In 1848, much of Europe was swept by revolution; in France, Hungary, Poland, Italy and elsewhere, people rebelled against the system set up by the Congress of Vienna after the defeat of Napoleon.  Institutions seems to be moribund; police surveillance was everywhere, and the governments were insistent on maintaining the status quo. This excellent novel, often regarded as the finest to come out of Hungary, tells the story of that time and centers on twin aristocratic brothers from the wealthy Dukay family.

After conquering most of North America, the United States was filled with success and energy.  The expansion of the economic power of the United States was viewed with awe by the Europeans and dynamic politicians, such as Theodore Roosevelt, while Henry Cabot Lodge believed that it was the destiny of the United States to carry on into what is now called the “third world” to bring Christianity, modernity and progress to the inhabitants of those regions.  Our soul was pure (unlike the Europeans who only sought to exploit those foreign lands) and we were sure that we would be welcomed with open arms as saviors. At least that was the theory.

This book provides case studies of some of the major minds which shaped the modern world. These individuals were driving forces in literature, politics, economics and morals, not by the force of their expertise, but rather by their self belief that they had found secrets about mankind that no one else had found in thousands of years. Their egos were sufficient that they never bothered to ask, like Nietzsche, “if no God, then what?” for their answer was that they had become god, capable of constructing laws and rules for others. Each of them created their own universe at which they were the steady light, and despite their lack of morals, ability to lie outrageously, often lie around in their own filth and not pay back borrowed money, they found followers who hung on their every utterance.

In World War One, the Italian and Hapsburg forces fought a grueling war in the Southern Alps of Northern Italy.  Fighting was year-round, with the troops having to charge and fight in deep snow and across raging rivers with few chances for leave or rest.  The battles continued for nearly three years and cost both sides about 500,000 killed and many more maimed for life.  In the end, the battles were in vain for the Italians, as at the Paris peace talks in 1919, the French and British reneged on their pledges which enticed the Italians to enter the war.  The American President, Wilson stood aside and felt that to honor the pledges would be to disgrace his 14 Point Program.

This excellent little book (which was the basis for the Italian film, Many Wars Ago), at points seems to be an Italian version of Catch-22; was the author concocting examples of military idiocy or was the Italian army really that poorly led and equipped?  Unfortunately, those parts which seem to be the most absurd are likely completely accurate.  The idea that one would create suits of armor for infantrymen and then have them walk toward the enemy lines in full daylight and expect the bullets to bounce off the armor is simply crazy to anyone who has any experience with firearms.  Yet, that is exactly what one general did to his men, not once, but twice. But, as the General said, they died for Italy.

The author served in the Sassari Brigade during the war and was decorated for valor several times.  The Brigade was drawn from the peasants of Sardinia and was noted for its bravery.  After the war, Lussu was involved in anti-Fascist politics and was briefly held in the prison on the island of Lipari for shooting a Blackshirt.  In 1929, he escaped and lived in Paris, Switzerland, fought against Franco in Spain and returned to Italy in 1943 to join the partisans. He served as a cabinet minister from 1945-47 and in 1945 this book was published in Italy, where it has never gone out of print.

This is a fine read, written by an intelligent observer of mankind who was respected by his troops. It shows the futility of the war and the honest feelings of the men who had little to gain from the war.  An excellent read.

I normally find the author of interest; her book, Paris 1919, was an excellent work; tight, concise, and provided excellent portraits of many of the key players.  This work, however, would be better titled, War 101 for beginners. If you have a high schooler, purchase it for them (or save your money, get it from the library) so that they will have an overview of how strategies have changed due to weapon developments, the changing role of civilians and international law, the reasons, even the evolution of war.  For the individual who does not understand war, for the naïve, this is a good book. 

Grossman is best remembered for his novel, Life and Fate which has been described as the greatest Russian novel since War and Peace. When originally shown to the Soviet censors, they agreed that it was a great novel but that it could not be published for at least two hundred years; its descriptions of the men and women fighting in the Great Patriotic War were too real and did not pay any homage to Stalin.

The first book that I have read which really examines the contribution, militarily and politically of Russia to the defeat of Napoleon from the time of his invasion of Russia to his fall in 1814. An outstanding work which corrects many historical myths such as it was not Kutuzov who developed the strategy of retreating into Russia’s interior, but rather the Czar and Barclay de Tolly, and that the Czar while an autocrat sat on a very shaky throne.  He also points out the political intelligence of Czar Alexander I who welded together the alliance which defeated Napoleon, overcoming the reluctance of the Austrians and the fear of the Prussians.

Finland managed to fight two wars with the Soviet Union during the 20^th century; once it was attacked, and in the second, it was the attacker, an ally of Nazi Germany.  There was never any doubt that Finland could win either war; the best Finland could do was to ride on the coattails of a Germany victory.  In fact, the Finnish offensive action during the second war was limited and basically was aimed at regaining the territory lost during the first war.

The author spent thirty years as an American diplomat in Washington, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, and the UAE, including working for fifteen years as the Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran.  Fluent in Arabic.  He participated in Operation Desert Storm, the Saudi accession to the WTO and the defeat of the al-Qaeda terror campaign in Saudi Arabia.

Imagine there is a famine in part of your country; you are the Minister who control the rail system which can move food where needed when needed.  You are told that in the entire rail system there are too few cars to carry the good; being a diligent Minister, you find a car here, one there, four there and get them to the correct siding where the much-needed food is needed.  Finally, the train with its precious cargo is loaded and on its way; you wait by your telephone, calling and check on the progress of the train.  It must travel over a thousand miles, but you are determined that it arrives safely even though it must travel over a dangerous route and deal with a massive snow storm.  Finally, past the snowstorm you let yourself to relax only to receive a call that it was all mistaken, there was no train and no, the extra cars you found cannot now be found.  Welcome to the Soviet Union.