[retired_princesspouty]

I get the distinct impression that there are quite a few history fans in OTF for a wide variety of periods. So in a vain attempt to expand people's horizons - I thought I'd start a thread on history books so people could recommend books, ask for recommendations or generally discuss books they've read.

I have just finished "The Perfect King: The Life of Edward III" by Ian Mortimer. He is very pro-Edward in his approach but there's plenty of detractors so no harm in that imo. It's a very good book if you're interested in possibly England's greatest King.

I have also finished "Europe After Rome" by Julia Smith which was ok, but not particularly inspiring. Also, "The Making of Europe" by Robert Bartlett which is good introduction to the High Middle Ages in Europe.

I (and Finneys) would like to read a specific book on Charlemagne so any recommendations would be helpful.

[retired_gozadera2007]

Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor. I'm at work, so can't really go into lengths as to why it's so amazing, but it is.

[retired_srini_aug1]

20th century ftw

[retired_princesspouty]

I don't remember asking what your favourite century was tbh.

[retired_ecmoore]

recommend me reading.

[retired_ecmoore]

300AD -> 1066AD clearly THE period to be in.

[retired_srini_aug1]

you said all periods, so im suggesting some books on 20th century history in a concise manner without actually recommending anything.

Stephen Ambrose books are good for WW2, especially Citizen soldiers.

[retired_princesspouty]

Well the two books I mentioned in the first post cover that period. I didn't find Smith's book particularly good, while Bartlett's was ok - it errs on the side of the period after 1066 (although it's supposed to cover the 9th and 10th centuries as well).

[retired_jabda]

Byzantines ftw :thup:

This and that seem to be the two main Charlemagne books on Amazon.

Stalingrad is good, I preferred his Berlin book personally.

Finished Struggle of Mastery, very good, thank you Retro, quickly reading Paul McGrath's autobiography I got for Christmas, some light reading, and then into either a book on Tamerlane or the Crusades.

I am leaning towrds the less barbaraic Tamerlane at the moment.

[retired_shelly1969]

I wouldn't mind reading a history book, i know nothing about the subject so what would be a good starting point, as early back as you like really.