Writing Advice From Strange Places

[NOIRTRASH]

My interests are diverse, I read all kinds of subjects.

At the moment my interest is Churchill's role in the start and end of the 2nd world war. And one of my sources is a Brit historian named Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart, who interviewed every German commander who mattered. But he was also a theorist who wrote books about combat and history.

I bought his book WHY WE LEARN NOTHING FROM HISTORY.

I was surprised its a book about writing. Its a book about noir composition. Hart said historical writing is all about how things go wrong, and that's the soul of noir. Noir is entirely about how things turn to shit.

Finding the souls of things was Hart's genius.

 

[holliday1960]

I was surprised its a book about writing. Its a book about noir composition. Hart said historical writing is all about how things go wrong, and that's the soul of noir. Noir is entirely about how things turn to shit.

Finding the souls of things was Hart's genius.

Wow. Never heard it defined that way. Insight is a marvelous thing. I now know how to classify my biography.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart, who interviewed every German commander who mattered. But he was also a theorist who wrote books about combat and history.

Sir Basil is a bit old school when it comes to military history; there are later, more rigorous military historians with access to a wider range of archives.

Having said that, his military history of the second world war (a single volume) was my first snap shot introduction to the key military encounters - the Battle of the Bulge in ten pages, that sort of thing.

 

[oggbashan]

This is how to be short

Lettering on stone costs money:

https://stoneletters.com/blog/memorial-quotes-headstone-epitaphs

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Sir Basil is a bit old school when it comes to military history; there are later, more rigorous military historians with access to a wider range of archives.

Having said that, his military history of the second world war (a single volume) was my first snap shot introduction to the key military encounters - the Battle of the Bulge in ten pages, that sort of thing.

Being an amateur historian, my experiences with historians is: most are academic hacks and toadies. I like Hart. Much of World War 2 history is happy horse shit.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Hart said all documents are myths, therefore all documents are fiction.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I;m further into Hart's book and stunned by his writing advice.

To be honest his observations will disturb most LIT readers, he was brutal. But after I read what I read life suddenly makes total sense. Like: The sure career killer or love killer or political killer is BE COMPETENT AND HONEST. Hart said the mob demands mediocrity or ability with dishonesty. We love mediocrities and crooks.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

OMG

Hart says Napoleon was a knave and a fool, for going to Moscow.

Napoleon wrote about Moscow. It wasn't his idea. He wanted to go to London, it was much closer and warmer. His army wanted to go to Moscow, and generals follow their armies. Its why he left the losers to dies there.

So Hart goes in the garbage. Napoleon won 58 major battlers, Hart won zero.

 

[ElectricBlue]

OMG

Hart says Napoleon was a knave and a fool, for going to Moscow.

So Hart goes in the garbage. Napoleon won 58 major battlers, Hart won zero.

Oh dear, and you were so close to being a true believer!

 

[LIVINRFANTASIES]

Denny

OMG

Hart says Napoleon was a knave and a fool, for going to Moscow.
So Hart goes in the garbage. Napoleon won 58 major battlers, Hart won zero.

So----- which hand do you tuck into your vest ?