A Short History of the World According to Sheep by Sally Coulthard

What a brilliant book! I think it’s my favourite book of 2024 so far.

The book was a Christmas present from a friend and, I suspect, meant as a joke. I thought it was going to be a humorous book. It turned out to be an interesting history book explaining how domesticating sheep totally transformed the history of humanity.

The book looks at how farming sheep has changed our landscapes, how wool changed our lives and, specifically, how wool changed the fortunes of England.

The early chapters look at how early civilizations used wool to clothe themselves, provide shelter and transport themselves by harnessing the power of the wind for their boats (think sails on Viking ships).

There is a chapter on knitting and how it became a past-time that crossed not just national but class boundaries across the world.

The book finishes by considering the ecological impact of continuing to farm sheep using our current methods.

My only gripe with this book – and it’s a petty gripe if you didn’t grow up where I did – is that the author keeps referring to West Yorkshire. In my head, every time I read this, I was screaming “you don’t mean West Yorkshire, you mean West Riding of Yorkshire”! I know, I did say it was petty, but there is a difference between the two places.

My partner’s gripe about this book is likely to be that I kept interrupting his own reading to read interesting bits out loud to him.

If you’re at all interested in history, textiles, social structure or sheep I’d definitely recommend this book. And if you’re one of the unfortunates I see face to face at any time there’s a strong chance I’ll actually put the book into your hands to read.

Peaky Blinders, the Real Story: The true history of Birmingham’s most notorious gangs by Carl Chinn

Turns out that pretty well everything in the TV series Peaky Blinders in untrue, even though some of the names are real. Quelle surprise! It’s a TV series and artistic licence comes as part of the territory.

This book is a fairly superficial history of the real-life violent gangs that appeared in Birmingham in the late 1800s and had mainly disappeared by WW1. Its author’s grandfather was a violent man and an illegal bookie. His father took the betting business legit in calmer times.

It was interesting to find out more about industrial Birmingham in the late 19^th century. Birmingham is a place I visit, for work, reasonably regularly and it’s interesting to find out a bit more about some of the places I visit, albeit they no longer look like they would have done then.

I can’t say I enjoyed this book though. There were lots of factual reports about the violence: who, when, where, how and sometimes why. I found these quite dull as the author never quite managed to bring the people to life. The stories felt very two-dimensional. The best authors of history books manage to bring their subjects to life, to give the reader a feel of what life was like for their subjects in their times, without straying from facts. Unfortunately, this book didn’t achieve that, which is disappointing as I think there is an interesting book in there trying to get out.

After the Romanovs: The extraordinary lives of Russian exiles in Paris between the wars by Helen Rappaport

A book about how the surviving Romanovs and other members of the aristocracy lived, survived, and occasionally thrived in Paris after the Russian Revolution.

The book starts before the revolution, looking at how Paris was a regular haunt and playground for the rich Russians as well as being a favourite place for political exiles. It describes their sybaritic lifestyles, the designer clothes, the treasures they amassed and opulent houses.

From this point the book moves onto look at how people escaped from Russia and the various routes they took to get to Paris, with or without their wealth. It described the ex-pat communities they created and the various routes they took to earn money for the first time in their lives.

I have some sympathy for the plight of these people but, having seen some of the palaces, treasures, and jewellery they left behind in Russia, it’s not hard to understand why Russia had a revolution. A bit more understanding of the modern world amongst a larger section of the aristocracy and the Romanov family might have led to a different outcome.

I do admire the people who, out of necessity rolled up their sleeves and took on jobs as taxi drivers, waiters, seamstresses, dishwashers, cleaners, and factory workers. It must have been a harsh and sudden adjustment.

The people I feel most sorry for are the artists, writers and poets struggling in an environment where their public had neither time or money to buy and appreciate these things.

I would have liked to know more about the post-exile lives of everyday people, whilst understanding that there just isn’t very much information about them.

Overall, I found this an interesting book and an enjoyable read.

The Vanquished: Why the First World War failed to end, 1917 – 1923 by Robert Gerwarth

The Vanquished: Why the First World War failed to end, 1917 – 1923 by Robert Gerwarth

A book mainly about the collapse of many of the empires involved in WWI: Russia, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire. It considers what happened amid concerns that the Russian Revolution would spread communism across Europe particularly to Austria and Germany, the post-war treaties, and the problems they created and how national reactions to both created ongoing problems of instability, not just in the individual countries but within the world.

Because I’m really interested in the Russian Revolution and have read quite a few books about it, this bit of the book was a bit dull. I already know more about it than was covered in this book. I probably should have just skipped this chapter, but that’s not how I read books.

The book was a very good introduction to what happened within the Austria-Hungarian Empire, not something I know much about, and I hadn’t realised just how much concern there was about the possibility of Austria becoming communist.

The real revelation of the book, for me, was the section on the Ottoman Empire and how Turkey, a new state, created from some remnants of a vanquished empire, managed to overturn the Treaty of Sevres and, through a mix of fighting and negotiation, created modern Turkey. This was particularly interesting as, just after I finished the book, I went on a tour of Turkey.

