Book reviews from GeoffB

Head Of State

by David Smith

This book is required reading for anyone with any interest in Australian politics, and in particular, the Constitutional crisis of 1975. It is an effective counterpart to the "Gough was robbed school", and reveals that Whitlam actually had the Speaker of the House write to the Queen, urging her to cancel the forthcoming elections and return the Whitlam Government.....

The Devil's Birthday

by Geoffrey Powell

This is one of the better written accounts of a battle about which I thought nothing more could be written, and gives a good account of the ground drive on Arnhem. The matter of why the U.S. Division dropped on Nijmegen did NOT obey their orders to "sieze the bridges with thunderclap suprise" on the first day is also raised and analysed. (This is probably the main reason for the failure of the operation.) Required reading for anyone with an interest in the Battle for Arnhem

The Battle Of Normandy 1944

by Robin Neillands

This is a well researched and written book which should lay to rest most of the myths about the Normandy campaign, and serve as a counterpart to the more chauvanistic accounts.The book itself was as described, and I wes impressed with the value for money, and the speed with which it was delivered.

John Monash

by Geoffrey Serle

This is required reading for any student of Australian military history. It lays two myths to rest - one is that Monash was about to suceed Haig as Commander of the Western front, the other is that Monash would have been dictator of Australia as a result of the Great Depression.

The Price Of Disobedience

by Eric J Grove

This is a fresh, and most informative look at a subject that I thought had been covered years ago. Required reading for any serious student of naval history.