Currently reading Michael Holt’s By One Vote about the 1876 presidential election. The University of Kansas has a whole series on the presidential elections and so far I love it. I’ve found a new respect for Rutherford Hayes and I’ve already ordered Holt’s other book on the 1860 election.

I don’t know if I’ll ever publish my 2022 book reviews since I haven’t found the motivation to write lately. Maybe I’ll get around to it in the New Year. Question for the sub, what books did you get for the holidays?

Could anyone recommend a modern history of Venice? I am reading John Julius Norwich's history, but it is a bit aged (ie uses the blanket term Saracens for all Muslims during the Crusades), and feels like it lacks objectivity on the subject.

Also if any could suggest a book on Eastern Mediterranean diplomacy and spycraft of the Renaissance I would appreciate the suggestion.

I got a lot of the ones I asked relatives for (used copies) so the ones I am most interested for -

A World Undone: The Story of the Great War 1914-1918 by G.J Meyer

The Pike: Gabriele d’Annunzio, Poet, Seducer and Preacher of War by Lucy Hughes-Hallett

Ionian Vision: Greece in Asia Minor 1919-1922 by Michael Llewellyn Smith

Planning Armageddon: British Economic Warfare and the First World War by Nicholas Lambert

The World on Fire: 1919 and the Battle with Bolshevism by Anthony Read

Last two history books of the year. They are those old fashioned massive hardbacks with loads of pictures, as I wanted a clean slate for the history books I got for Christmas. Only really mentioning them as they are my last history books of 2022 and I'm now just reading fiction till next year.

Uniforms and Decorations of World Wars I & II by John Batchelor (Illustrator), Bernard Fitzsimons (Editor)

>2.5/5. Charity shop find. Nothing wrong with it but overall just not for me. Read it very quickly as it is mostly pictures and captions.

>Rather old book, published in the 1970s. 170 pages, one of those big hardcover style books that don't seem to get made nowadays. Collection of artwork depicting the uniforms of soldiers from both the world wars. Surprisingly in-depth as it included many of the colonial troops and for WWI the various Balkan troops. For WWII it also had a section just for ties (which I skipped but it shows the level of detail). Additionally it has pictures of medals, decorations on aircraft, various insignia like all the SS division symbols plus some propaganda posters. There were some diagrams that displayed the unit organisation (division, batallion etc) in an easy to understand way and I did take photos of those so I could refer to them when reading other books. The artwork is decent but dated and the photos, while not that high in quality, are good enough to easily see.

>While it is in-depth and I do like military history, I personally am not that into learning about every single uniform or medal so I didn't get that much out of the book I'll remember but that is on me. If you are into that level of detail this book might be worth a read if you can find a very cheap copy (although there are probably newer easier to find books on the topic with higher quality images considering this book is nearly 50 years old)

Great Battles of World War 1 by Anthony Livesey

>3/5

>Writing was ok, not good but got the point across. Good quality maps and photos despite the age of the book. Decent mix of areas and battles, not just the Western Front. Some subsections with information about specific things like artillery, equipment or short biographies of the generals. But the main content is VERY focused on the operational side of things, very little on the experience of ordinary soldiers or the broader political context.

>Overall, only read on the small chance you see a cheap charity shop copy, not worth specifically seeking out

G-Man :J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century by Beverly Gage

Morgenthau:Power,Privilege, and the Rise of an American Dynasty by Andrew Meier

Russia:Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921 by Anthony Beevor

I heard about G-Man. Apparently, Gage has been working on it for about a decade. How is it so far?

Very professional well written ,I can tell she is going to battle the two views of Hoover as a devil and a God and try to balance it out ,I am fascinated how this balancing act will work..When I finish I will give my opinion how she does.

I’d like to recommend two books by Ben Macintyre: A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal and The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War. In a Spy Among Friends, Macintyre sketches MI5 agent Kim Philby’s treasonous career as a member of the Cambridge Five spy ring. MacIntyre argues that Philby’s treason was personal not just political because it affected his best friend as well as his country. In the Spy and the Traitor, Macintyre outlines KGB officer Oleg Gordievsky’s career as a double agent clandestinely feeding secrets to MI6. Both books are outstanding and offer an interesting look at the Cold War.

Making my way through Troy Senik’s new bio of Grover Cleveland, A Man of Iron, and enjoying it so far. More of a survey course than an in depth reading of his life, but I’m not sure there’s enough here for more than Senik devotes, which is plenty. A fine overview of what by most all accounts seems to be an extremely decent man in an extremely indecent era.

This will likely be the end of my bio jag, and of the three I’ve read in succession I would probably place Senik’s third behind Berg’s Lindbergh and Chernow’s Titan, which might be the best character study of a single person I’ve ever read.

• Women in the Medieval Court: Consorts and Concubines by Rebecca Holdorph
• Iran Under the Safavids by Roger Savory
• The Creation of the French Royal Mistress: From Agnès Sorel to Madame Du Barry by Tracy and Christine Adams

Hello,

I'm interested in finding books about Black people in Lisbon Portugal from 1400-1755 and also books on the Moorish rule of Lisbon until it's end.

Thanks in advance!

One of my favorite history books is Nicholas and Alexandra because it reads like a novel and is very accessible and informative (even if personally I think it veers a little into worshipping the Tsar a bit).

Any recs for similar books? Any subject or time period is fine, I'm just better with easily digestible history books without feeling like I'm studying.

What are your favourite books about ancient Greece? Any time period.

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Seconded. I just finished Spy Among Friends today, really enjoyed it. Absolutely fascinating look at Philby. Really liked Spy and the Traitor too!

Double Cross is still my favorite of MacIntyre’s work.

I’ve never read Double Cross have to take a look at it. If you like spy books Spy: The Inside Story of how the FBI’s Robert Hanssen Betrayed America by David Wise is outstanding you might enjoy it if you haven’t read it already.

Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read that one, I’ll definitely check it out

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Was curious if anyone had some resources on actual dukes and families that were prominent in London during the regency era? I can’t seem to find much on the topic. Maybe I’m just bad at searching lol

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford. Simply amazing telling of the life of Genghis Khan by someone who truly immersed himself in the culture and the secret history of the Mongols. Timujin ftw

He followed that up with Mongol Queens which is also awesome but Genghis Khan is where it’s at, dude was seriously bad ass. Highly recommend.

I'm reading, and loving it - Two Houses, Two Kingdoms by Catherine Harley. This is a history of Britain's relationship with France from 1100 to 1300.

Last week I finished The War of the Roses, by Alison Weir. A history of Britain - Edward III's children and grandchildren and their wars.

I loved that book as well. Especially the book's emphasis on Alexandra.

Just ordered Double Cross from Amazon cant wait to read it!!

Reposting: books on Renaissance and Victorian Architecture in Europe, and books in European fashion history, particularly in France, also Renaissance to present day, with illustrations for reference in both. Thanks in advance, I know it's a bit of a tall order (: