A Biography of Cao Cao
Rafe de Crespigny is an Australian sinologist, now aged 90. He specialises in the history of the Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. His…
Historical travel — The Nile
Alan Moorehead ‘s 2 books on the Nile river are highly recommended. Superbly told with quotes and lavishly illustrated with old prints and colour plates…
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A sad tragedy – China’s Civil War (New Approaches to Asian History)
This book is a tour de force. In a mere 280 pages, Lary has packed quotes, writings, and data that conveyed well the tragedy that…
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A joy to hear – Dr No
I read Dr No when I was in form 2 in 1978. Hearing it read out by an excellent reader gives a new dimension of…
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A memoir of trauma
The People’s Republic of China celebrated its 70th anniversary on 1 Oct 2019. Founded on 1 Oct 1949 after Mao defeated Chiang Kai Shek, China…
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Social history – The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
This 2018 book does not focus on the politics of the British Raj. Neither does it focus on famous politicians. Instead, the spotlight is on…
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A gem – Brunelleschi’s Dome: The Story of the Great Cathedral in Florence
A gem of a book. In a mere 167 pages, you get a good idea of the genius of Filippo Brunelleschi. You also get a…
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Chinese poetry
There are 2 famous Chinese poems on family infighting for the throne. One is from The Three Kingdoms era. The second is from the Tang…
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Wonderful read – Saving Italy: The Race to Rescue a Nation’s Treasures from the Nazis
Rereading this for my trip to Italy I am again reminded of the debt mankind owed to President Roosevelt for setting up the Roberts Commission…
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Brilliantly written
The Raj Quartet is to British Raj what War and Peace is to Imperial Russia. Both novels explore brilliantly the entire spectrum of the historical,…
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A good biography – Michelangelo: A Biography
If you are looking for a detailed biography of Michelangelo this is the book for you. Rereading it for my trip to Italy it is…
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