73- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 4
A chapter covering the European colonial companies' beginning in India, as well as the conquest of much of the continent by the Mughal Empire
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A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Conclusion
The conclusion of Saint-Yves' book, which focuses on the relative state of the different European powers in Asia, the failings of France's policy, and his vision of the necessary future of European influence in the region.
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A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 12
This chapter on the Levant focuses on the demographics of the different religious and ethnic groups in the region and the influence of different European religious organizations.
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 11
A wide-ranging chapter about French relations with Southeast Asia, the Sino-French War, and Japan's modernization.
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A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 10
Russia's influence in Iran and also a very interesting section on the potential for a clash between the Russians and British in Central Asia.
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 9
A description of the advance of Russia across Siberia and Central Asia, particularly the role of the Cossacks and the Russian conquests in Central Asia.
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A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 8
After the period of Jesuits and attempts at trade, Chapter 8 Of A L'Assaut de l'Asie describes the European interventions of the First and Second Opium Wars as well as China's turmoil in the second half of the 19th century.
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A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 7
An account of the European discovery of China, the fall of the Ming, and particularly of the activities of the Jesuits in China
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 6
This chapter of the 1901 French book A l'Assaut de l'Asie looks at both the English conquest of India and also the events of the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 5
A look at the rise of Dupleix's brief empire in southern India and the battle for influence between the French and the British in the 1740s and 1750s
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 3
An overview of Portugal's colonial activities in Asia, and also interesting for its depiction of Goa in the early 1900s.
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 2
Although it's an outdated chapter, the section on races and religions in A l'Assaut de l'Asie is a really fascinating look into the beliefs and prejudices of early 20th century European observers.
- 0
A l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Chapter 1
Focusing on the geography of Asia stretching from Siberia to the lower reaches of India, as well as some of Saint-Yves thoughts on the historical panorama of European-Asian history, this is one of my favorite chapters from the book.
- 0
À l'Assaut de l'Asie, English Translation: Introduction and Preface
Written more than a century ago, A l'Assaut de l'Asie never got an English translation: this is my correction on this, to translate this elderly French history book into English.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 36 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The death of an English battleship and the death of Fierce, in the final battle.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 35 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The death of an English battleship
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 34 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The last battle of Fierce and his desperate charge against an English battleship.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 33 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Fierce sails to meet his death, as his torpedo boat squadron hunts down the English battleships blockading Saigon.
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The Civilized, Chapter 32 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Fierce and Torral have their last meeting as Saigon comes under siege.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 31 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Raymond Mévil realizes the mistake of his life and searches for a relief from his agony.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 30 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Fierce falls into a deep depression following his betrayal of Sélysette, as Saigon is rocked by momentous news.
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The Civilized, Chapter 29 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Fierce's return to Saigon and a fatal meeting of the three old friends.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 28 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Mévil attempts to secure the hand in marriage of one of his fancies.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 27 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The crushing of a rebellion and the brutality and death that it engenders.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 26 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Fierce is sent to crush a native rebellion and the brutal guerilla war which it sparks.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 25 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The long separation of Fierce from Sélysette continues, as his ship returns slowly to Saigon and a missed meeting.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 24 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
A letter from Torral to Fierce warning against the consequences of abandonining the life of a Civilized man.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 23 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
A party with a future enemy, and the temptation of betrayal that haunts Fierce.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 22 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Hong Kong in all of its depravity, the crossroads of empire and the delight of sailors.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 21 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
A letter of love from Fierce to his distant fiancée
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 20 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The arrival of Fierce and the Bayard in Hong Kong.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 19 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Upon the point of triumph, Fierce is dragged away from Saigon.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 18 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
A dance, a thwarted chase, and a momentous change.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 17 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The budding and increasingly visible relationship between Sélysette and Fierce and the transformation that it brings.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 16 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Fierce's romantic attachment to Sélysette takes full bloom.
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The Civilized, Chapter 15 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
In which a game of tennis between Mévil and Fierce becomes rather heated.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 14 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The confrontation with Liseron, and the reunion of our three musketeers.
