"Everyone knows" the story of Jews in the Middle Ages: moneylending, pogroms, blood libel, exile. Einbinder's study of Jewish martyr chronicles and so"Everyone knows" the story of Jews in the Middle Ages: moneylending, pogroms, blood libel, exile. Einbinder's study of Jewish martyr chronicles and songs challenges the conception you didn't know you had that medieval Jews were defined solely by persecution. She draws out an amazing amount of details about everyday life, how Jews coped practically and theologically with Christian oppression--and, not incidentally, allows Jewish literature itself to stand as proof of just how vibrant these communities really were....more
If you want political history, here's where you can go for it. Williams' study of Charles de Gaulle is a little old, but the best one out there. Did yIf you want political history, here's where you can go for it. Williams' study of Charles de Gaulle is a little old, but the best one out there. Did you know he was six foot five? Or that his daughter had Down's syndrome, and he set up a charity for her? Williams does a good job with the political history of de Gaulle's life, but he doesn't forget about the man himself. Not an easy task, when he's more or less been lost to legend....more
If you're interested in the Eiffel Tower, this is the book to read. An informative - but concise, it's not too thick - history of the Eiffel Tower andIf you're interested in the Eiffel Tower, this is the book to read. An informative - but concise, it's not too thick - history of the Eiffel Tower and what it means for the Belle Epoque. (Also, some interesting tidbits on the 1889 World's Fair: Annie Oakley makes an appearance.)...more
There are a million books on the Dreyfus affair, but this is the best one. It's a bit of a behemoth - it goes into a lot more detail than Burns' documThere are a million books on the Dreyfus affair, but this is the best one. It's a bit of a behemoth - it goes into a lot more detail than Burns' documentary history, but still worth it....more
How the Catholic Church and the Third Republic fought it out (surprisingly literally) in the decades after the Franco-Prussian War, culminating in theHow the Catholic Church and the Third Republic fought it out (surprisingly literally) in the decades after the Franco-Prussian War, culminating in the Dreyfus Affair. The Third Republic gov't tried to make the Catholic Church irrelevant. The Catholic Church said no. A standoff!...more
A classic if there ever was one. It's easy to get enamored with Paris and the Eiffel Tower and the Belle Epoque when we think of this period, but FranA classic if there ever was one. It's easy to get enamored with Paris and the Eiffel Tower and the Belle Epoque when we think of this period, but France has always been tricky: it's much more rural than you think, especially the southern half. Weber does a great job explaining how France was rural and how the Third Republic worked to bring rural France into the fold: peasants into Frenchmen....more
A "microhistory" of a small town in southern France during the Franco-Prussian War, and how the local peasantry reacts to the ousting of Napoleon III.A "microhistory" of a small town in southern France during the Franco-Prussian War, and how the local peasantry reacts to the ousting of Napoleon III. His writing style is a little hard to get used to, but it's an interesting tale of shifting ideas of social class and political thought in a particular setting. Bonus feature: gory murders of French noblemen! (well, one French nobleman, but you can't have everything)...more
Exactly what it sounds like. It's not one where you can just sit down and read for fun, like these other ones are - it's a textbook, and it's written Exactly what it sounds like. It's not one where you can just sit down and read for fun, like these other ones are - it's a textbook, and it's written like one. Very dense and not much verve, but extremely useful in providing context for a lot of other books and clearing up their ambiguities....more
This tome on the Grande Armee is a very approachable yet detailed discourse on the composition and inner workings of Napoleon's greatest army. Packed This tome on the Grande Armee is a very approachable yet detailed discourse on the composition and inner workings of Napoleon's greatest army. Packed with anecdotal stories, it gives a functional history of the army that Napoleon led rather than an operational history, explaining how each different service worked within the army and how it grew to it's height. Covering everything from the navy to logistics, this is a good book to catch for and understanding of the army....more
Rather than a proper history, this is a series of articles on each individual Marshal of Napoleon written by major Napoleonic scholars in the 80s. HerRather than a proper history, this is a series of articles on each individual Marshal of Napoleon written by major Napoleonic scholars in the 80s. Here you'll find an essay on Augereau by Elting, an essay on Davout by Chandler, and an essay by Lefebvre by Rothenberg. Each essay gives a biographical essay of each Marshal and ends with an in depth analysis of a major battle of each Marshal to detail that Marshal's skill and ability. Recommended are the essays on Davout and Suchet....more
Written by one of the best historians on the Austrian Army, this book focuses on the Austrian armies attempt to fight Napoleon and the reforms undertaWritten by one of the best historians on the Austrian Army, this book focuses on the Austrian armies attempt to fight Napoleon and the reforms undertaken between each defeat. This is recommended for the intermediate Napoleonic reader to understand why the Austrians never preformed well on the battlefield yet kept on coming back to it....more
This is recommended for an understanding of one of the French army's best arms, the cavalry. Known for their dash and ferocity, French cavalry was a vThis is recommended for an understanding of one of the French army's best arms, the cavalry. Known for their dash and ferocity, French cavalry was a very important arm that helped secure domination of the field and gave the French an added boost to mobility. This discusses different types of cavalry and it's tactics as well as the famous leaders (such as Lasalle and Murat) and recommended for appreciation for the French cavalry....more
Rather than focusing on Napoleon, this book focuses on the Imperial Marshalate from the very beginning of each members service and gives a touching laRather than focusing on Napoleon, this book focuses on the Imperial Marshalate from the very beginning of each members service and gives a touching last chapter that gives the last years of each Marshal. Filled with anecdotal stories, it is a good introduction into the Napoleonic Wars themselves as it follows the more well known commanders and their personalities....more
If there must be a Bible about the Napoleonic Wars, it is this. Well written, easy to read, and balanced around a difficult figure, Chandler gives a cIf there must be a Bible about the Napoleonic Wars, it is this. Well written, easy to read, and balanced around a difficult figure, Chandler gives a campaign history of Napoleon as a commander as well as giving the understanding of the tactics and style of war during the time period. Writing in the 70s, Chandler gives a proper history of Napoleon as a commander that has yet to be matched. Note: This is a campaign history of Napoleon as a commander, so wars such as the Peninsular Wars get only a light detailing during Napoleon's involvement due to the focus on Napoleon....more
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