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"Essential Authors for Periods" Topic
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smithsco | 26 Jun 2024 8:13 p.m. PST |
Hi y'all, Turning to the hive mind. I am looking for more authors to read because honestly my thirst for history is never quenched. Military history in particular. I also want to broaden my horizons. In the past 10 years I've read most of the works of: Adrian Goldsworthy-Roman history Allen Guelzo and James Mcpherson-ACW Alistair Horne-Modern European history Barbara Tuchman-Various events and eras John Keegan, Peter Caddick Adams-WWII For these eras or eras you're passionate about who are your essential authors that I need to go hunt down and read? |
Oberlindes Sol LIC ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 26 Jun 2024 10:15 p.m. PST |
Mark Bowden, modern era. George MacDonald Fraser, Victorian era. Just because it's fiction doesn't mean it isn't true. You'd think a wargamer with a history degree would be able to remember a few more, so I guess I'm having a senior moment. |
Mollinary | 27 Jun 2024 5:44 a.m. PST |
Christopher Duffy 18th Century Military History |
BattlerBritain | 27 Jun 2024 6:44 a.m. PST |
I like Christian Cameron and his ancient Greek books, The Long War series. Very detailed and enthralling. For WWII I like the 'Over the Battlefield' books by Ian Daglish. A seconded for Adrian Goldsworthy Roman books as well. |
Porthos | 27 Jun 2024 8:30 a.m. PST |
I have tried to find interesting authors and made a (small !) list: Dark Age: - Chris Peers - Jim Storr Medieval: - Jim Bradbury - Chris Brown - Richard Brooks - Kelly DeVries - Philip A. Haigh (also a wargamer !) - Steven Runciman Renaissance: - Peter Ackroyd - Christopher Hibbert - Ian Mortimer - Stuart Reid - Stephen Turnbull 17e/18th century: - Virginia Aksan - Jeremy Black - James Falkner - William J. Wood Napoleonic: - David Chandler - Charles Esdaille - David Gates - Henry Lachouque - Sir Charles Oman American Civil War: - Bruce Catton - Shelby Foote - Philip Katcher - Stephen W. Sears - Michael & Jeff Shaara - Philip Thomas Tucker - Eric J. Wittenberg 19th Century general: - Michael Barthorp - John Shelton Curtiss - William Dalrymple - David Saul - Mike Snook Colonial: - Sir William Churchill - Byron Farwell - Richard Holmes - Ian Knight - John Laband - Thomas Pakenham - Bryan Perrett First World War: - Paddy Griffith - Holger H. Herwig - Adam Hochschild - Arthur J. Marder - Annika Mombauer - Douglas Porch - Dennis Showalter - William Philpott Interbellum: - Anthony Beevor - Robert Lynch - Robert K. Massie
Of course miles from complete, but perhaps interesting. Suggestion: search for the authors on Amazon for more information ! |
rmaker | 27 Jun 2024 9:46 a.m. PST |
For Rome, look at Barry Strauss. For Rome and Greece, Anthony Everitt. For 19th Century – Quintin Barry. |
Grattan54 ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 27 Jun 2024 10:14 a.m. PST |
Agree with Duffy. For Am Civil War James McPherson. Earl Hess. |
UshCha | 27 Jun 2024 1:07 p.m. PST |
Marsden E.W. 1969: Greek and Roman artillery. Historical Development. Oxford. Reprinted by Sandpiper, 1999. Indispensable, masterly survey of the historical background and defensive systems. Marsden E.W. 1971: Greek and Roman artillery. Technical Treatises. Oxford. Reprinted by Sandpiper, 1999. Excellent editions, with English translations and discussion, of the Greek texts of Heron and Philon. Marsden's early death prevented his intended revision of the sections on Vitruvius and the Cheiroballistra. Modern US military manuals on weapons and organizations, a basic set of primers for wargame designers. Rifle platoon, Mortar platoon, M204 grenade launcher, Gap crossing (wet and dry), mine clearing to mention but a few. |
rustymusket | 27 Jun 2024 1:32 p.m. PST |
James R. Arnold for Napoleonic Gabrielle Esposito seems good for Ancients Simon Elliot for Ancient Romans. I like history books by Martin Dougherty, though I cannot vouch for his authenticity. He appears to be someone who can write well and writes about whatever he desires. Jeff Shaara is my favorite historical fiction writer! I have all of his books. He is historically accurate while writing great stories filled with historical characters. |
Cerdic | 27 Jun 2024 1:41 p.m. PST |
Richard Holmes wrote some very readable books, mostly about the British army. He was a Colonel in the Territorials and a lecturer at Sandhurst, so he knew his stuff… link |