Overall, I found this book a bit chewy in parts although I enjoyed learning through reading it.

The White Ship: Conquest, anarchy, and the wrecking of Henry I’s dream by Charles Spencer

Charles Spencer, aka 9^th Earl Spencer, writes really readable history books. I think I became particularly aware of that reading this book. I already knew quite a bit about the White Ship disaster, yet the book kept me interested and engaged.

If you’re not aware of this period of history, the White Ship sank, just outside of Barfleur harbour. On board was William Atheling, the only legitimate male heir of King Henry I, a large proportion of Henry’s advisers and a large number of the younger members of the Anglo-Norman aristocracy.

The disaster caused havoc, to put it mildly, with Henry’s plans for a peaceful succession of England and Normandy to his son. The resulting uncertainty led to the battle for the kingdom and duchy between Matilda, Henry I’s legitimate daughter, and Stephen, Henry’s nephew.

This book starts with the birth of Henry, the only son of William the Conqueror to be born in England and finishes with Henry II, Matilda’s son, gaining the throne.

I like the fact that Spencer puts the White Ship disaster well and truly into context. The book shows how Henry I worked to build peace and prosperity in both England and Normandy. It helps the reader to understand the background to the disaster, a bit about why and how it might have happened and the impact it had on the history, not just of England but also across Europe.

My main gripe with the book has nothing to do with the author. It is the same gripe that infuriated me about the biography of Empress Maud/Matilda I read a while ago; that is that Maud/Matilda was condemned and reviled for displaying behaviours that would have lauded in a male who was claiming a throne. I know it is my 21^st century outlook that causes my annoyance and that the 11^th/12^th century had a completely different viewpoint. But I’m here in the 21^st century and my beliefs and values are always going to provide a lens on how I see things.

Overall, I think this is an enjoyable book to understand what happened in England and Normandy in the period after William I. It added to what I already knew about the period although I think it would also be a good introduction to the era.

I will certainly look to read some of Charles Spencer’s other books.

Lost Heirs of the Medieval Crown: The Kings and Queens who never were by JF Andrews

This was one of my birthday books from this year. I was looking forward to reading it, but a friend pooh-poohed it saying, “I hate these books where they pretend one person should have been the King when it’s all spurious speculation”. I sort of know what she means: I hate those programmes on TV where they track down some farmer from a fly-over state in the USA and claim that, but for an accident of fate they are the true British monarch. It’s usually twaddle. But I don’t think you should go around dissing someone’s birthday present and spoiling their pleasure in looking forward to the read…especially when it turns out to be a really good read.

Anyway, rant over and on to the book.

The book is a series of potted biographies of medieval royals who, but for battles, early deaths, and incompetence, would have worn the crown of England.

It starts with Robert Curthose, eldest son of William the Conqueror, moves on to his son William Clito, Henry I’s son William Adelin, Empress Matilda/Maud, Eustace of Blois, Henry the Young King, Arthur and Eleanor of Brittany, the Black Prince and various people from the War of the Roses who had a claim to the throne.

With hindsight I should have probably skipped the chapters on Matilda, Henry the Young King, and the Black Prince. I’ve read individual biographies of them and didn’t learn anything more from these relatively short chapters.

I loved finding out more about Robert Curthose and his son William Clito. I knew almost nothing of them, so it filled in quite a few gaps.  Similarly, with Eustace of Blois who was disinherited by his father, King Stephen, in favour of his cousin who became Henry II.

Spookily, as I was in the middle of the chapter on William Adelin, Henry I’s only son, I ended up listening to a podcast about the White Ship disaster in which he died. This gave me a really good picture of what England might have been lived to rule instead of the Stephen/Matilda struggle.

As always, with a book of multiple biographies about people for whom there aren’t too many records, there is a superficial quality to each biography, but I do feel I got a decent flavour and a better understanding.

I’m pleased I put this book on my wish list, pleased I got it as a birthday present and, overall, I’m pleased I read it.

The Greatest Knight: the remarkable life of William Marshal, the power behind five English thrones – Thomas Asbridge

I knew a little about William Marshal – he’s cropped up in quite a few books about the early Plantagenets – but I didn’t know anything about where he came from and how he became the go-to man when Kings were having problems hanging onto their thrones.

This book does an excellent job filling in those gaps and, as far as possible with someone who lived such a long time ago, bring the person to life.

I loved the story of the discovery of the manuscript in the 19^th century that turned out to be a 13^th century biography/hagiography of William, possibly commissioned by his son. This means that far more can be learned about William than about most of his contemporaries. The author of this book is quite clear about taking some of his source materials, including this manuscript, with a pinch of salt. I also like the fact that the author is clear about the fact that to us, in 21^st century, William may seem mercenary and cruel but that in his own time he was seen as the model of chivalry. It is useful to keep being reminded that the past is very much a different country where we may not understand the norms and behaviours expected.