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The Civilized, Chapter 13 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Mévil and Torral, and Doctor Mévil's problems in love.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 12 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
From the jewelry shops of Saigon to a chance meeting with Sélysette, Fierce starts to question the life he has been living.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 11 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The doldrums of Saigon and a game of chance.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 10 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The meeting of Fierce with the elite of French Saigon, another convert to the spirit of the civilized age, and his introduction to the Sylva, adopted daughter of the governor.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 9 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Life onboard of Fierce's ship and his liaisons in the Saigon, as the first stirrings of conflict begin to be heard.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 8 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
In which Fierce's life and history emerges from the shadows.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 7 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The seventh chapter of the French book Les Civilisés,
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The Civilized, Chapter 6 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The sixth chapter of the French book Les Civilisés, meeting Mévil's mistress and traveling through the surroundings of Saigon.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 5 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
The continued infatuations of Saigon pass to the theater, with the discovery of both an untalented but well-endowed singer and the lieutenant governor's daughter.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 4 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
In the decadent streets of the pearl of the East, Saigon, Mévil, Torral, and Fierce discuss the nature of Saigon's civilized life.
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The Civilized, Chapter 3 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
In which the three characters, Mévil, Torral, and Fierce, first meet, and have a dinner conversation about the vice and decadence of Saigon.
- 0
The Civilized, Chapter 2 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Les Civilisés by Claud Farrère is an unjustly forgotten novel, which never received an English translation. This is chapter 2 of my own attempt at making one, a century after its original writing.
- 2
The Civilized, Chapter 1 - English Translation of Les Civilisés
Les Civilisés by Claud Farrère is an unjustly forgotten novel, which never received an English translation. This is my attempt at producing one, more than a century after the book was written.
- 0
Histoire et Tradition des Européens: Preaching to the Choir?
Less inspirational than other works by Venner and lacking their brief eloquence, Histoire et Tradition des Européens can yield some different perspectives but is insufficient as a general history.
- 0
Transnational Encounters Between Germany and Japan Book Review
Although with some interesting segments, Transnational Encounters between Germany and Japan feels like it is stitched together from incompatible parts, and which doesn't convincingly demonstrate that much of a relationship at all existed between Germany and Japan
- 0
The Rise and Fall of the French Air Force Review
An excellent book which provides a wide-ranging, detailed, convincing, and ambitious look into the French Air Force, showing its development over a great breadth of history and doing much to reveal why it was defeated in the skies over 1940 France.
- 0
When the Lights Went out Book Review
When the Lights went out: A History of Blackouts in America is a fascinating cultural, technological, and institutional history of power failures and blackouts in the United States, showing their broader relevance and oft trans-formative spirit beyond merely the inconvenience of losing power.
- 0
The Cleanest Race Review
An intriguing look into North Korea and its ideology and mentality, and to some extent Korea as a whole, this book also carries with itself weaknesses and potential stereotypes, but still forms an invaluable tool to better understand this mysterious country.
- 0
We are no longer in France: Communists in Colonial Algeria Review
In an otherwise pearly researched subject with little material available; this book does much to enable a better understanding of communism in Algeria with a focus on the relationship of communists to independence and the membership demographics of the party.
- 0
La fin du village Book Review
An anthropological, in essence, study of the French Provencal village of Cadenet, La fin du village is a book which is remarkable to provide for an understanding of the transformative developments of modernity in rural France, if one which is somewhat utopian about the past.
- 0
The Two Headed Eagle Review
An awe-inspiring mixture of tragedy, adventure, mirth, excitement, and misery which combines to produce what is assuredly one of the best historical fiction novels about the Great War.
- 0
The French Army and Politics 1870-1970 Review
Although from an exceptionally good author this book nevertheless does not manage to reflect either a good general summary nor in depth analysis of its topic, being a generally shallow and superficial volume.
- 1
Fortress France Book Review : An Excellent, if Specialized, Engineering Treatise
Loaded with excellent amounts of details, sufficiently broad to cover its topic and sufficiently pointed to enable it to be looked at in depth, this is an excellent look into the Maginot Line and the broader nature of French fortifications in WW2.