DisasterWargamer ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 27 Jun 2024 1:50 p.m. PST |
I would add a few ACW Wiley Sword Colonial Ian Knight Michael Barthorp Phillip Haythornthwaite Michael Snook and Donald Featherstone Samurai Stephen Turnbull Novel wise – recommend Conn Iggulden for Greece, Rome, WoR and Genghis Kahn |
Dal Gavan ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 27 Jun 2024 3:02 p.m. PST |
+1 Mollinary. Don't forget Kronoskaf for the WSS ( link still building up the information data base ) and the SYW ( link ). In disclosure I'm a member of the Kronoskaf group, so may be extremely biased. |
BigfootLover | 27 Jun 2024 3:51 p.m. PST |
WWII: Antony Beevor and Max Hastings. |
Old Contemptible ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 27 Jun 2024 4:23 p.m. PST |
General Military History – John Keegan, Barbra Tuchman AWI- Richard Ketchum, Rick Atkinson, John Buchanan, Christopher Ward, Matthew Spring. Age of Napoleon – David Chandler, Mike Robinson, Paul Austin, Charles Oman, David Gates, Christopher Duffy. ACW – Gary Gallagher, Stephen Sears, James McPherson, John Hennessy, Michael Priest, William Davis, David Potter, Edward Porter Alexander, Bruce Catton. 2nd Boer War – Thomas Pakenham, Byron Farwell, Eversley Belfield. French North Africa – Douglas Porch, Gavin Maxwell, Martin Windrow, WWI – John Keegan, Barbra Tuchman, Adrian Gilbert, Ian Senior, Jonathan Sutherland, Karl Helfferich. Interwar: William Shirer WWII – Rick Atkinson, Richard Frank, Stephen Ambrose, John C. McManus, Jonathan Parshall, William Shirer, Alistair Horne. |
Yellow Admiral ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 28 Jun 2024 11:47 a.m. PST |
Ancient galleys (Mediterranean): This topic morphed considerably due to scholarship, archaeology, and experimental archaeology from the 1970s onward, so newer scholarship is usually better informed and more likely to be accurate. 16th C. galley warfare: Gunpowder and Galleys by John Francis Guilmartin. This is the definitive work on the subject of oared warfare of the Lepanto era, and still hasn't been superceded or even matched elsewhere. Also check out Guilmartin's essays on this topic on his Angelfire homepage while it still exists (he passed away some time ago). Warships and naval technology in the age of armored warships: - Literally anything by Norman Friedman or David K. Brown. Pick a book, it's a robust and definitive treatment of its topic.
- French Warships in the Age of Steam, 1859-1914 by Stephen S. Roberts is the best English language resource on French ships of the ironclad and pre-dreadnought era I know of. I waited decades for a book like this. Get it before it's out of publication and the price skyrockets.
Warships of the Age of Sail: - Any book in the Warships in the Age of Sail series, all titled <Nation> Warships in the Age of Sail XXXX-YYYY: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Various authors, various publishers, series still expanding. These are compendiums of descriptions of the various classes and individual ships of the age of broadside-armed sailing warships, and generally include as much specific technical data as can be had about any of them.
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Yellow Admiral ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 28 Jun 2024 12:00 p.m. PST |
Marsden E.W. 1969: Greek and Roman artillery. Historical Development. Oxford. Reprinted by Sandpiper, 1999. Indispensable, masterly survey of the historical background and defensive systems. Marsden E.W. 1971: Greek and Roman artillery. Technical Treatises. Oxford. Reprinted by Sandpiper, 1999. Excellent editions, with English translations and discussion, of the Greek texts of Heron and Philon. Marsden's early death prevented his intended revision of the sections on Vitruvius and the Cheiroballistra. These are now on my "must get" list, but… holy cow they're hard to find! And thus, expensive. <grump> Collectibility is an impediment to education. |
Yellow Admiral ![Supporting Member of TMP Supporting Member of TMP](boards/icons/sp.gif) | 28 Jun 2024 1:02 p.m. PST |
AWI (American War of Independence): |
Tomsurbiton | 29 Jun 2024 10:14 a.m. PST |
On the English Civil War, the most readable book I have read is "The King's War" by Dame Veronica Wedgwood. May not be military enough for everyone, but it looks at all the characters and is a beautiful read. |
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