William comes out of the book as very much a man of his time and also an honourable man. In his later life, during the various challenges to Richard I, John and Henry III crowns, he chose to support the Plantagenet dynasty, sometimes to his own detriment.

My very few frustrations with the book are ones that are common to reading biographies: what happened next to people who are part of the subject’s life story but not central to it. In this case I want to know what happened to Queen Marguerite, wife of Henry the Young King, Queen Berengaria and Queen Isabella of Angouleme once their kingly spouses died. The problem of reading biographies, one leads to another 5, which lead to…

Overall, I found this a really enjoyable, readable book that gave me a good understanding of William Marshal and a better understanding of his era.

Thanks Tom and Sophie for a great Christmas present.

Manstein: Hitler’s Greatest General – Mungo Melvin

I can’t remember buying this book and it’s been sitting on my “to read” pile gathering dust for ages so I decided now was the time to get round to reading it.

I’m pretty sure I bought it wanting to learn more about the Nazi campaigns in the East. I should probably have checked out the author before buying it.

Some historians/biographers are great at telling stories and bringing their subject to life. Others are not and this book fell into the latter category for me.

I bought a biography rather than a book of the battles because I’m interested in people. What I got was factual information about von Manstein and a lot a battle detail I didn’t really want. It made it a very chewy book!

I did find out a lot from persisting and finishing the book: I didn’t know Hindenburg was Manstein’s uncle. I didn’t know how fraught the relationship was between Hitler and von Manstein. I didn’t know what happened to the Generals and Field Marshalls Hitler sacked. Most of all I learned more about the constraints Hitler’s distrust of the officer corps imposed on the Wehrmacht.

However, given that this is an account of some serious battles of WW2 the book is completely lacking any recognition of the suffering of front line soldiers on the Eastern Front and fails to acknowledge the scale of death and serious injury of these men.

If I’d known this book was written by a retired General I probably wouldn’t have bought it, rightly assuming it would be a detailed book of facts and events rather than about bringing a person to life. I’m pleased in a way I did buy it and did read it in its entirety. It has increased my knowledge. But it became a chore rather than a pleasure to read.

The Templars: the rise and fall of God’s holy warriors – Dan Jones

A really readable book on the often confusing history of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Jerusalem, otherwise known to most of us as the Knights Templar.

My “knowledge” of the Knights Templar mainly comes from literature and films; some of it romanticised, sometimes they are cast as villains, often rescuers and most of it baring little resemblance to any known history. There is something compelling about an organisation that had such a huge impact on so many aspects of life and yet which disappeared almost completely in a short space of time.

This book sets out to give as full a history as possible and to try to avoid extremes of bias. I learned a lot from it.

The book mainly concentrates on the Middle East where the order was founded and where it was most relied upon.

The Templars were founded to guard vulnerable pilgrims as they landed in the Outremer ports and travelled to and between holy sites. At the beginning they were indeed a poor order – depending on charity for their subsistence and for the equipment needed to fulfil their appointed task. It is fascinating to learn more about how they grew from these humble beginnings into the mighty powerhouse of world bankers and standing army.

In the main the Templars seem to have been well trained and brave although badly led. I do not understand the mentality of soldiers who essentially commit suicide by following orders that are plainly stupid and likely to lead to their deaths!

It was interesting to learn about the Outremer states and their relationships with their neighbours, both Latin and Islamic. I guess from this distance it is easy to see that these states were always going to fail as there was just not enough common purpose between the European states that were propping them up nor enough of a common threat for them to consistently work together.

I would have liked to know more about the order in Europe and it’s relationships with its host nations. I think knowing more would give me a clearer understand of the suspicion and distrust that surrounded them and enabled King Philip IV of France to close the order down with little resistance from his subjects.

Overall though I have learned a lot from this book and enjoyed myself doing it.

The Commissar Vanishes: the falsification of photographs and art in Stalin’s Russia – David King

I read about this book within another book and decided I need to have a copy. I’m so pleased I did as it’s a fascinating book.

David King has spent a considerable amount of time tracking down different versions of photographs published in the Stalin era and comparing them; who has been removed now they are an “unperson”, who has been moved and who has been added in (the latter mainly Stalin!)

King also analyses the changes to identify how they have been changed. Some have been airbrushed, some merely cropped and others crudely reconstructed or blacked out. He also points out where the airbrusher has missed covering up a shoulder or cap, leaving it floating in mid-air, which I found quite funny.

It is astonishing looking at the starting point for some of the pictures and then seeing what they eventually became.

David King is good at giving the names of the people in the photos and giving some context for when the photo was originally taken. I would have liked a bit more context for what happened to the people who were removed. I understand that many of them fell during the Great Terror but it would have been useful to be reminded of what these people did when they had power and why Stalin saw them as a threat.

I don’t think this book added to my knowledge of Stalinist Russia but, living in an age when people doctor photographs all the time, it was interesting to see these pictures and reflect on the varied reasons people don’t want things to be seen as they are.