- 0
L'Etrange défaite: Still a Book To Read to Understand France in 1940
Despite the extremely difficult nature of the text and some of the outdated factors from 80 years of age, L'Etrange defaite continues to be a critical cornerstone of understanding the Battle of France.
- 1
Volkswagen Blues: Identity, History, and Adventure
A superb road trip book of discovery, adventure, identity, innocence, and the wounds of the past which pulls the reader in to the delectable story of two people travelling across the continent, Volkswagen Blues is a deeply enjoyable and oft profound book.
- 0
To the Maginot Line Review
A decent summary of French military and political security planning in response to Germany in the 1920s, but with little new information and rather shallow, combined with a variety of shortcomings or incomplete information.
- 1
The French Economy in the Twentieth Century Review
Short and to the point, this book may reflect some of the polemical positions of the author and not be capable of a truly exhaustive look at the French economy but does provide a good general picture.
- 0
The Birth of the Modern: World Society 1815-1830 Review
Although magisterial in its detail, filled with impressive characterizations, stunning in its breadth, and easy to read, I remain fundamentally unconvinced by the Birth of the Modern and dismayed by its jingoistic British-centrism.
- 0
La Couleur Du Bonheur Review
A simple and beautiful book, if lacking some of the panache of other works by Wei-Wei, the author.
- 0
Maintenir l'Ordre aux Confins de l'Empire: An Overly Narrow History Book
Although the product of much work and labor, and with a fascinating title, Maintenir l'ordre aux confins de l'empire is overly specialized and lacking in broader relevance, which reduces the import of what could be a very good book.
- 0
Vernon Subutex 1, The Grimy Side of Paris
A fascinating work of modern French literature, Vernon Subutex represents the believable, explosive, and expansive tale of a former rocker who has lost his job in a records store, and is now upon the streets of Paris, in a tale which combines a fascinating character with a look on French society.
- 2
Professer l'Empire: Les Sciences Coloniales en France sous la IIIe République
A highly detailed and complex, if esoteric book, Professer l'Empire looks at the scientific and intellectual studies of French colonialism in a different way than normal.
- 0
The Breaking Point: Sedan and the Fall of France
As a highly detailed and exhaustive book, The Breaking Point is excellent for those who want a truly in depth and incredibly thorough look into the collapse of the French army at Sedan in 1940, although its intense specialization makes it somewhat less necessary for the amateur.
- 0
The French in Central America Review
A highly complete and sophisticated analysis of the French relationship with Central America in 1820-1930, despite a lack of focus upon the "cultural" element extolled in the title, this book is an excellent tome for understanding French indirect imperialism in Latin America.
- 0
Le Second Empire: Politique, Société, Culture, Review
Providing a good and effective general overview, particularly strong on cultural and social transformations, Le Second Empire is not a book defined by flair and panache but rather as a reflection of contemporary orthodox academic understanding of the French Second Empire.
- 1
The Age of the Ship of the Line: The British and French Navies, 1650-1815 - Surely this has been done before?
A short, narrow, and unambitious book, the Age of the Ship of the Line is at best only a decent introduction to the topic, and at worst a rather terribly poor and marginal history book for a subject so much covered that to simply produce a general overview is to do it a disservice.
- 0
Shim Chong, Fille Vendue Review
A book which puts into spotlight the particularities of a different culture and world, impressing the reader with its beauty, scope, elegance, and relevance to today and the broader story of the nation of the author Hwang Sok-Yong who wrote it.
- 1
Un Roi Sans Divertissement: Darkness Amidst the Snow
Un roi sans divertissement when recounted to somebody else can seem simple, but its complex organization and plot makes for a frighteningly difficult and strange volume to read, despite the beauty of the pen which animates it.
- 1
L'agonie d'une monarchie, Autriche-Hongrie 1914-1920
L'agonie d'une monarchie, Autriche-Hongrie 1914-1920 provides for a good overall summary of the political developments of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but unfortunately is not quite as extensive about the rest of the subject.
- 0
My Absolute Darling: Beautiful, Terrifying, and Unsettling
Written with a brilliant prose and description, the real genius of My Absolute Darling is the incredibly vibrant characters and their voices, the magnificent sense of drama, excellent sense of emotion, and the superb presentation of the reactions of people in complicated morale situations.
