Just Finished Reading: The Men of 1924 – Britain's First Labour Government by Peter Clark (FP: 2023) [238pp] 

It was a risk but, they thought, worth it. The recent election had not provided any part with a clear majority but there was enough Liberal support to allow the brand-new Labour Party to form a government – the first in British history. Views across the country varied with political affiliation. Socialists, of which there were a growing number, saw it as an opportunity to gain for the working man and push back against the Capitalists. The trade unions saw it as an opportunity to bring in new laws and strike down old ones to protect jobs and improve the often-harsh working conditions in factories and mines. The working-class voters wanted to see what they could do, to give them a chance. 

The elected Labour politicians had hopes too, but they also were more than aware of the pitfalls and problems ahead of them. The first and foremost was the simple calculation of the number of Labour MPs – not enough. Certainly not enough to do anything ‘radical’ (as some members and some supporters certainly wanted them to do), not that the Labour leadership wanted any truck with that. Feared as either communists in sheep's clothing or some other form or revolutionary (as some of them were!) the leadership wanted to prove to the electorate – including Conservative and Liberal voters – that the country was in ‘safe hands’ despite everything they had heard or read in the papers. So, it was part ‘business as usual’ and part dressing appropriately to meet the King. 

A problem the whole Labour government was more than aware of – for obvious reasons – was their sheer lack of experience. Although many of the new members had been – and indeed many still were – leaders of various trade unions – few had been council leaders or in any other kind of administrative positions and fewer yet had knowledge or experience of foreign affairs. Picking cabinet posts was going to be difficult and challenging. Choosing members of the House of Lords to aid in any legislation was going to be even more of a challenge.  

Unfortunately, the opportunities to gain experience, pass meaningful legislation and prove to the electorate that they had nothing to fear from a Labour administration ended abruptly after only 10 months in office with the withdrawal of Liberal support and the loss of a confidence vote. Although they increased the number of MPs in the subsequent election, the Conservatives with Stanly Baldwin at the lead were back in power – and with a majority. The Labour experiment was over – for now. 

This was a surprisingly interesting – indeed often fascinating – look at the 20th century seismic political shift in British politics. For generations previously there had been two political parties – Conservative and Liberal. The growing Working class tended to vote Liberal but for a number of reasons that allegiance was falling away. Slowly (indeed very slowly) the number of Labour MPs increased and were increasingly voted into parliament. But it was only in 1924 that enough had done so to form a government – minority or not. Split into 3 parts – the political shift and the growth of Socialism, the government itself and mini-biographies of the men involved (the leader, Ramsey MacDonald, getting a whole chapter to himself) - this was chocked full of information and I honestly learnt a LOT.  

I do actually have quite the fascination for the ‘Between the Wars’ period as the world recovered from one global conflict and then prepared for another and this fills in a gap in my knowledge very nicely indeed. I have another book about this presently sitting on my Wish List so I’ll be deepening my knowledge of this event soon(ish). I’ll also see about adding a few more Prime Ministers from this period to my ‘list’. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in the emergence of British socialism and the Labour movement.

Just Finished Reading: 1923 – The Crisis that Led to Hitler’s Coup by Mark Jones (FP: 2023) [328pp] 

The so-called ‘Beer Hall putsch’ of 1923 where a young Adolf Hitler and his followers tried to take power in Munich is another one of those historical events that I knew of but knew little detail about. No more! What I failed to appreciate previously is the truism that nothing – especially politically charged events - happens in a vacuum. That was as true here as everywhere else. 

1923 was a tumultuous year for the Weimar Republic in Germany. Beset with problems on all sides it was barely holding on. Indeed many – on both the Left and the Right – disputed its very existence. With war reparations crippling the economy and social unrest growing throughout the country it was hardly surprising that a number of right-wing groups took things into their own hands and began to target politicians who they held responsible for their plight (and the plight of the country itself) for assassination. But in many ways, those in power were walking a daily tightrope. If they gave into pressure from the victorious allies – and particularly the French – then their own people would suffer and turn against them. If they resisted the demands for reparations, then the Allies (again mostly the French) would take action against them which would make things even worse. Unfortunately for the Weimar government the French had lost all patience with the speed of payments coming from Germany and decided (against the advice of the British and Americans) to occupy the Ruhr region and simply take what they wanted. As you can imagine, even in their weakened state, the German people did not respond well. 

