This book is built around the fortunes of one family with two branches; the Brunis and Brutis.  It traces their beginnings, rise, fall and fortunes over the course of the 16^th century. I was looking forward to reading this book after a good series of reviews, but, unfortunately, I found the book to be ponderous reading, full of minute information (someone’s mother’s maiden name, or the name of a village, once in Italian, then Albanian and also Turkish) that clogged up the flow of the narrative. It is also a difficult book for anyone who does not have a good overview of the locations and history as some events (which I consider to be key) are reviewed in a very short manner (such as the battle of Lepanto). 

It has been claimed that Field Marshall Erich von Manstein was the best strategic general to come out of World War II.  His development of the “Sickle Plan” which was adapted by Hitler led to the defeat of France in 1940, actions in the attempt to rescue the Sixth Army at Stalingrad while at the same time foreseeing the Soviet attempt to destroy Army Group South, his counter offensive which recaptured Kharkov and other actions, all fought while out numbered in men, tanks and aircraft, point to a military mind which was superior to many of his contemporaries.  While his excellence was acknowledged by many in the Wehrmacht, his arrogance and drive were also resented by many and those factors were key reasons why he never attained his goal, shaping the total military direction of the Germany war effort on the Eastern Front.  The final decision maker, Hitler himself, while acknowledging the brilliance of von Manstein, did not want so strong a personality around him and trying to influence him.

At the end of January 1968, during the first day of the Lunar New Year (Tet), across South Viet Nam, tens of thousands Viet Cong and North Vietnamese regulars attacked administrative centers, military bases and cities in the belief that they would be met joyously by the citizens of the South as liberators. 

At over seven hundred pages, I approached this book with a certain degree of trepidation; am I really that interested in Hamilton and what about his life could hold my interest.  Within a few pages, Chernow snagged me by bringing a man I knew little of into my life and presenting an exciting brilliant personality that fundamentally changed the course of history.

As we are growing up, we have a tend to either ignore or tune out the stories and experiences of our parents.  We think their ideas are so old fashioned, or that their experiences do not impact on our lives, little realizing that their stories and memories are in reality subtle learning tools for us to lead better lives.  Later, when they are old and we have families and real lives of our own, we sometimes ask them about some memory or story they mentioned years ago, but with failing memories or sadness caused by those stories, they may be reluctant to dredge them up.  We then are sad and realize that experiences in their lives will be lost forever and that someday, we shall be like them, trying to remember the good and trying to keep their sorrows and mistakes buried.

Okinawa is an often-forgotten battle; begun on April 1, 1956 and lasting for over two months, it was often overshadowed by the final days of the war in Europe (VE Day is May 8).  The news stories of the victorious Allied armies meeting at the Elbe, the fall of Berlin and the surrender of hundreds of thousands of Germans took first place ahead of a battle on a grimy island that few had ever heard of and still fewer could find on a map.  Yet, this (at the time) obscure battle had a decisive factor on the remaining war between the U.S. and Japan, for it was during this battle that the U.S. faced a full attack from the Kamikazes, a Japanese foe who was fighting on their home territory and where U.S. casualties began to equal Japanese losses.