- 0
Le Chemin Le Moins Fréquenté Review
More of a cross between psychology and a book on spirituality, Le chemin moins fréquenté forms a valuable guide to help one better understand oneself and the nature of love, compassion, and self-development.
- 0
From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia, Review: Casting Wide the Net
As a general overview of the intellectual response of Asia, particularly the Muslim, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese ones, to their confrontation with Western civilization, From the Ruins of Empire provides a solid grounding and overview of this pivotal philosophical evolution.
- 0
Le Choc de l'Histoire Review: The Written Spoken Word
Although interesting as a general overview of the thoughts of Dominique Venner, Le Choc de l'Histoire lacks the same density and developed nature that is found in full books published by the author, reducing its power and effect.
- 0
Truth and Bright Water Review: The Wheel Which did Not Turn
Despite its occasional flashes of fascinating interest and its look into the lives of the North American Indians, Truth and Bright Water is to me a puzzling book which ultimately leads nowhere.
- 0
The Years of Rice and Salt Review: The Reborn Flowers of Hope
Despite its flaws and its weaknesses, a tremendously ambitious, fascinating, accurate, and powerful novel like the Years of Rice and Salt is an alternate history work which cannot simply be ignored.
- 0
A Requiem for the Slumbering Hyperboreans: Un Samouraï d'Occident Review
Both for its intriguing look into the European far right's thoughts, and for its actual discussion and analysis of the history of the spiritual and intellectual underpinnings of European civilization, Un samouraï d'Occident is a vital read.
- 0
The Flamidien Affair Review
A very short book which examines a very explosive, but also itself quite short affair, the Flamidien Affair provides a reasonably compelling, if limited, look into the interaction between gender, sex, and politics in a France under the shadow of the Dreyfus affair.
- 0
Timeless or Clichéd? The Sound of Waves Review
The age old story of first love is one which is done in all of its clichéd simplicity in this book, saved somewhat by the milieu and time in which it positions itself.
- 2
To Lose a Battle: France, 1940, Review: The Aged Gem
Although somewhat old by now, To Lose a Battle continues to be a defining look into the catastrophic defeat of France in 1940, brilliantly written, detailed, and sweeping in its scope.
- 0
Petit Traité Sur L'immensité Du Monde: Review of an Ode for a Wanderer
As a beautifully written and inspiring book, Sylvain Tesson's mixture of an autobiography, travel account, and tome of philosophy inspires the human soul with a sparkling vision of what it means to wander.
- 0
Le Bateau-usine: Reviewing the Red Portrait of its Age
As a fascinating and unusual novel which examines the life of Japanese industrial fishermen in the 1920s, Le Bateau-usine is both an intriguing portrait on a distant past and an ever useful commentary upon the present.
- 1
Reflecting on Le Don Paisible
As an incredible saga and tale of the life and existence of the Don Cossacks before, during, and after the Great World War, with incredible beauty of its details and writing, and a deeply human, moving, and tragic story which forms its centerpiece, Le Don paisible truly deserves being a masterpiece.
- 1
To Gaze Into the Abyss - The Beast of War, 1988, Review
In a film which time has occasioned to take a mirror view of our current image of war in Afghanistan, The Beast of War both is a very good and deep war film that falls into the rare genre of a good tank movie, and a surprisingly complex commentary on the Afghan experience.
- 0
Review of Science and Polity in France: The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Years
In an incredibly comprehensive, detailed, and brilliant tome, Science and Polity in France reveals the complex development of science and its relationship to science in the tumultuous years of the French Revolution.
- 0
Confused and Wandering: A Review of "Delmas-Vieljeux, l'Histoire d'une Compagnie Maritime Rochelaise"
Although with occasional high points, the scattered and poorly jointed nature of this book on the Delmas-Vieljeux company limits its role as a historical exploration of the shipping firm.
- 0
"The Nix" Review: A Dazzlingly Beautiful Puzzle
The Nix is a superbly wonderful novel written with an incredible description, a fascinating plot, and a depiction of America and American life that qualifies it as a Great American Novel.
