Summer books

[Barrett]

A questition for all you Forumites, actually sort of a poll.
An online friend is laid up for most of the summer, recuperating from a back injury. He asked me for suggested military/historical/manly type "beach books" and of course I had several suggestions including my most recent favorite, last year's "Gates of Fire" by Pressfield, all about the Battle of Thermopolaye.
My pal noted no Revolutionary War books on my list(there hardly are any) and only a couple of WW I (most recently I found "Ghosts of Africa" by Stevenson, a fictional account of von Lettow's E African campaign.) Since "Chattering Spandaus or: Duel Over Douai" is not yet finished (!) anybody care to suggest some WW I novels? I skimmed "A Soldier of the Great War" and found it well written but well, sorta dull. My pal has read AQOTWF, BTW.
I still like "The Eagle's Height" by Elliot, lo these many years ago from Harleyford. Fees, Camels, Snipes, lust, vengeance, and MvR. It doesn't get any better...

[Immo_Frese]

Hi!
I would highly recommend Ernst Jüngers "Storm of Steel" and Martin Middlebrooks "The Kaiser's Battle".

Kind regards, Immo

[Lufbery]

Gates of Fire is an exceptional book! I also have seen that Pressfield has another book out now too.

Revolutionary War: The Bastard by John Jakes, oh and the next one in line too, The Rebels, I think.

Has your friend read Fighting the Flying Circus and No Parachute yet?

-Drew

[Lufbery]

Ack, one more I forgot: Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by T. E. Lawrence. A good World War I book in a little-discussed setting.

-Drew

[Stephanie]

I have thoroughly enjoyed John Buchan's WWI novels, or 'shockers' as he liked to call them:

"The Thirty-nine Steps," "Greenmantle," and "Mr. Standfast." (the latter has a bit of flying in it, too!)

[Immo_Frese]

Ah, just remembered another one: Sebastian Faulks,"Birdsong".

Salute, Immo

Has anyone read: The Great Dogfight of 1918?

[Ira_Silverman]

Hi Barrett:

Three by Derek Robinson come to mind.

GOSHAWK SQUADRON -IMHO an all-time classic,

WAR STORY - not quite as good, but still worthwhile, and

*****Just released and available from bn.com*****

HORNET'S STING - the long awaited prequel to Goshawk Squadron (just received it, haven't read it yet).

I'd also highly recommend Paul Watkins' IN THE BLUE LIGHT OF AFRICAN DREAMS

Not on the same level, but also quite readable is Alan Fisher's RAGE OF ANGELS

And of course, there's always Victor Yeates' WINGED VICTORY.

Hope this helps,

VBR,

Ira

[mike_baram]

It's got to be the book that re-awakened my interest in military history.........
"The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara
One of the best ever written.

Not fiction but enthralling none-the-less: Anything by Lyn McDonald, 1914, 1915, They Called it Passchendaele, To the Last Man (my favorite so far), Somme.