What's the last book you read?

[Julius Ratus]

I haven't read any good ancient history books lately. I just finnished Sharpe's Company, part of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. They are all excellent books, and are well researched, with Cornwell visiting many if the places he describes in the books. When the parts are not historically accurate he mentions so in the back of the book, and tells what really happened.

[The Augusta]

Well, to each his own I guess . I somehow fail to see how Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett "leap off the page" and I find Mr. Collins as hard to visualize as ever. Many Dickens characters are, indeed, caricatures. Quilp, Pumblechook, Fagin, Sykes and Uriah Heep spring readily to mind. I was referring more to the likes of Esther Summerson (Bleak House), Mr. Murdstone (David Copperfield), Mr. Gradgrind (Hard Times), Miss Havisham (Great Expectations), and the unforgettable Sir John Chester (Barnaby Rudge). These struck me as people of flesh and blood even when I first read those novels, hardly as caricatures. At any rate I think "Pride and Prejudice" is an eminently readable and well written story, a true classic.

 

Gladius - I hope the tone of my post didn't come across as too sharp - I didn't intend to 'have a go' - I was simply astounded to read that anyone could miss the subtleties and nuances that Austen uses to create truly wonderful characters. This is why actresses and actors through the years have given their eye-teeth to play Darcy or Elizabeth. But as you say, it's each to his/her own But see MPC's wonderful post above - he has said all that is in my mind and heart regarding Austen. IMHO she is one of the true greats of English literature, and all the more so because she was[/] writing about real people. Young girls caught up in the social mores and conventions of the time, yet longing to break free. It's wonderful stuff. And if Lizzie doesn't perhaps grab your eye, try Emma Woodhouse and her endearing, clumsy, well-meaning but busybody ways. Emma is a nightmare and a darling all rolled into one - as real people often are.

 

Those examples you give from Dickens help to prove my point really. Look at some of those names: Gradgrind, Murdstone - allegorical, conjuring up exactly the kind of character they describe. Dickens was at pains to convey a message and his works are often didactic - hence he creates characters as vehicles for his social commentary. Because his characters are so richly drawn (perhaps a little overdrawn in certain cases) he is extremely easy to dramatise - but then, so is Austen. She does, however, write about the slightly gentler world of Georgian England, whereas Dickens writes against a backgroound of the growing socialist movement.

 

But I'm glad you enjoyed the story of P&P. Again, it's just my opinion, but I think that P&P is one of the greatest love stories ever to be set down on paper.

[Gladius Hispaniensis]

Gladius - I hope the tone of my post didn't come across as too sharp

Not at all, my dear. That is precisely the tone I often use and as I am often at pains to point out - it sounds a lot harsher than it really is.

This is why actresses and actors through the years have given their eye-teeth to play Darcy or Elizabeth

Come to think of it, I think Ms. Austen does do a fine job with Darcy. I think he is a lot more vivid and vibrant than the rest of the characters portrayed in that novel.

It's wonderful stuff. And if Lizzie doesn't perhaps grab your eye, try Emma Woodhouse and her endearing, clumsy, well-meaning but busybody ways. Emma is a nightmare and a darling all rolled into one - as real people often are.

Yes, "Emma" is in fact pretty high up on my to-read list. I wish I was done with these Classics a long time ago *sigh*. BTW my favourite female protagonist is Jane Eyre of Charlotte Bronte's novel. She tickled my imagination much better than Elizabeth Bennett did.

Your analysis of the social impetus behind Dickens's works is flawless.

Edited March 20, 2008 by Gladius Hispaniensis

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

The Golden Ass by Apuleius. After reading Ursus' excellent review a while back and other positive comments about this book I decided to buy it but never got round to reading it. It had been sat on my bookshelf for a good few months until a few days ago when although I really didn't think it would be my cup of tea I thought I'd give it a go and I'm glad I did, once I started I couldn't put it down. It's a great book, some of the scrapes that poor Lucius gets into are really funny, I found myself laughing out load on many occasions, I liked all the different short stories told in the book and the vulgarity at times is cringe worthy.

 

A thoroughly enjoyable book.

