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Simon Sebag Montefiore: Young Stalin
This has to be read by anyone who seriously wants to understand what made Stalin
tick. The account of his youth and formative years (up to Oct/Nov 1917) clearly
indicates the impact of growing up in the wilds of (still lawless and gangster
riddled) Georgia and the Caucasus. Sebag Montefiore's account does more though -
it explains perhaps the ease with which the USSR slid into oligarchy and
lawlessness in the 1990's - because of a general underlying tradition of
violence, but also the dangers of faith schools and the risks of encarcerating
enemies of the state in similar places. Stalin? More educated and culturally
rounded than I had thought, but presents as not a pleasant character at all -
easy to understand his purges and ruthlessness as later USSR leader. Equally
repugnant seemed to be his inclination towards impregnating teenage girls at
least half his age - one of whom was only 13, (he was in his 30's......) Very
readable nonetheless.
May '07 (****) |
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Ryszard Kapuscinski: Imperium
This is a volume of essays dating from 1939 to the fall of Gorbachev
by the Polish journalist. In them, Kapuscinski writes clearly and
shows a sharp sense of observation of the workings of the Soviet
Empire as he finds it in his travels during the period. Although we
are well aware now that the former USSR was not a monolith but made
up of many different nationalities and Soviet Republics, his writing
from the 1980's from the Soviet "stans" reminds us that this was
also the case at a time when the west tended to consider the USSR as
one uniform state. In many ways the best is at the start and finish
- a masterly description of the 1939 Soviet occupation of eastern
Poland from a boys account and an analysis from the time by an
easterner of the fall of Gorbachev. Not quite history writing, but a
good resource for historical study of the period. Oct' 08. (***)
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Giles
Tremlett: Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Secret Past
Written by The Guardians Spain reporter this is a guide to help the anglo-saxon
understand modern Spain by attempting to explain the history - ancient & modern
- that is its foundation. Tremlett, as a long term resident writes with insight
and real understanding - and at length. His best chapters are the early ones
when he explains the secretos a voces originating from the Franco era and the "amnistía
and amnesia" that followed it. He rationalises the dichotomy whereby Spains
prosecutors are the most fervent in chasing up the perpetrators of Latin
Americas military regimes whilst (until recently at least) ignoring the events
of their own right wing period. Unfortunately the book will be too wordy to be
read by most anglosajóns on the costas - tighter editing might have broadened
its appeal - and value. (Sept '07) (***) |
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Philip
Roth: The Plot Against America: A Novel
An intriguing piece of counterfactual history - FDR loses the 1940 election to a
right wing Lindbergh in league with Nazi Germany. Written in the first person
from the viewpoint of a 10 year old boy this is perceptive and emotionally
moving on a personal as well as social and political level as it charts the
gradual decline of the US into antisemitic persecution. Yes, you can see how it
might happen in a "civilised" society.... May '07 (****) |
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Frederick Taylor: The
Berlin Wall: A World Divided, 1961-1989
An interesting narrative of the history of the Berlin Wall by
the author of Dresden. Like that earlier work much attention is given to
context (although the potted history of the pre 1961 Cold War period is
perhaps too potted). The Wall remains the focus, especially in the
1960's highlighting as it does the hypocrisy and lack of will of the
western powers and the federal republic to support their rhetoric with
action towards the east (which was probably the wise course...) But the
most satisfactory chapter is perhaps the final one with insights and
perceptions available only to a writer with a genuine affection and
knowledge of the east gained through personal association. Useful also
to anyone seeking an accessible, and general history of the GDR. One
final point - in my (hardback) edition there are a surprising number of
typos, signs perhaps of too swift editing. But why? Dec '07 (***)
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Carlos
Ruiz Zafon: The Shadow of the Wind
An enjoyable read. Has a touch of Susskind's Perfume about it as this neo-gothic
story within a story unfolds in dark post civil war Barcelona. Ideally needs to
be read fairly swiftly as the characters are numerous and the twists keep
coming. The English translation is worth remarking upon – flowing and with a
good turn of phrase (“the heavens were weeping” to describe rain at a funeral).
I do not know if the translation is accurate, but it reads as if it were not
one…. Oct '06 (***)
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casahistoria is recommended by:
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 |
 |
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BBC radio,
UK |
Channel 4 TV, UK |
Birmingham GRID for Learning,
UK |
UK
joint
university database |
Argentina's national paper |
SBC Education
Blue Ribbon HOT site,
USA
|
SovLit, Harvard Univ,
USA |
 
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