[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars A truly fantastic book covering one of Britain’s most-decorated and successful fighter pilots during world war two. Written in a relaxed style that compels readers to not to put the book down, it delights the reader in detailing operations flying various aircraft documenting the combat experienced by the author. It is refreshing to read about air combat operations in other aircraft of the RAF such as the Beaufighter and Mosquito than the usual Spitfire or Hurricane. If you have an interest in air combat, aviation in general or love a good war story then this book is a must! A compelling read, highly recommended as one of the best biographies of a World War Two fighter pilot! This one needs to be on your bookshelf!
NetGalley, Kevin Stabler

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars On Christmas Eve, 1914, in trenches along the Western Front, some German soldiers laid down their arms, put up lights and started singing carols. Soon, the British soldiers did the same. This armistice lasted into Christmas Day and beyond, with a spontaneous meeting of the combatants in No Man’s Land. Gifts were exchanged and even football matches were played, and a legend was born. This book attempts to cut through the myths to tell the true story of the Christmas Truce. The event has become almost mythological over the years and Anthony Richards reveals that even during the First World War itself some people doubted it had happened. As this excellent book reveals, there wasn’t one single truce but a series of small truces along different parts of the frontline, of varying duration. Drawing on newly discovered and translated German accounts of the Truce, we are able to get an insight into the other side of the story. Anthony Richards sets the scene.. Read more
NetGalley, Wyn Lewis

"By breaking down the events into a chronological minute-by-minute ordering interspersed with analysis of the situation as it develops, the book achieves a tremendous level of pacing and tension. At times there is a page turning quality to the book more akin to the reading experience one enjoys with a good thriller. This is unique in a historical account, and adds quite a bit of entertainment value to the educational experience." Read the full review [link=http://globeatwar.com/review/rorkes-drift-and-isandlwana-22nd-january-1879-minute-minute ]here[/link]
Globe at War

Originally written and published in 1610 by Ridolfo Caro Ferro, a new edition with an introduction and glossary came out in 2004. This later version forms the basis of this edition and has a new introduction and a revised glossary. Also the language has been modernised in this new edition to make it more accessible. Ridolfo Caro Ferro’s book is considered to be the definitive work on the Italian rapier. The language is very evocative of the time it was written, but is concise and much more modern and vivid than you’d expect. Ridolfo sets out a statement of intent early on in the text - “There is nothing in the world that Nature…regards with greater foresight and more diligence than the preservation of self.” The aim of fencing, he writes, is the “defence of oneself” and that defence is its main aim. He begins with the basics and describes the various different parts of the rapier’s blade, the necessary positions of parts of the body and the finer points of striking. One.. Read more
NetGalley, Wyn Lewis

I am usually a bit wary about alternative histories, but this book is excellent, and the stories are very plausible; one actually brought an ironic smile to my face when I realised who the author was writing about, just in the last sentence, very neatly done and enjoyable, going from a ‘you can’t really be serious about this’ to ‘yes, OK, I see it now’. Just as a good story should. The writing is good and easy for even the most lay person to follow with ease. Obviously, I won’t know how you would receive this but several of these stories did actually leaved me thinking – well, what if…….! Read the full review [link=https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/hitler-triumphant-edited-by-peter-g-tsouras.304898/]here[/link]
Army Rumour Service (ARRSE)