- 0
A History of Siberia and the Russian Far East Review
Covering an impressive span of history and a huge geographic region with a cohesive and deeply compassionate pen, A History of Siberia and the Russian Far East helps to understand this mysterious frozen land.
- 0
Between Crown and Commerce: Marseille and the Early Modern Mediterranean Review
A book principally devoted to analyzing the ideology of virtue and civic-mindedness in 17th-18th century Marseille, Between Crown & Commerce plumbs the depth of Early Mediterranean politics and civic mindset in a fascinating fashion.
- 0
Franco and Hitler: Spain, Germany, and World War II Review
As a highly detailed, sweeping, and carefully researched book, Franco and Hitler serves as an invaluable book to understand Spain's place and actions during the Second World War.
- 2
Sugar, Steam, and Steel: The Industrial Project in Colonial Java, 1830-1885, Review
An in depth examination of how sugar became a highly industrialized commodity in Java, what enabled this, and the people who made up the industry, G. Roger Knight's book makes for an intriguing read.
- 1
"Aid Under Fire: Nation Building and the Vietnam War Review"
A broad-ranging and incisive book which pinpoints why the best-laid plans of the most modern and powerful nation in the world failed to stabilize and control the small nation of Vietnam and helped lead to a disastrous war that would consume the nation for another 10 years.
- 0
To Both Laugh and Cry in the Great War: "A Sailor of Austria" Review
A superbly witty, clever, moving, tearful, and exciting piece of military fiction with an unlikely hero of an Austro-Hungarian naval captain during the First World War.
- 0
Expansion Occidentale et Dépendance Mondiale Review
A heavily economic-focused book, Expansion occidentale et dépendence mondiale provides a good reference and overview of European colonialism from an economic perspective, if mostly ignoring social and cultural elements.
- 0
German Orientalism in the Age of Empire Review
An incredibly detailed, well researched, and lengthy book, German Orientalism in the Age of Empire is certainly no casual reading, but provides a peerless understanding of academic German Orientalism.
- 0
France, Mexico, and Informal Empire in Latin America, 1820-1867 Review
Although with important ideas concerning pan-Latinism, an intriguing argument concerning the collapse of the French Mexican intervention, and a strong grounding in Mexican politics, Shawcross' book also suffers from a variety of blindnesses and limitations.
- 0
Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy and Operations in the Great War Review
An excellent book to look at the French side of the military conflict of the First World War, Pyrrhic Victory is a well done piece of military history.
- 0
Review of The Jeune Ecole: The Strategy of the Weak
Although excellent for its internal and military analysis of the French navy, the Jeune Ecole: The Strategy of the Weak has problems placing this into context, diminishing an otherwise illuminating analysis of an unfairly judged strain of naval thought.
- 0
The Right in France: From the Third Republic to Vichy Review
The Right in France is a useful read for those with a scholarly interest in the French political right which establishes new frameworks and ideas, but also daunting to read for those with troubles with names and acronyms and has several omissions.
- 0
Greek Prostitutes in the Ancient Mediterranean, 800 BCE–200 CE Review
Although not quite matching its title, at least this book is somewhat more cosmopolitan in outlook than others on the same subject and does
- 0
Prostitution in the Ancient Greek World Review
Although it provides a decent look at upper class Greek escorts the work of Konstantinos Kapparis looks little beyond this section of society, and only Athenian society at that, harming the breadth of this book.
- 0
Review of The Language Question under Napoleon by Stewart McCain
A unique subject with little else published on it, broader relevance, a host of details, and a well supported thesis makes The Language Question under Napoleon an invaluable book for anybody interested in the period and French history.
- 2
"A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present" Review
As an introduction to modern Japanese history, or as something to tie together more specialized research, Andrew Gordon's book is a very useful tome and particularly good for Japanese social, economic, and political structural transformations.
- 0
A True Bouquet of Flowers: A Review of Fleurs de Chine
Beautifully written, exquisitely filled with all-too-real and unique characters, hauntingly woven together, and impressive in its scope, Fleurs de Chine is certainly a novel which will delight, move, and impress any reader.