The political and especially economic consequences of the occupation were huge. The economy especially took a huge hit and began its slow spiral out of control. Before long the inflation rate became quite eye watering throwing many into abject poverty. This inevitably radicalised many within the working and middle classes and these groups became a breeding ground for the growth of extremist groups on both Left and Right – including the newly revitalised Nazi Party. But they were not alone in looking for radical solutions to the problems facing all Germans in that year. What I was unaware of was two other events happening in other parts of the country. One was a proposed breakaway Rhineland that was demanding more autonomy within the German federation, and the other was so-called ‘Soviet Saxony’ that proposed (and indeed elected) a far-Left government structure based around the Soviet system in Russia. However, an independent Rhineland failed to gain enough support from its citizens – although this didn’t stop several armed groups from attempting to take power – and the ‘Soviet Saxon’ experiment was crushed by the army before it could gain any traction. That left Munich and Hitler. 

I won’t be spoiling any surprise when I say that the attempted coup failed in 1923. Although it might have succeeded in other, better, circumstances it had little hope towards the end of 1923. It did, however, lay the foundations for the growth and eventual triumph of the Nazi’s in 1933 a mere 10 years later. This was, to be honest, mostly the failure of the authorities in Berlin to take control of the situation as they had done in Saxony. Their fear, probably real to be honest, was the possibility of Civil War if they’d gone it too hard and heavy. With 20-20 hindsight even that might have been worth it. 

As a long-time fan of Alt-History I couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if things had played out differently. The attempted coup/putsch was stopped in its tracks by the actions of the local police who fired into the crowd killing a number of them. The man standing next to Hitler – who he had his arms linked with – was killed and Hitler himself dislocated his shoulder diving for cover. Herman Goering (also present) was hit in the leg. Imagine if the bullets had ended up elsewhere... Without its charismatic leader no Nazi Party. Maybe Weimar would have weathered the Crash of 1929 as other countries did and, gradually, recovered during the 30’s and 40’s? So, no Second World War? No Cold War. It's possible that the US would still have ended up fighting the Japanese, but it wouldn’t have enveloped the whole world. The Russians had enough problems of their own without attacking the West. The Spanish Civil War would’ve been quite different without German support. Italy might have still come to its aid with the Russians backing the Communists, but I could see the various political groups breaking down beyond a simple Left V Right dynamic maybe with the French supporting the Socialists and maybe even the Anarchists. It would be a very different world indeed... 

1923 was a pivotal time for Germany and the world. This excellent analysis puts the events of that year into context so that it all begins to make sense. Very detailed and very astute this was definitely a history highlight of the year. Highly recommended for anyone interesting in the between world wars period, Weimar Germany or the origins of the long road to WW2.  

Just Finished Reading: Pale Rider – The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How It Changed the World by Laura Spinney (FP: 2017) [295pp] 

At first, they thought it was just the Flu, something ordinary, something familiar no matter how annoying. Anyway, there was a war on so a few sniffles, a few sick men was neither here nor there. There was no way in hell that they could quarantine a port or stop the troop ships sailing to France. The fate of the West was at stake. Even when the sick began to overwhelm the medics and soldiers, young, fit, men began to die in ever greater numbers the trains still picked up the apparently heathy from the training camps and crammed them into transports. As the outbreak spread across war-torn Europe it hit the Germans HARD. After 4 years of war and the effects of the British naval blockade both the soldiers and civilians were using up their last reserves of just about everything.  