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

My last readings were :

 

- A. Goldsworthy's In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire

- P. Ducrey's Guerre et guerriers dans la Gr

[cornelius_sulla]

I've just finished Brian Herbert's 'The Butlerian Jihad', one of a series of prequels to his father's (Frank Herbert) seminal 'Dune' books. If you are a fan of Frank Herbert, this is a satisfying book - it does justice to the Butlerian Jihad. The other books in Brian Herbert's two series of prequels are engrossing, too.

[Primus Pilus]

Just finished "Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War for Independence" by John Ferling.

 

A brilliant synopsis of the entire war with a particularly strong portrayal of the oft-overlooked southern theatre. Also of particular interest is the presentation of the naval war (and especially the exploits of John Paul Jones). I've read many books on the Revolutionary period and on the war in particular, and Ferling's definately ranks among the best. I am always universally impressed by any historian whose account flows like a non-fiction, capturing the feelings and sentiments of the people and of the day, while presenting historical events in a compelling fashion.

 

If there is one point of contention, and it is only minor, the Native American participation could've received more attention. This is not surprising though when one realizes that the frontier war and the battle between frontiersman and native was ultimately a different sort of war for a different set of issues; as compared to the grand sweeping battle between patriot, loyalist and motherland.

 

Perhaps the best gauge of a historical work is the inability to perceive the author's sentiments and Ferling does this with great skill. America's patriot leaders are analyzed both for the strengths of their courage and drive, but weaknesses, such as ineptitude in battle, is often and openly displayed. The British face equal praise and criticism where warranted. The politics of the Empire, including the difficulty in directing an 18th century war from across an ocean, is presented with fairness and general impartiality.

[Ursus]

I've been reading Ancient Egyptian history, culture and religion. Most of which probably wouldn't interest this lot. Although I may do an article on Alexandria as the second city of the empire.

[Gladius Hispaniensis]

Currently reading "Death of the Roman Republic - From 146 BC the birth of the Roman Empire" by Stewart Perowne

[Gaius Paulinus Maximus]

I've just finished The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla by A.H. Beesley. It was quite an interesting book, there's not really that many mainstream books around about these guy's, especially Marius so for that alone it was worth buying. My only moan is that the author very rarely cites any of his sources nor does he include any notes in the back of the book, so you don't really know how much to take as truth (from the ancient sources) or how much is his own personal thoughts on the events.

 

I've just started reading Caesars Women by Colleen McCullough, it's been in my bookcase for ages but of late I've been reading the more factual and educational books on Rome, so it's been gathering dust, but I've decided to give them a rest for a while and get back to some good old Roman fiction and there's non better than The Masters of Rome series, it's that well written and researched that you can almost take it as fact anyway.

[G-Manicus]

Just finished "Mayday" by Nelson DeMille.

 

I'm currently reading "Rubicon" by Thomas Holland and "69 AD: The Year of the Four Emperors" by Gwyn Morgan.

[Ursus]

Over the weekend I reread Luttwak's Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire. That's a little too involved for me to do a review, but the political scientist in me enjoyed it.

[Gladius Hispaniensis]

"The Fall of Rome" by R.A. Lafferty

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

for my part I read the novel "The last gospel" by David Gibbins, a novel in which archeologist discover the shipwreck of St Paul, a new section of the villa of the papyrii where the Emperor Claudius lived after his faked death until the eruption of the Vesuvius, the tomb of Boudicca, the grave of St Paul, the true grave of Jesus, a manuscript written by Claudius with the direct word of Jesus and thus his true gospel... I might do a review of this novel and the two previous novels by Gibbins just for the fun, because they're not bad even if after three novel the writing scheme of the author is now quite clear and repetitive... ( his previous novels were about the discovery of Atlantis north of Turkey and the discovery of the jewish Menorah in Yucatan... )

[DDickey]

I recently read The Coming of the Third Reich by Richard J. Evans. It was a truly fantastic and fascinating account, and I seriously need to find the time to read book two. And I just finished Julius Caesar by Philip Freemen, a book I felt was extremely unsatisfying.