- 0
Contesting Views: The Visual Economy of France and Algeria Review
Contesting Views conclusively and skillfully demonstrates its point of the post-colonial relationship between France and Algeria rendering the two interconnected, but can be excessively verbose and has a host of various shortcomings as well.
- 0
The Royal Navy and the Capital Ship in the Interwar Period: An Operational Perspective Review
For a book with such a promising title, The Royal Navy and the Capital Ship in the Interwar Period is uninspired, lacks detail or inspiration, provides little in the way of new information, and fails to focus on its chosen subject with sufficient energy.
- 0
Book Review and Summary: Nantes et le Temps des Négriers
A strong social history of the slave trade with a wide array of statistics and quotations, this book sometimes casts it in too positive of a light and focuses too much on the general, rather than Nantes-specific, history of the subject. Nevertheless still a useful tome.
- 1
Neighborhood and Nation in Tokyo Review
Although it lacks much connection to the common people and certain elements of its thesis seem flawed, Neighborhood and Nation is still a useful book for politics and social welfare in Taisho Japan and early Showa.
- 0
The River, The Plain, and the State Review
Ling Zhang's book is a brilliant environmental history to start with, but is really so much more in an excellent history of unintended consequences, government action, human misery, and state organization and action in a forgotten chapter of China's Hebei province's history.
- 0
The Modernizers: Overseas Students, Foreign Employees, and Meiji Japan Review
If you're looking for statistics charts, this book on Meiji modernization is a source that's a strange mixture; it's excessively narrow in its main topic and diffuse in covering too much that is unrelated.
- 0
Review of French Foreign and Defense Policy 1918-1940: The Decline and Fall of a Great Power
A very extensive and fascinating book which covers a host of French foreign policy initiatives in the Interwar period in a refreshingly even handed light through a wide variety of domains, although also limited in focus to a German or at most European context.
- 0
Barcelona: An Urban History of Science and Modernity Review
Although it has some brilliant individual chapters, this book does not conclusively tie them together and presents isolated, scattered fragments of Barcelona rather than a unified volume.
- 0
Housing in Postwar Japan Review
Ann Waswo produces a book that connects housing to the rest of society and history, though sometimes in a way that provides a narrow slice of life.
- 0
Rice as Self: Japanese Identities Throughout Time Review
A fascinating book for its analysis of how rice has been visualized and shaped throughout Japanese history and its continuing relevance and influence today.
- 0
The Origin of the Japanese: Ruins of Identity Review
Although somewhat overly speculative in its later chapters, Ruins of Identity presents a book which is uniquely useful for a scientific and voluminous presentation of the origins of the Japanese people, rare in English language literature.
- 1
Translating Institutions EU Review
Although overly heavy on its extensive sociological background, Translating Institutions; An Ethnographic Study of EU Translation provides a look at European Union translation and translators where few other books exist.
- 0
Multilingual Translation for the European Union
Despite much furor about European language policy, there is inadequate information concerning its translation and actual functioning. Crossing Barriers and Bridging Cultures helps to correct such a defect.
- 0
The Spiral Road: Change in a Chinese Historical Review
A brilliant sociological examination of Lin Village in Fujian Province in China, this book reads more like a richly characterized novel than a dry sociological work.
- 0
Review of "Born Red: A Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution" by Gao Yuan
"Born Red: A Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution" is a fascinating autobiographical recount of the travails of the Cultural Revolution in China by its author Gao Yuan. However, it is also a book that the author attempts to use to shift the burden of blame away from himself.
- 0
"Blood Road: The Mystery of Shen Dingyi in Revolutionary China" Review
Interwar China was a tumultuous place, and in this murder-mystery/history book, the figure Shen Dingyi is used to illustrate the transformations of the era.
- 2
"Daughter of Han": A Historical Review
The autobiography A Daughter of Han is useful not just as a primary source of late Qing and then Republican China, but also as an enjoyable novel-like book in of itself.
