Brilliant author. Gallipoli and The Great War are without doubt two of the very best books about Australian involvement in the First World War.
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Agreed. Iâve read both multiple times.
He made hard slog through intimate detail incredibly interesting. Thatâs a skill.
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RIP D ick Dale, surf-rock guitarist⌠most well-known for this (and unfortunately by young 'uns more through being sampled by the appalling Blackeyed PeasâŚ)
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He is the reason we had surf music, brilliant guitarist.
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A country movie singer has died after a gun in his pocket went off while he was on set shooting a music video. Because you need to be armed when youâre on set.
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Itâs a shame heâs gone because that would make an awesome country song.
and obviously he did
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Sarge Slaughter is still alive and kicking , too.
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+1.
My dad currently has my copy of Gallipoli, but both books occupy a prominent position on my shelves.
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Very nice.
Iâm also a fan of Fitzsimmons, especially Tobruk on the right there. Very, very different style, more of a âfill in the historical gapsâ, but still based on very thorough research.
Yep, Fitzsimmons is quite different. Even Kokoda is a different read to Brunes âBa.stardâ , which I actually read quite close to each other. Both recommended reads.
Offtopic, Beevors âStalingradâ and âBerlinâ are very good (though keeping track of all the Soviet units and identities is a challenge) but his âSpanish Civil Warâ I found tough going stylistically.
Paul Preston is the man for all things Franco and Spanish Civil War, although I do have Beevorâs book.
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I should dig up a copy. My retention of Spanish Civil doesnât extend much further than Johnsâ Biggles In Spain, lol, despite Beevorâs best efforts.
Thereâs a really good mini-series made by Granada TV after Francoâs death. I think itâs on Youtube. Called The Spanish Civil War.
You realise there were very few good guys in that war. Even the Republicans, who were the anti-Franco lot, had some very bad friends.
Preston had a lot of books on the subject. I bought two.
Granada TV, not the one of Alhambra fame in Andalusia.
Try Orwellâs Homage to Catalonia, for a more detailed analysis, Hugh Thomasâ book. And, if you want romance, For Whom the Bell Tolls.
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Indeed.
It painted a picture, for sure.
Oi ! It appears youâve stolen part of my âlibraryâ !!
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I just posted his Pipeline duet with Stevie Ray Vaughan in the music you have been listening to thread last week. l have been listening to Pipeline for about 60 years, it still sounds good and fresh.
A digression, my favourite title of C & W song, âIf you canât live without me, why arenât you dead yet?â Great title, but have never heard the song.
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