Hello all. This is the first article to be published of what's going to be a regular feature on the blog, where I'll be talking about and reviewing military history books, nonfiction and fiction, aswell as interviewing some prominent military history authors. As most of us here are wargamers, it doesn't stretch the imagination to much to believe we also enjoy reading military history, aswell as our gaming hobby. They are very good bed fellows. I have a decent collection of WWI and WWII books nonfiction and fiction and intend to review as many as I can (well, at least my favourites).
I actually owe a lot to books in general, when I was about seven, I still couldn't read properly, but with extra help at school, I finally got it, it helped greatly that I had fallen in love with books and reading. At the time it was the fantasy genre that got me hooked. So by the time I was eleven I had read the Hobbit and had moved on to The Lord of the Rings! Then in later years I started reading military history, both fiction and nonfiction, with a strong preference for memoirs (esp WWI West front or WWII East front). It felt that being able to see in my mind's eye what the author saw, I in some way kept them alive, when most likely, they had died many years ago. I find it totally enthralling. It was the closest I was going to get to those moments in history where a man was pushed to the limits of endurance, and yet at the same time 'felt' more than those who had never been to War. Unbreakable bonds were forged between comrades, an intense feeling of trust and love, created in the furnace of War, as well as an intense feeling of being alive whilst surrounded by death. Yet nerves were stretched so much that many broke, leaving behind shattered wrecks. The front line was a place where extraordinary selflessness and bravery happened regularly, alongside humanities most vile traits. A place where violence and horrific scenes played out daily.
So this first article is going to be a selection of my favourite WWI and WWII books. Broken down into Fiction and Nonfiction. Though they'll be in no particular order. All books mentioned here I'd recommend without hesitation.
I'm keeping it to just ten for each section, which means so many superb books will be left out. However the books listed here, and all the other must reads that didn't make it, will at some point be reviewed, hopefully. One thing I want to say is for WWI nonfiction anything by Peter Hart and Peter Barton are well worth buying , many of their books could easily have been included
One of the hardest catergories to do was the WWII nonfiction. It pains me to have left out so many great reads. On the whole, I've tried to steer clear of any really famous titles, but some did slip in along the way.
One of the hardest catergories to do was the WWII nonfiction. It pains me to have left out so many great reads. On the whole, I've tried to steer clear of any really famous titles, but some did slip in along the way.
So have a read and then go check them out. I'm certain if you decide to buy one or more you'll really enjoy it. From my perspective every book mentioned here is a must own.
Signing out,
Jason
Signing out,
Jason
WWI Nonfiction
WWI Fiction
9. In the Line by G Bucher, War by Ludwig Renn and Zero Hour by G Grabenhorst (All based on their war experience fighting for the Kaiser. Try Naval and Military Press for a copy)
WWII Nonfiction (Very difficult to just list ten)
1. Island of Fire by Jason Marks (Anything by Jason and Leaping Horseman is a must own. Easy could have added two more of his excellent books, Besieged and Into Oblivion, to this list. Only reason I didn't was to widen the field abit)
WWII Fiction
1. The Red Horse by E Corti ( Italian family saga, superb read. See Few Returned as well which is the author's account of his experience during the Italian retreat on the Russian Front).
3. Forgotten Soldier by G Sager (This is actually supposed to be a true account, however, this is disputed. The book is too good not to be mentioned in the article, though)