- 2
A Review of "We Get Nothing from Fishing: Fishing for Boat Opportunities among Senegalese Fisher Migrants"
Piercing in its depiction of Senegalese lives and beliefs, incisive, broad-ranging while focused, and extremely relevant to today, this is an excellent book upon Senegal, West Africa, and the migrant crisis.
- 1
A Review of "A Language Policy for the European Community Prospects and Quandaries"
Although with some brilliant contributions, this book's lack of focus and array of more mediocre or limited chapters means that it isn't very useful to most studying the European linguistic situation.
- 0
Review and Historical Analysis of "Nationalism in Japan"
An old book, with a flawed approach and a non-scholarly objective, this book is useful only for examining it in of itself rather than in gleaning information from its intended subject.
- 1
Book Review: "Farm and Nation in Modern Japan (1870-1940)"
An excellent history book to cover the development of Japanese agrarian thought, as espoused by Japanese intellectuals.
- 0
A Review of La Première Compagnie des Indes : Apprentissages, échecs, et héritage 1664-1704
An excellent French-language book which explores in details the workings of the French East India Company, on an otherwise neglected topic.
- 0
A Review of Musui's Story
Musui's Story is generally a historical work, but it is also an intriguing literary production which deserves to be read for that as well.
- 0
Review of "The State in Early Modern France" by James B. Collins
"The State in Early Modern France" by James B. Collins is a very good historical book that introduces the development of Early Modern France's government and social structure. It covers how the country changed over time and why it ultimately collapsed.
- 0
Book Review: "Russia Abroad: Prague and the Russian Diaspora 1918-1938" by Catherine Andreyev and Ivan Savicky
This book aims to study the anti-Bolshevik White Russian émigrés who fled Russia to Prague after the Russian Civil War, and does a good job of examining them politically, but less so socially.
- 0
A Tasteful Book: Silk and Tea in the North Scandinavian Trade
A fascinating historical book which makes the story of tea and silk imports into Denmark and Sweden a wide-ranging study of commerce, science, and political economies.
- 0
Book Review: "1177 B.C. The Year Civilization Collapsed" by Eric H. Cline
Gaps in the historical record only proffer so many excuses for trite books aiming for the best-seller list.
- 2
Book Review: "Tactics and Procurement in the Habsburg Military 1866-1918" by John A. Dredger
Although it has an impressive amount of research, detail, and many intelligent insights, "Tactics and Procurement" has a flawed and poor thesis and often has exceptions to its voluminous statistics.
- 1
A Beautiful and Complex Book: Review of Beyond Nationalism A Social and Political History of the Habsburg Officer Corps
Beautifully well written, extremely detailed, convincing, this book is more than just excellent for understanding the Austro-Hungarian Army, but also Austria-Hungary and nationalism in general.
- 0
Book Review: "The French Navy in World War II" by Paul Auphan and Jacques Mordal
Although flawed in political representation, this book is a useful one for analysis of naval opinion, and for an excellent representation of French navy operations during the Second World War.
- 1
The War in the Mediterranean 1803-1810 Review
A useful book for specialists and useful for naval-military historians, but out of date and mostly useful as a building block for later volumes.
- 1
A Review of The Arming of Europe and the Making of the First World War
A superb book for military and diplomatic historians of pre-Great War Europe
- 1
Book Review: "A History of the World's Airlines" by R.E.G. Davis
A book jam packed full of statistical information, air line routes, and aircraft types, but which doesn't provide a deeper picture into the underpinnings of airlines historically.
- 1
Peering Beneath the Streets of Paris: "Paris Sewers: Realities and Representations" by Donald Reid
Wide-ranging and detailed, this book makes an examination of sewers into a fascinating historical treatise on culture, science, politics, and society.
- 3
Book Review : "The End of Empire in French West Africa" by Tony Chafer
There aren't many books about the decolonization of French West Africa, but End of Empire sets the bar high for any others.
- 1
A Review of "American Orientalism: The United States and the Middle East Since 1945"
"American Orientalism" contains the seeds of a brilliant cultural history and a detailed policy history but fails to combine the two.
- 1
Book Review: March to the Marne by Douglas Porch
An excellent book for the relationship of the French military to the French nation before the Great War, but not as convincing for the French nation's relationship to the French army.