History book thread

[SingleDadReally]

I’d like to start a history book thread.
Probably the most readable books I read last year were the 4 Dominic Sandbrook tones of British history 1959-1979. There’s a few factual errors and Sandbrook’s politics are a bit dodgy but otherwise enjoyable. I’ve also got the Max Hastings Vietnam book to wade through. I thought about the Ken Burns documentary tie-in but as I’ve watched the series what’s the point. One of the best books on the Vietnam War, in my opinion is “Vietnam-the Ten Thousand Day War” by Michael Maclear-this was a TV doc tie-in about 35 years ago.

Are you talking factual books or fictionalised ones? I don't know the Dominic Sandbrook ones but seems odd there are factual errors.
I read last year The Hungry Empire by Lizzie Collingham, which I found really fascinating and would definitely recommend. I have Andrew Roberts' Napoleon the Great sitting in my 'to read' pile; it's a bit of a whopper, but I feel that this is a great big hole in my historical knowledge.

The best historical book that I've read recently is the History of Shipwrecked Books by Edward Wilson, about Hernandez Columbus, the son of Christopher C. A fascinating account of his travels with his father, and his mission to collect all the printed material that existed at the time.
But. of course, what counts as historical? Naples 44 by Norman Lewis (along with his other books) are fascinating accounts of that period.

I think the David Kynaston books Austerity Britain, Modernity Britain and Family Britain which cover the period 1945 to 1957, are much better than Dominic Sandbrook. The research seems to me to be far deeper and his personal opinions do not intrude. I also particularly like Anthony Beevor and Richard J. Evans who are brilliant, informative writers. I think Richard J. Evans is particularly good at interpreting the themes and interconnections of great swathes of European history. The Third Reich Trilogy is magnificent.

Absolutely to Richard Evans.

Anything by Orlando Figes and Sheila Fitzpatrick if you like Russian history.

The Silk Roads and The New Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan.

Simon Sebag Montefiore is also great, The Romanovs in particular.

Joanna Bourke writes about the history killing amongst other thing and is fabulous.

For lighter relief I like Greg Jenner’s A Million Years in a Day.

Mary Lovell for biography. Really enjoyed the Mitford Sisters and the Jane Digby one. Also Antonia Fraser if biography is your thing.

Natalie Zemon Davies if only for The Return of Martin Guerre and A J P Taylor for great writing.

Alessandro Portelli, The Order has Been Carried Out is really interesting and about the memory of a Nazi massacre in Rome.

I could go on and on.