When the war finally ended and soldiers began returning home – including millions of prisoners of war long held in unhealthy camps – the ‘Spanish’ flu (so-called because of its early reports in uncensored Spanish newspapers) spread across the world. The mortality rate varied widely but was generally agreed upon as roughly 2% overall. This doesn’t seem very much, but 2% was around 50-100 million dead across the globe. The rather large range estimate reflects the lack of records, the fact that the number of dead in Russia (which was going through the start of its Civil War at the time) might never be known, the number of Indian dead (likewise) may never be known because of lax record keeping in that British ‘protectorate’ and China was in a state of political and civil upheaval and this, probably, is where the majority of the deaths occurred. The flu killed more than the Great War and possibly killed more than the Second World War that followed it. At the top of the estimate figures it is even conceivable that the Spanish flu killed more people than BOTH World Wars combined. The death toll was far from being evenly distributed. Whilst New York suffered 0.5% deaths Rio suffered three times as many at 1.6%. Zamora in Spain doubled that at 3% whilst Gujarat in India doubled that again at 6%. Worst was to come in isolated communities such as Bristol Bay in Alaska that suffered 40% mortality. 

Interestingly, the Spanish flu had numerous similarities to the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Governments played down its impact (in this case so as not to ‘undermine the war effort’), argued about the cause and exactly where it came from. This was especially problematic at the time because viruses were essentially theoretical in 1918. Some cities in the US or countries elsewhere instituted basic public health measures like social distancing, masks, the closing of schools and stopping of public gatherings. Other places did not, or only did so half-heartedly. Once the war was over several US cities allowed parades and paid the price in the increased backlog at mortuaries. I did find it especially interesting that there were many reports of long-term impacts of the disease even after people had recovered. Examples of heart damage, fatigue and psychological problems possibly cause by brain damage exploded in the medical records of the time. Loss of smell, temporary loss of colour vision and much else was experienced. So-called ‘Long Covid’ no longer seems in the least as ‘exaggerated’ as some have suggested. 

No longer ‘forgotten’ after our recent experience of global pandemic, the Spanish flu had a significant global impact that is all too often overlooked in the shadow of the Great War. It must have been quite terrifying at the time (again compared to Covid) and I think we can learn quite a bit from the virus itself and how the world coped (and didn’t) with the disease. This was definitely one of the Science/History highlights of the year for me. Not only is it very well written but the author explores far more that the outbreak itself looking at its short-term and long-term impacts of humanity and human history. Fascinating and highly recommended – if you can handle the flashbacks to 2020!   

Just Finished Reading: Fracture – Life and Culture in the West 1918-1938 by Philipp Blom (FP: 2015) [411pp] 

When I was young and ignorant (or at least more ignorant) I used to think that the period between the 20th centuries World Wars was a time of peace. I have long been disabused of this notion. As a French delegate to the Versailles conference said with great prescience, they had not just signed a peace treaty but rather a 20-year armistice. He was not wrong. The supposed ‘War to End Wars’ had instead shattered the world system, fracturing most of the last Empires in Europe as well as fatally damaging the globe spanning British Empire. The ramifications of this passed over the planet like an earthquake with regular aftershocks changing the world forever. Yet, even as the quake echoed around the world tensions still built beneath the surface and, unknown to the vast millions hoping for a better future a greater, even more devastating, quake was building. 

But, as with all times of social and political unrest, the West saw an outpouring of creativity both remarkable in its breadth and staying power. Works of art, literature, poetry, music, dance, and theatre since recognised as ground-breaking, indeed epoch defining, arose during this time. Not always recognised instantly (or quickly) with the regard later generations placed on them, they shocked, enthralled or dismayed the public often in equal measure. With the breaking of the international system anything, it seemed, was possible. One of the great epicentres of this new found freedom of expression was Berlin where an explosion of avant-garde art, music and lifestyles both appalled locals and attracted international visitors (who much later would be called the ‘jet set’). Briefly overshadowing Paris as the European city of culture, Berlin was THE melting pot of new ideas in a new world. 

Covering this and much else besides – including the emergence of Surrealism, Art Deco and the Jazz explosion, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, the bizarre findings of Quantum Mechanics, the Charleston dance craze and psychoanalysis – this was an epic tale of the Wests reaction (or maybe over-reaction) to the devastation of total war on a scale not seen before as individuals, major groupings and whole nations struggled to come to terms (or at least try to) what had just happened and to try to square the discontinuity between what they had been told (or promised) in 1914 and what had resulted by 1918. Chocked full of interesting observations, personalities and ideas this was one of the best books of the year so far for me. I do find the ‘between the wars’ era quite fascinating for a whole host of reasons (personally I’m kind of obsessed about periods of rapid or fundamental change – probably because we’re living through one) and this did nothing to diminish that interest, quite the contrary in fact. If you’re after a detailed look at the era in a single volume I’d definitely recommend this as a very good place to start. Highly recommended as is all of this author’s works. 

