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Book Reviews

Island Stories

To Start A War

Alone

Crossing the Rapido

The Last Battle

Dark City

Big Data

Operation Mincemeat

Pathfinder Pioneer

Bitter Taste of Victory

All In

National Service

Operation Sea Lion

Lawrence In Arabia

An Atheist in the Foxhole

The Generals

Life

The Pointblank Directive

Eiffell's Tower

Tears In The Darkness

Mrs Astor Regrets

Blackwater

Winston Churchill

The Irregulars

The Last Days of the Roma

Resistance

The Age of Turbulence

Dali & I

The Terminal Spy

Sea of Thunder

The Man Who Made Lists

Vienna 1814

The Immortal Game

The Prosecution of Geo.W.

Churchill, Hitler ...

Stonewall Jackson

Talking Back ...

Troublesome Young Men

Richard and Adolf

The Writer Within You

This Time This Place

Blogs

McCarran-Walter Act 1952

It's Just Not Fair

An Army Experience -Medic

Poor Bloody Infantry

Never Go Sick In The Army

New iPhone

Pictures

MiscPics

Misc

Waterside

Naples Florida

Island Stories by David Reynolds

England through the ages …

On many levels this is an excellent book. The research would be outstanding if carried out by a writer or research assistant, but Reynolds is a professional historian, so one would expect him to know his business. However, obtained, the detail is impressive. 

There is unfortunately a caustic edge to the writing. It starts out with politics, making sure that we know that Reynolds is anti Donald Trump. What that had to do with a work of British History escaped me. He is also disparaging of Conservative politicians. England doesn’t escape his invective either. Indeed, I failed to find one good word about England. For example, if England won a battle, they were lucky. If they lost, they were routed. Other countries fought bravely etc.

I don’t know where Reynolds was born. I do know he went to my old school in London, but I don’t think he was born in England, he is too anti English. 

Island Stories is a political work on a foundation of history. Brexit looms large, particularly at the end of the work where details of the machinations of the politicians on both sides, is explored in minute detail. 

For those who have a romantic view of Great Britain, this book may influence that opinion. It should be remembered, however, that judging the past by the values of today can be very misleading.