Let's Declare Ourselves Winners (Five Stars)

I am a great admirer of Mauldin's work, from his early cartoons for the Army during WWII to his social commentary in the 1960s. While I didn't always agree with his politics I could still admire his angle in editorial cartoons. He always came up with something thoughtful without having to go for cheap shots or even the occasional graphic lie. There are a lot of so-called cartoonists today who could learn from this today.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Hammer and Tickle (Four Stars)

Hammer and Tickle looks at the Soviet era and the way humor was shared in the totalitarian regimes which sprung up under communism. Ben Lewis looks at jokes under communism, what was considered funny, what the punishment was for making fun of communism and how the State viewed humor. Lewis traveled throughout Eastern Europe and former Soviet republics, reaching out to communist officials, secret policemen, convicted joke-tellers, etc. to get a unique perspective of the humor of the times. Has some illustrations.

Jefferson Davis in Blue (Four Stars)

Jefferson C. Davis had a unique history when the Civil War broke out: he was a sergeant who served during the Mexican-American War, who then got a direct commission into the U.S. Army when a promised slot at West Point failed to appear. He found himself at Fort Sumter when the first shots of the Civil War were fired and was soon embroiled in the confused fighting in the border state of Missouri. He next found himself in Kentucky during the 1862 Confederate invasion and the event which would follow him for the rest of his life took place in Louisville: the murder of General William Nelson following a heated argument as to the best means to defend the city.




The author does an excellent job of examining the whole incident with Nelson and explaining why no charges were ever made against General Davis. He also does a great job of discussing Davis's rise from brigade commander to corps commander, serving in the Atlanta campaign, the March to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign. His postwar career in Alaska and the Modoc War are also dealt with. A lot of information but well worth the read.

Bazooka vs Panzer (Four Stars)

Steven Zaloga does an awesome job of discussing the use of WWII bazookas against German tanks during the Battle of the Bulge, in particular using the engagement at the Krinkelt-Rocherath and the Lausdell crossroads as a way of illustrating both the use of the anti-armor weapons and the ability of the panzers even after they were hit. Full of useful information, Bazooka vs Panzer has info on both tyhe development of the Bazooka by the U.S. Army and the anti-tank measures developed by the Germans (although mostly in response to anti-tank rifles). A good book, it includes first-hand accounts of the fighting at the crossroads, original artwork, period photos, and maps. Another great Osprey book.

Soviets (Five Stars)

Danzig Baldaev's illustrations are awesome and he pulls no punches when it comes to life in the Soviet Union: Russian chauvinism, rampant alcoholism, fossilized bureacrats, worker inefficiency, mass shortages, perestroika, and the fate of the Soviet Afghan vets. The drawings can be ugly at times (especially when depicting many of the communist leaders as "zionists") but that is an unfortunate effect of totalitarianism: when the state lies about so many things EVERYTHING it says is suspect. The photos are a nice counterpoint to the illustrations, showing the Soviet's self-image.

Black Tudors (Four Stars)

Ms. Kauffmann has done an excellent job of bringing to light an excellent, if obscure, story of Africans who worked, lived and loved in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Sir Francis Drake, and King James. Kauffmann has researched enough to discuss the lives of craftwomen, sailors, servants and other Africans who lived in various parts of England at that time, and discussed other Africans who existed in various English records but for whom we have no other knowledge. The author humanizes these people, and encourages us to sympathize with them, to understand their heartaches and their triumphs. An excellent read, made that much better by Miranda Kaufmann's excellent writing and the color images depicting Africans in the 14th and 15th centuries. Extremely interesting to anyone who enjoys Shakespeare and this period in history.