| 15th Hussar | 20 Feb 2013 9:52 a.m. PST |
In short…do they still hold up and are they worth snagging, if the price is right? I have a few oldies and have no intention of getting rid of them, but I haven't read them yet either. Take the plunge and buy more or No, they're dated and obsolete. Please advise |
 John the OFM  | 20 Feb 2013 10:02 a.m. PST |
I have found that the term "dated and obsolete" is a rather cyclical term, and that things come back into fashion.
"New Research" means that someone has to come up with something new for his thesis. |
| Great War Ace | 20 Feb 2013 11:07 a.m. PST |
Was Harold Lamb ever good history? Meh, but his dialogue was always entertaining…. |
| Lentulus | 20 Feb 2013 11:07 a.m. PST |
An historian has to work from the evidence, qualify what he concludes, and pad his statements with a horde or weasel words. An novelist has to make decisions about the way things are in at an exact moment in time and run with it. Hard to prove wrong unless he really screws up on matters of detail. I'd read some 1st, though. "Dated and obsolete" prose styles are more likely to be a problem. |
| mad monkey 1 | 20 Feb 2013 12:42 p.m. PST |
Found them to be fun reads. Especially the Cossack ones. |
| Mapleleaf | 20 Feb 2013 2:13 p.m. PST |
History books can take many forms ranging from a popular mass audience writer like Lamb to full academic theses written for and by specialists. The type of writing does not guaranty that the history is good or even reliable as this depends on he author. I have been reading Lamb's books for many years (since I was in grade school) and he has introduced me to many individuals and areas that inspired me to go further and to find out more. IMHO Lamb cannot be beat for providing an introduction and inspiration for his topics. His books on Hannibal and Tamerlane are great examples. |
| mikeygees | 20 Feb 2013 5:39 p.m. PST |
Love em, great reads. Like Angus Mcbride, he took the evidence given and created a visual for us all to draw from and enjoy. |
| SECURITY MINISTER CRITTER | 20 Feb 2013 9:32 p.m. PST |
I'd love to have more of them. The only one I own is Cyrus the Great. |
| 15th Hussar | 20 Feb 2013 10:24 p.m. PST |
Thanks all. I have the book on the Crusades and have always wanted to read it, but other projects always pop up to interfere with my good intent. I guess I'll try and get into it as one of my summer reads later this year. |
| doug redshirt | 21 Feb 2013 2:53 a.m. PST |
The Cossack books are great. I have them on kindle and thought they were a great read. The main character and his son got around. Every where from Russia to Mongolia to India and back. The writing is not dated by the way. Once you start you can't put them down. |
| xenophon | 21 Feb 2013 11:10 a.m. PST |
They are not good history but I think they make great historical novels! |
| Ammianus | 23 Feb 2013 8:05 a.m. PST |
Concur with Xenophon….great reads! |
| Grandviewroad | 20 Jul 2013 5:39 p.m. PST |
enjoyed Cyrus the Great, didn't take it too seriously as history but felt it was very atmospheric. |
| Grandviewroad | 20 Jul 2013 5:43 p.m. PST |
with 15 reviews and 5 stars each, sounds to me like "buy more" is the best option!
link Only thing I can't figure out from the description is when the book takes place. |
| oldbob | 20 Jul 2013 7:05 p.m. PST |
Enjoyable reads, but agree with Grandviewroad! |
| Perris0707 | 29 Jul 2013 8:47 p.m. PST |
His Crusades Era set (2 books) is a great read. They inspired me to build for the Crusades era armies that I continue to expand upon. Lamb and the Dec. '63 National Geographic Magazine article on the Crusades. His stuff reads like historical fiction without the fictional characters. |
| Milites | 30 Jul 2013 3:25 a.m. PST |
This was the book that ignited my interest in the Crusades, that and SPI's game in S&T.
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| Ammianus | 11 Aug 2013 6:24 a.m. PST |
Alfred Duggan: another great series of books! And don't forget IMPERIAL GOVERNOR by George Shipway, excellent! |
discovers a lost dinosaur.
