Chinese and world history, responsible for instigating China's transition from medievalism to the modern age. | |summary=Jung Chang presents an extensively researched account of the life and times of Dowager Empress Cixi, a monumental figure in both Chinese and world history, responsible for instigating China's transition from medievalism to the modern age. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0099532395 |
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|author=Margalit Fox | |author=Margalit Fox | ||
|title=The Riddle of the Labyrinth | |title=The Riddle of the Labyrinth | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary=A superlatively readable book that tells of a seemingly dry slice of history with utmost clarity. | |summary=A superlatively readable book that tells of a seemingly dry slice of history with utmost clarity. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1781251320 |
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|author=Peter Hart | |author=Peter Hart | ||
|title=The Great War | |title=The Great War | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary=A thorough account encompassing all aspects of the Great War, discussing how it affected the world scene and the lives of ordinary people. | |summary=A thorough account encompassing all aspects of the Great War, discussing how it affected the world scene and the lives of ordinary people. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=1846682460 |
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|author=Greg King and Sue Woolmans | |author=Greg King and Sue Woolmans | ||
|title=The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Murder That Changed the World | |title=The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Murder That Changed the World | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary= A biography of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, and his wife Sophie, whose assassinations at Sarajevo in 1914 led to the outbreak of the First World War. | |summary= A biography of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, and his wife Sophie, whose assassinations at Sarajevo in 1914 led to the outbreak of the First World War. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0230759572 |
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|author=Jo Marchant | |author=Jo Marchant | ||
|title=The Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy | |title=The Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary=Jo Marchant delves into the history surrounding one of the greatest discoveries of all time and looks to science to answer some of the big unanswered questions about Tutankhamen. | |summary=Jo Marchant delves into the history surrounding one of the greatest discoveries of all time and looks to science to answer some of the big unanswered questions about Tutankhamen. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0306821338 |
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|author=J C Masterman | |author=J C Masterman | ||
|title=The Double Cross System | |title=The Double Cross System | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary= Leave reading West's introduction to the end and dive straight into Masterman's formal (but highly readable) report into the activities overseen by the XX Committee for intriguing insights into some of the real successes of WW2 ~ and some of the ideas that came to nothing. West's introduction makes much more sense reading it after you have some idea of what he's talking about. A fascinating historical document that still resonates with what might just be still going on today. Recommended. | |summary= Leave reading West's introduction to the end and dive straight into Masterman's formal (but highly readable) report into the activities overseen by the XX Committee for intriguing insights into some of the real successes of WW2 ~ and some of the ideas that came to nothing. West's introduction makes much more sense reading it after you have some idea of what he's talking about. A fascinating historical document that still resonates with what might just be still going on today. Recommended. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0099578239 |
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|author=Ian Mortimer | |author=Ian Mortimer | ||
|title=The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England | |title=The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary= A social history that vividly evokes the reality of how it would have been for people of all walks of life to live in the England of Queen Elizabeth. | |summary= A social history that vividly evokes the reality of how it would have been for people of all walks of life to live in the England of Queen Elizabeth. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0099542072 |
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|author=Tom Reiss | |author=Tom Reiss | ||
|title=The Black Count: Glory, revolution, betrayal and the real Count of Monte Cristo | |title=The Black Count: Glory, revolution, betrayal and the real Count of Monte Cristo | ||
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Fascinating tale of an almost-forgotten hero. Huge recommendation. | Fascinating tale of an almost-forgotten hero. Huge recommendation. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0099575132 |
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|author=A T Williams | |author=A T Williams | ||
|title=A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa | |title=A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa | ||
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|genre=History | |genre=History | ||
|summary=Revelations about 26-year-old Baha Mousa, whose severely bruised body that have, since his death in 2003 while being questioned by British troops in their Basra base, become one of the most notorious matters to emerge out of the Allied occupation of Iraq. A prizewinning, lucid, forensic account. | |summary=Revelations about 26-year-old Baha Mousa, whose severely bruised body that have, since his death in 2003 while being questioned by British troops in their Basra base, become one of the most notorious matters to emerge out of the Allied occupation of Iraq. A prizewinning, lucid, forensic account. | ||
| − | | | + | |isbn=0099575116 |
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Latest revision as of 10:05, 3 February 2024
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Review ofPatriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Very British Coup by Christopher de BellaigueAn account of the life of Muhammad Mussadegh who became Prime Minister of Iran after the Second World War. This 72 year-old man presided over the nationalisation of his countries oil resources. Consequently the British and American Intelligence services launched a coup to remove him. Very useful reading for those wanting background on the current Iranian situation. Full Review |
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Review ofEmpress Dowager Cixi by Jung ChangJung Chang presents an extensively researched account of the life and times of Dowager Empress Cixi, a monumental figure in both Chinese and world history, responsible for instigating China's transition from medievalism to the modern age. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margalit FoxA superlatively readable book that tells of a seemingly dry slice of history with utmost clarity. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Great War by Peter HartA thorough account encompassing all aspects of the Great War, discussing how it affected the world scene and the lives of ordinary people. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Murder That Changed the World by Greg King and Sue WoolmansA biography of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire, and his wife Sophie, whose assassinations at Sarajevo in 1914 led to the outbreak of the First World War. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Shadow King: The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy by Jo MarchantJo Marchant delves into the history surrounding one of the greatest discoveries of all time and looks to science to answer some of the big unanswered questions about Tutankhamen. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Double Cross System by J C MastermanLeave reading West's introduction to the end and dive straight into Masterman's formal (but highly readable) report into the activities overseen by the XX Committee for intriguing insights into some of the real successes of WW2 ~ and some of the ideas that came to nothing. West's introduction makes much more sense reading it after you have some idea of what he's talking about. A fascinating historical document that still resonates with what might just be still going on today. Recommended. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian MortimerA social history that vividly evokes the reality of how it would have been for people of all walks of life to live in the England of Queen Elizabeth. Full Review |
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Review ofThe Black Count: Glory, revolution, betrayal and the real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom ReissWinner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography 2013 Fascinating tale of an almost-forgotten hero. Huge recommendation. Full Review |
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Review ofA Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa by A T WilliamsRevelations about 26-year-old Baha Mousa, whose severely bruised body that have, since his death in 2003 while being questioned by British troops in their Basra base, become one of the most notorious matters to emerge out of the Allied occupation of Iraq. A prizewinning, lucid, forensic account. Full Review |
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