[Highest page count of the year so far: 411pp][+14pp]

Just Finished Reading: Red Summer – The Summer of 1919 and the Awakening of Black America by Cameron McWhirter (FP: 2011) [271pp] 

After their sacrifices on the battlefields of France they thought things would change on their return. With the words of President Wilson still ringing in their ears with talk of Democracy and Self Determination as the cornerstones of a new world order, with talk of peace, prosperity and progress for all they thought things would be different, that they’d be treated with more respect and that many would, at long last, be able to cast their votes without fear of the consequences. In 1919 they realised they were wrong. Nothing had really changed. Despite filling many of the jobs lost to soldiers fighting abroad and despite fighting and dying on European battlefields – when they were actually allowed to fight – they were treated exactly the same and were expected to take up their subservient roles again as if nothing had happened. Not surprisingly, many decided that things had indeed changed – maybe not in American society but within themselves. The feeling, most especially amongst returning veterans, was that they deserved better and that they would demand batter. So began the slow, painful and often bloody awakening of Black consciousness across America – from resistance to lynching, to fighting back in the cities (both North and South) when attacked, to the founding and growth of organisations designed to help black American’s gain access to legal remedies previously denied them as well as procuring professional legal representation in court cases where life and death hung in the balance.   

I’d come across various examples of this aspect of the American experience scattered through my reading of US history, but I lost count of the number of times I was honestly shocked at what went on and people's reaction to it. A few times I had to put the book down and go do something else for a while for my brain to function again. There’s only so much casual racism and targeted brutality I can cope with before my mind loses all comprehension. From 1919 into the early 1920’s I’m stunned at what black Americans had to put up with and I’m not surprised in the least that at least some of them decided that enough was enough. Some white commentators actually complained that the problem was caused by the French who had the audacity to treat black American soldiers like human beings which inevitably gave them ideas ‘above their station’. While American officers treated black soldiers who wanted to fight as simple labourers the French officers were more than willing to lead them into battle – and did so to great effect. The French could care less about their skin colour (having black soldiers themselves) but only cared if they were willing to kill the Boche.  

This detailed and very well written history was a real eye-opener for me. I kind of ‘knew’ how bad it could be being black in early 20th century America, but I had no real idea – until now. If you have a reasonably strong stomach and you can keep your anger and disgust in check this is a worthwhile if sobering read which helps to put a lot of black activism into a solid context. Black Lives Matter and its predecessors did not pop into existence out of thin air. It had LONG antecedents – even long before the focus of this book. I think that I am at least beginning to understand where some of the animosity and suspicion of American blacks comes from. This book was a real education. Highly recommended to anyone wanting to understand a still vital aspect of America. More to come from this author. 

Just Finished Reading: Ghosts of Empire by George Mann (FP: 2017) [292pp] 

London, 1927. It was supposed to be a much-needed vacation, especially after the incidents in New York which very nearly ended all of their lives. But Gabriel was a man of action, a crime fighter and dedicated enemy of monsters, so visiting historic sites in London and sitting in fancy restaurants for too long was starting to bore him. Luckily their late guest provided much of interest, especially as he arrived covered in his own blood and was barely alive. Unable to tell Gabriel who attacked him or why it was clearly time to his alter-ego known simply as ‘The Ghost’ to investigate further. It wasn’t long before his friend's attackers showed their hand again in an all-out assault using esoteric magic the like of which the Ghost/Gabriel had never seen before. There was far more going on here than a simple attack, something dark, something sinister and, so it seemed, something very Russian. The Ghost couldn’t fight such a force on his own. Even his friends, as capable as they were, would not be enough. Luckily for the Ghost he was far from alone. Operating in the shadows, watching, waiting and gathering strength was an element of the British Secret Service dedicated to fighting the Empire’s supernatural enemies. After the end of the Great War and the recommencement of the ‘Great Game’ they knew that the Russian Empire would be itching to strike at the very heart of Albion itself – and Gabriel Cross, AKA The Ghost – had just walked right into the middle of it. 

