Useful Book

[FEELINGLUCKYPUNK]

THE FALL OF THE DYNASTIES by Edmond Taylor. 400 pages.

It's an autopsy of World War ONE and the War's significant players starting with Sophie Chotek the Czech bride of ARCHDUKE Franz Ferdinand of Austria.You'll know her intimately by the time she;s shot dead in her car. You'll know all of them intimately and learn plenty. The book ruined my esteem for Winston Churchill and GEORGE V. Villains for the Ages.

It reads like drama more than history. All the players are heroes and villains.

 

[ishtat]

The book is much more drama than History as you noted. It was written by a journalist not a historian and it shows, particularly the lack of primary sources. The book was published 55 years ago so doesn't respond to any modern (or older) opinion for that matter. Whilst Taylor is a third rate historian he is a first rate teller of yarns. If anyone has any beefs with the author they can ask him because he is still alive, aged 110.

If he performs a useful service it is in respect to Churchill. He has always been overrated, especially in the USA. He was a great leader from 1940 to about 1942 after that he was sidelined. Churchill served as an effective terrier to Lloyd George prior to WW1. He was a poor Home Secretary and worse Chancellor (Treasurer). In peacetime (1952-55 he was a figurehead PM)

Almost every military decision he ever made was wrong - Gallipoli 1915, Norway 1940, - he then sent the two capital ships to the east (Repulse and Prince of Wales)
without aircover (both were sunk) - The Dieppe raid, Italy's so called soft underbelly in 1942/43; he got every single one wrong.

 

[FEELINGLUCKYPUNK]

What seems true is how government, academia, and the press conspire to create congruent legends.

 

[SimonDoom]

Churchill's role in the early part of WW2, though, was a historic achievement. It is not clear that without his leadership Britain would have kept the fight going against Germany, or done it successfully.

He wasn't wrong about everything. He was right, for instance, to push back against the Americans' initial desire to invade France in 1943. It was too soon, they weren't ready, and it probably would have gone very badly.

He was very successful at wooing America, and its support was indispensable. Few others could have done as well with that as he could have.

 

[TxRad]

This is the third thread you've started on the same topic. How about trying something new. JBJ, no one is biting on your bullshit anymore.

 

[FEELINGLUCKYPUNK]

TEX IS RIGHT. Italy is in Europe and got invaded in 1943.