EB Bibliography II: What are you currently reading?

700 pages for the classical world? Crikey.

I'm never hugely keen on sweeping works covering large time periods, but I must make an exception for Braudel's The Mediterranean in the ancient world. Long-period works dealing with the geographical and physical context in which events took place were his speciality, and in this particular book he really illuminates the background against which history unfolded itself. It is a bit outdated now, but modern editions do address this somewhat in endnotes. Apart from that it's written beautifully and is a good, accessible start to the history that doesn't often get much of a mention in more popular, event-driven works.

I am reading The Ancient Celts by Barry Cunliffe, and recently read O'Hagain's book on the subject as well. I find those two authors preferable to Peter Ellis, who seems a bit too credulous to my taste.

A question, o EB people - what are some other kickin' rad sources on the ancient Celts?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sarcasm

Man buying a book named "History of Warfare" is just begging for the book to suck :beam: it's a vast subject. My advice to you is, concentrate on a specific subject rather than over-encompassing ones.

Finished Sons of Húrin, so now I'm reading The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf. Slightly biased (of course, he uses Muslim historians exclusively - no offence here, it's just a fact) but so far I'm enjoying the book immensely. Good purchase and not too expensive either.

---

That's the problem with gifts. You don't get to choose them. But again, it's fairly good in medieval/renaissence times.

The Amin Maalouf book is really good I've read every book the man has writen and I'm particularlly fond of his historical novels (best in my opinion Lion: The African). And this book is probably less biased than others because the Arabs give a more neutral aproach to the subject. I have another (if it was only another :sweatdrop: ) book about Crusades called Crusades by Thomas F. Madden... It pretty much adds up to the Maalouf one.


Cheers...

Today I took delivery of-

1. Lords of battle (The world of the celtic warrior) by Stephen Allen, and

2. Shadows in the desert (Ancient Persia at war) by Dr Kaveh Farrokh.

See you in about 520 pages :book:

Cheers,

Quilts

So long as we're on the Crusades kick here, I'd like to recommend Harold Lamb's The Crusades. It's a bit hard to get a hold of nowadays, but a search through Powells's Books or Amazon should net you something.

It isn't historical fiction in the strictest sense, as Lamb stays very close to the written accounts of the period. In fact, it reads more like a very exciting textbook, but it manages to breath life into some of western medieval history's greatest figures.

Both Muslim and Christian forces are dealt with fairly in the book, and it is clear that Lamb admires personalities from both ends of the spectrum.

All in all a very good read, and one that I suggest you pick up should you come across it.

A Savage War of Peace, Alistair Horne :shame:

Well, "Ancient Germanic Warriors" is a wonderful book full of examples how germanics fought even in times B.C. which are normaly sparsely described.
Hope i can use this information for EB...

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.

I know, a little off EB's topic, but nontheless a great work of history that any American, or anyone who wants to understand America's real history, should read.

Lucan's Pharsalia at this time. It took a minute to get use to but I am enjoying It. It kind of reads like the Iliad

Quote:

---

a little off EB's topic

---

Euphemism of the day! :laugh4:

I'm reading Simon Scarrow's "Under the Eagle" series. Pretty nice.

I've just finished The Mycenaeans by Louise Schofield. A very good and most importantly up to date introduction to the Mycenaean culture. I can warmly recommend it to anybody interested in late bronze age greece who doesn't allready have a few books about this topic. The book covers all important areas and is well illustrated with photographs and drawings. I only would have wished thaat some of the more controversial points had been discussed in greater detail, however the bibliography hints at further literature about these.


Other than this book I've read since I posted last time in this thread:


The Spanish Galleon, Osprey, Angus Konstam
Loeb Classical Libary Book 156, containing the surving fragments of the works of three less known greek tacticians Aenas "The Tactician" (4th century BC), (1st century Bc) and Onosander (1st century AD)
The conspiracy of Catiliana, Sallust
Imperium, Robert Harris
The 50 Gun Ship, Ric Winfield: All you have to know about the RN's 50 gun ships. Comes with a seperate fold out plan of HMS Leopard (1799). Really worth every cent.

in the last couple of month i read the Emperor series by Conn Iggulden,Cato series by Simon Scarrow, Master of Rome series by Colleen McCullough (great read) and finally a few books by Michael Curtis Ford (ten thousand, the sword of attila, gods and legions, the last king)

So, I'm reading Charles Stross' The Atrocity Archives. Just 11 pages into the first chapter, I stumble across this:

"...This has several consequences, starting with screwing over most cryptography algorithms - translation: all your bank account are belong to us"

A war like no other, rather good actually.