This was the 4th and final book in the Ghost series. Whilst not my favourite – that was the 2nd book Ghosts of War – this was still a FUN romp in a crazy mixed-up steampunk, Lovecraftian, gothic Batmanesque world. It did start off rather slow but ramped up quickly once the action started. Some of the characters from previous novels got a bit more into the action this time – Gabriel's cop-friends wife actually got some ‘acting’/action time here and proved herself capable with the pistol – although some got trimmed back a bit – Ginny was definitely toned down as she had become quite powerful in the last book, being inhabited by a shard of an Egyptian god and all that.... The one I really missed was Astrid, the New York witch, who I really liked and wanted to see more of. I did like some of the British spies – both the boss and the girl had some depth of character to them – and the baddies were suitably BAD although maybe a little too weak. Much of the magic work was reasonable (reminding me of Dr Strange more than anything else) but much was very well done. The final ‘boss fight’ was slightly disappointing but not too much so. Overall, it was a pretty good outing and I enjoyed it. It was interesting that more attention was paid to the use of magic in the Great War than had been hinted at before but it's possible that the general public wasn’t aware of it as the information came during an exposition by the head Secret Service guy, but that would cast the conflict in a whole different light. Personally, I’m still totally intrigued by the whole idea of monsters from other dimensions living & feeding in no-man's land. That STILL sends shivers down my back! Looking forward to more novels/series from this author. More to come. Above average stuff and, therefore, recommended. At last, a FINISHED series – time to start two more!! 

Just Finished Reading: The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell (FP: 1937) [212pp] 

I grew up (ages 10-23) about 7 miles from Wigan so it's not that surprising that I’d heard about this classic for as long as I can remember. Recently, especially after reading another non-fiction by Orwell, I thought it was about time I finally got around to reading it. It wasn’t really what I was expecting and, to be honest, I was a little disappointed that Wigan itself didn’t appear more prominently in the narrative. But that was my only, very minor, quibble with this work. 

The word that comes to mind concerning his descriptions of working-class life in the North of England around that time is: grim. Not only was unemployment rife and of long duration – the area was only just beginning to recover from the Great Depression despite industrial uptick due to the ongoing (slow) rearmament program – but the general living conditions were often appalling. Born in a dilapidated Victorian terrace myself (built I think in 1888) I could easily visualise Orwell’s accounts of the houses he stayed in during his time there. I could also sympathise with the tales of overcrowding – although I have no solid memory of such – as my parents and my brother and I shared a TWO-bedroom house with my maternal grandparents. How we actually managed that is beyond me! 

Another early section that really jumped out at me was his description of a visit to a coal mine and a discussion of the conditions below ground as well as how poorly treated (and paid) the coalminers were. In the 1970’s - so a little over a generation later – my school offered a trip to one of the last working coal mines in the area. I THINK it was probably Golborne Colliery. So, when Orwell described the conditions at the coalface and the hardship of just getting there and back – UPAID – I was right there with him. The group of us (plus a teacher or two) only stayed there a few hours but by the time we got back I was both exhausted and filthy – and we hadn’t actually DONE anything. The guys who actually WORKED down there, 8, 10 or more hours a day, week in and week out – just the thought of it amazes me, as it did Orwell who had nothing but praise for them. 

Whilst the first half of the book covered conditions for the workers – both above and below ground – the second half moved onto more political and sociological discussions of Class which was much more important and honestly rigid almost 100 years ago. Orwell had some interesting ideas about the prospect of a ‘classless’ society as well as the problems of ‘social mixing’. In some ways little has changed, although so-called social mobility is far easier these days where money talks louder than old-school ties – at least in most places. I did find it interesting when Orwell mused on the possible future European war and the dangerous rise of fascism both on the Continent and in England itself. Interestingly he thought that fascism could indeed take hold here if it wasn’t intelligently challenged.  

