"To compensate a little for the treachery and weakness of my memory, so extreme that it has happened to me more than once to pick up again, as recent and unknown to me, books which I had read carefully a few years before . . . I have adopted the habit for some time now of adding at the end of each book . . . the time I finished reading it and the judgment I have derived of it as a whole, so that this may represent to me at least the sense and general idea I had conceived of the author in reading it." (Montaigne, Book II, Essay 10 (publ. 1580))

Saturday, October 23, 2010

The Greatest Battle (WWII - Battle of Moscow) (Andrew Nagorski, 2007)

Interesting. But all in all, one of the less interesting books I've read lately. Mostly because I didn't feel like it added much new to similar items previously read. The author is a "senior editor" at Newsweek (International), which I didn't take to be a great sign.

Anyway, it made for a quick read at the gym.

He recounts the stories of Stalin ignoring Hitler's fairly obvious preparations for repudiating the shaky treaty between Germany and Russia; then panicking as the German army rolls through Russia; then Hitler compounding his belated start by hesitating and dividing his troops, rather than smashing straight through to Moscow. Also the stories of Hitler not sending winter clothes for his troops (limited rail capacity was prioritized in favor of ammunition and food stocks). Stalin did stick around in Moscow rather than evacuating, which no doubt helped save the day.

Also interesting to hear again the stories of the Soviet "blocking" units, and the harsh treatment for any Russian soldier that was captured. Wow.

One new concept for me: I hadn't thought about how it came about that Polish soldiers fought at Monte Cassino - what with Poland having disappeared from the map following the deal between Russia and Germany in 1939. Turns out that Stalin gave permission for Poles to join the fighting in the west by escaping through eastern Europe. Stalin didn't want these folks anywhere near the Eastern front (of course).

Saturday, October 02, 2010

The Charterhouse of Parma (Stendahl, 1839)

I liked The Red and the Black so was looking forward to this one. Also because I had for the first time (and quite recently) paid some attention to Napoleon's early military success in Italy in this book - so the setting seemed quite familiar territory. And Zamoya talked about Stendahl and his participation in the retreat from Moscow in this book.

I read that Stendahl is categorized by some as an early "realist". OK.

Numerous strong characters; perhaps the lead is Fabrizio de Dongo - his father is collaborating with the Austrians, but Fabrizio runs off and appears, if ineffectively, at Waterloo. His aunt (Duchessa Sanseverina) is a great character, as is Count Mosca - who works for a despotic prince. Clelia Conti, daughter of the warden at the infamous Farnese Tower, falls for Fabrizio.

Fabrizio - despite lacking any apparent inclination for the job - becomes a leading cleric in Parma. Intrigues with court factions. Etc.