Another great piece 👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you very much for that plug😁 Lao-tse

Had written a piece on it as well. May be of interest.

www.theperfectvoice.in/post/hirohit...

Yes. Vivid immediacy. For all the 'sophisticated' analysis of later histories, these old tomes were in a different league on the parameters you mention. The unjustly maligned 'Japan's Imperial Conspiracy' (1971) by David Bergamini is another one that springs to mind immediately.

Yes indeed. Have mentioned May's 'Strange Victory' in my piece; most fascinating book especially from the intelligence point of view.

As Laurence will testify, we all miss you terribly on 'X', dear Simon, rotten though the site may be! I hope you are fine. Wish you good health and some great reads for 2024.

Excellent James! Embers is very good indeed...others have caviled about some minor errors in the JFK biog, but it is set to be the new benchmark on the subject.

It may chime in (mildly) with your academic reading on the Indian-Pacific war theatre; has all the classic MacLean trademarks, though falls a good head short of 'Guns'. Apparently was to be filmed with Alec Guinness. Either way, everything by AM till Bear Island (1971) ought to be devoured, i think.

Wunderbar! The smashing lady has come up with a smashing purchase! Thank you dear Chez, this pic has made my day after failing to keep dreary work and mediocre bosses at bay. Despite being from MacLean's vintage period, remember buying and reading SBJH relatively late, in 1999 I think, my 10th AM.

The Hitler opuses,'Fateful Choices', 'To Hell and Back' (Europe 1914-49) - all were amazing as was 'Rollercoaster' (Europe 1950-2017) despite cavils.You'll find breakers exceed makers, though in a sense, all of them remade Europe excepting Kohl, who carried forward a thing already set in motion.

I was about to say the same. Lovely cover! Thank you for that info nugget:)