Richard writes very fully. His analysis of key themes of why the Allies won is excellent. The prose flows well and it is a joy…
View More Gem of a book – Why the Allies WonCategory: Uncategorized
Not a full biography – Return to Dragon Mountain: Memories of a Late Ming Man
According to the review by the Washington Post, “historian Zhang Dai’s long life, which began in 1597 and ended around 1680, spanned the Ming Dynasty’s…
View More Not a full biography – Return to Dragon Mountain: Memories of a Late Ming ManWonderful book – Letters to Auntie Fori: 5000 Years of Jewish History
The author is a prolific historian. This is a wonderful collection of letters written by the author to his 90-year-old friend based in India. She…
View More Wonderful book – Letters to Auntie Fori: 5000 Years of Jewish HistoryBest book – Liberty or Death: India’s Journey to Independence and Division
This is an excellent history written by a person who has a sure grasp of the vast facts and numerous personalities involved in India’s fight…
View More Best book – Liberty or Death: India’s Journey to Independence and DivisionNot a book on the trial – The State of Israel vs. Adolf Eichmann
This is a rather rambling book on the Nazi Eichmann who was hiding in Argentina and brought back to trial in Israel by Israeli agents.…
View More Not a book on the trial – The State of Israel vs. Adolf EichmannWonderful series – Agatha Christie’s Marple: Series 5
The scripts are well-written and the sets exquisite. As a huge fan of Suchet’s Poirot, I am even tempted to say that this series is…
View More Wonderful series – Agatha Christie’s Marple: Series 5Infamous murders – Blood Lust
This book is a good introduction to two famous criminal cases. The second story on the murder trial of Jean Sinnappa, in particular, gripped the…
View More Infamous murders – Blood LustExcellent – The Man Awakened from Dreams: One Man’s Life in a North China Village, 1857-1942
Based on nearly 400 volumes of Liu Da Peng’s diary and other writings recorded over 50 years, this slim book illustrates what life was like…
View More Excellent – The Man Awakened from Dreams: One Man’s Life in a North China Village, 1857-1942Memoir of life – Music, Food and Love: A memoir
This is a vivid memoir of life during the Cultural Revolution in China. Written in simple English it brings home, sadly, the futility of Chairman…
View More Memoir of life – Music, Food and Love: A memoirExcellent – A Jesuit in the Forbidden City: Matteo Ricci 1552-1610
This is a 2012 book and the first critical biography of Ricci to use all relevant sources, both Chinese and Western. This is a very…
View More Excellent – A Jesuit in the Forbidden City: Matteo Ricci 1552-1610