Books on countries

stop__dreaming · 07-27-2012, 11:07 AM

Can anyone recommend any good historical books on countries?

Recently read a fantastic book by Diccon Bewes called 'Swiss Watching' which was very interesting to read up on modern day Switzerland and its history.

MickeyC · 07-27-2012, 11:30 AM

Highly recommend the Flashman series. Author is George Mac
Donald Fraser and the books are very historically (Victorian era around the British empire) accurate. Main character is Harry Flashman of British Army Intelligence. He is a coward and a womanizer but always manages to be present at momentous events (Charge of the Light Brigade, Sacking of the Summer Palace, Retreat from Kabul, Several incidents in India).

Although technically fiction, they are extremely accurate and very entertaining.

paul1403 · 07-30-2012, 01:55 AM

Books about Australia;
The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes - The story of convict transportation to Australia from 1788 to 1868. Brilliantly written, totally engrossing.

Power Without Glory by Frank Hardy - The story of a man who rises from the mean streets of Melbourne to be one of the most powerful men in Victoria. It is marketed as fiction, but is (said to be) based on the life of a real person, John Wren. Wonderful description of life on the backs streets of Melbourne and Collingwood (Carringbush in the book) around the turn of the twentieth century and up to the 1930's.

For The Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke - A classic of Australian literature. The story of one man in a penal settlement in the 1800's.

Flynn of the Inland by Ion Idreiss - The story of the Reverend John Flynn, and how he set up the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Flying Doctor allowed, for the first time, a reliable and timely medical service for remote areas of Australia's Outback.

The Cattle King by Ion Idreiss - The Story of Sir Sidney Kidman and how he built a cattle station in Australia the size of a small European country.

I'm not sure of the e-book availability of Power Without Glory or the Ion Idriess books, but the others are available as e-books.

Enjoy!

Paul,
Canberra, Australia

ccowie · 07-31-2012, 11:58 AM

If you're looking for non fiction I highly recommend Company of Adventurers and Caesars of the Wilderness by Peter C. Newman.

Along the lines of some of the other recommendations I'd suggest A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It's a brilliant book set during the time of the emergency (mid 1970's) in India.

07-27-2012, 11:07 AM	#1
stop__dreaming Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 1211098 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol, England Device: Kindle 3	Books on countries Can anyone recommend any good historical books on countries? Recently read a fantastic book by Diccon Bewes called 'Swiss Watching' which was very interesting to read up on modern day Switzerland and its history.

07-27-2012, 11:30 AM	#2
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,732 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	Highly recommend the Flashman series. Author is George Mac Donald Fraser and the books are very historically (Victorian era around the British empire) accurate. Main character is Harry Flashman of British Army Intelligence. He is a coward and a womanizer but always manages to be present at momentous events (Charge of the Light Brigade, Sacking of the Summer Palace, Retreat from Kabul, Several incidents in India). Although technically fiction, they are extremely accurate and very entertaining. Last edited by MickeyC; 07-28-2012 at 09:23 AM.

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07-30-2012, 01:55 AM	#3
paul1403 Exertion Avoider Posts: 40 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia Device: Eco-Reader, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy S2	Books about Australia; The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes - The story of convict transportation to Australia from 1788 to 1868. Brilliantly written, totally engrossing. Power Without Glory by Frank Hardy - The story of a man who rises from the mean streets of Melbourne to be one of the most powerful men in Victoria. It is marketed as fiction, but is (said to be) based on the life of a real person, John Wren. Wonderful description of life on the backs streets of Melbourne and Collingwood (Carringbush in the book) around the turn of the twentieth century and up to the 1930's. For The Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Clarke - A classic of Australian literature. The story of one man in a penal settlement in the 1800's. Flynn of the Inland by Ion Idreiss - The story of the Reverend John Flynn, and how he set up the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Flying Doctor allowed, for the first time, a reliable and timely medical service for remote areas of Australia's Outback. The Cattle King by Ion Idreiss - The Story of Sir Sidney Kidman and how he built a cattle station in Australia the size of a small European country. I'm not sure of the e-book availability of Power Without Glory or the Ion Idriess books, but the others are available as e-books. Enjoy! Paul, Canberra, Australia

07-31-2012, 11:58 AM	#4
ccowie Hiding with an ereader Posts: 391 Karma: 3987376 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kitchener Ontario Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony PRS 950, Ipad 2, PRS 350	If you're looking for non fiction I highly recommend Company of Adventurers and Caesars of the Wilderness by Peter C. Newman. Along the lines of some of the other recommendations I'd suggest A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It's a brilliant book set during the time of the emergency (mid 1970's) in India.