The perfect king (i think?) by Ian mortimer, about Edward III, I like The Greatest Traitor so this one seemed a must buy.

I am currently trying to find a good book on the different Affinities of the Wars of The Roses, but alas I can find none. I am most interested in the Neville and Percy districts of England.

finished "A People's History of the United States",

now onto "Confessions of an Economic Hitman" and "God is not Great".

i´ve read recently "The Western Frontiers of Imperial Rome" by Steven K. Drummond; Lynn H. Nelson

a lot of interesting details of the frontier society, agriculture, manufacturing, markets, romanization.

this could be very helpful for the (re-)design of gameplay for EBII. :yes:

Now reading War and castros : new approaches to the northwestern portuguese Iron Age by Francisco Manuel Veleda Reimão Queiroga. You can get probably get it in an english speaking country, it's edited by Oxford - Archaeopress.

EDIT: Oh and La guerra en el mundo ibérico y celtibérico (ss. VI-II a.de C.) by Pierre Moret y Quesada Sanz. This one I don't think you can find in any other language but Spanish...which is alright to me, I can read Spanish too, but probably harder for most people here.

Currently reading: Pride of Carthage by David Anthony Durham

Just finished listening to: Imperium by Robert Harris

About to start listening to: Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome by Steven Saylor

After Roma I will be listening to: Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor by Anthony Everitt

Currently reading: Maier, Ferdinand :"Das Heidetränk-Oppidum
-Topographie der befestigten keltischen höhensiedlung der Jüngeren Eisenzeit bei Oberursel im Taunus"
(Yea, germans like long subtitles) Description of the remnanats of large (150 ha) celtic Oppidum just north of Frankfurt, so almost in my "neibourhood, flourishing in the last 3 centuries BC.

Just finished Goldsworthy, Adrian: "The Roman Army at War -100 BC -200 AD"

I just finished conn iguldens books the emperor series about the rise and fall of julius caesar its brilliant some people might not think it is 100 percent historical as caesar normally walks into a situation with nothing and ends with everything any conn igulden book is awesome:2thumbsup:

I have just finished Gisbert Heaf's Ceasar, and am now reading again the Otherland Series by Tad Williams...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

"The Normans in Sicily" by John Julius Norwich

---

Ahh read his Byzantium trio, very, very good writer.
I wondered how good this title might be.

You heard about his new massive work? A history of the medditeranian, sounds epic.

Plutarch's Parallel Lives, Suetonius's Lives of the Caesers, and the Illiad.

I'm currently reading The Romans for Dummies by Guy de la Bedoyere. Informative, but not a PhD thesis, so it's perfect for any average person interested in the Roman Empire.:book:

I'm also planning on reading Mario Puzo's The Sicilian, because I love the Godfather:2thumbsup:

Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series is an enjoyable read aswell......200 years too late, but hey, you can't go wrong with some Saxon vs Viking action!

(The first book is called The Last Kingdom, if I remember correctly)

Steven Pressfield's THE AFGHAN CAMPAIGN is my current read.
It's about Alexander the Great's 3 yr struggle to subdue the tribes, so he would have a secure supply route when invading India.

It's particually interesting at the moment, because my EB campaign as the Seluekids means I am fighting in this territory.

It brings to life the Mod so much more when you read about the remoteness of the place, and just reading the names of the places, and then finding them on EB's map. It makes more sense when it takes me ages to get troops through the 'wilderness'.

@ Digby Tatham Warter: I am having a similar experience now that I'm reading A Brief History of The Celts. While campaigning in Gaul, I have a raised respect for the Aedui and the Arverni.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Owen the Mighty

Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series is an enjoyable read aswell......200 years too late, but hey, you can't go wrong with some Saxon vs Viking action!

(The first book is called The Last Kingdom, if I remember correctly)

---

Yes, The Last Kingdom was the first one in the series. Very good series i happen to come across in my local library and was pleasantly surprised. If your into historical fiction you may enjoy this series as it depicts The Danes vs. The Saxons in England during the time of Alfred The Great.
Good entertaining read.

Also just finished The Spartans by Paul Cartledge. It was...ok. However, i could see where some would find it difficult to sit thru unless your really interested in the subject matter.