Overall, this was a very interesting look at a particular Class in a particular part of England at a particular time – and viewed (of course) from a Middle-class perspective [Orwell was VERY conscious of his position in the class hierarchy and that in itself was another fascinating look at the lived experience of the control system that Class was/is]. Inevitably this was at times very dated – a LOT has changed in the last 90 years or so – and, as a look into a very different world, could be quite confusing at times – even the language used was different in some ways back then – but as a brief glimpse of a slice of cultural/political/industrial history it's definitely worth a read and is worthy of the name Classic. More Orwell to come. Recommended.  

Just Finished Reading: Michael Collins and the Troubles – The Struggle for Irish Freedom 1912-1922 by Ulick O’Connor (FP: 1975) [209pp] 

Tension in Ireland had been building for some time. Periodic rebellions across the island, although more prevalent in the South, had long been a feature of life there. As the 20th century progressed it became obvious, even to the British parliament in London that something needed to be done. The answer it seemed was to give Ireland a form of independence similar to the Dominion status of Canada and Australia within the British Empire. Not everyone, of course, was happy with the idea of Home Rule – both in England and in the north of Ireland specifically – and the passage of the Bill through parliament was far from easy. A further complication arose with the start of the Great War and Home Rule was delayed until after hostilities has ceased. Tensions, however, continued to rise with activists on both sides of the issue starting to arm and train for future conflict both in support of Home Rule (or indeed full Independence) or to fight against it. This culminated in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin and the subsequent brutal British response. With the end of the War in Europe talks began again regarding Home Rule with now three factions arming heavily – those in favour of the Home Rule bill being implemented, those fighting for full Independence from the British Empire and those fighting (in the northern counties) to remain within the Empire. A Civil War was brewing in Ireland and Michael Collins, one of the leaders in the Rising, was at the heart of things. 

This slim volume covered much of the ground I’d read about in various other books regarding this turbulent period in Anglo-Irish history. Despite being necessarily brief, it did manage to cover the Easter Rising in some detail over around 3-4 chapters and I picked up a few more insights into that pivotal event. It was interesting to see how the Rising could have been much more effective (or at least longer lasting) if the plan for a much wider rebellion had managed to go off as expected or if a large arms shipment from Germany had been delivered into Republican hands as planned. But what I took from this book was the importance of some of the leading players in the drama – and not only Collins himself. Although hundreds of men (and women!) took part in the Easter Rising itself and many thousands of others in the subsequent Civil War, it was the big players (mostly men, but with a few notable women too) who directed things for good or ill both in Ireland itself and within the English establishment in London. I’ll definitely be reading more about them going forward. I also wanted to read more about the leaders of the Rising who were arrested afterwards and eventually executed in England for treason.  

England has had a LONG and difficult relationship with its close neighbour to the west, and I’m really only just still scratching the surface of that troubled history. As I get older, I’m becoming more interested in my Irish heritage so want to understand the background to incidents such as this (for one thing I only discovered that Ireland even HAD a Civil War just a few years ago!) so expect more Ireland focused books in the years ahead. Oh, and just one other thing... Although Michael Collins does feature quite a bit in this book – especially in the second half – this isn’t really about him so much as the role he played in things during and after 1916. On the back, the book is classified as a Biography. It isn’t. But, as a well-written and concise look at the 10-year period from 1912-1922 its pretty good. More to come. 

Just Finished Reading: They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? By Horace McCoy (FP: 1935) [121pp] 

1930’s California. On trial for his life, Robert Syverten looks back on the circumstances that got him here. An aspiring director still full of dreams and hopes despite everything else, he finds himself in the company of Gloria Beatty who has given up all hope of becoming an actress or of living a normal life. In the hopes of winning the main prize of $1,000 they decide to join forces and enter a local Dance Marathon. Having to dance, or at least move with only short breaks for as long as it takes isn’t so bad when you consider that they’ll feed you regularly and, if you’re lucky, you might even get sponsored by local businesses who’ll provide clothes and shoes. It’s a pretty sweet deal – IF you can stay on your feet. Robert has a few fans in the audience and even the possibility of a job offer, but Gloria has little interest in being approachable. As their relationship starts to sour an increasing harsh program of ‘elimination’ events start to cull the swaying couples. Can they both stay on their feet long enough to win the prize or will Gloria sabotage everything out of pure spite?

 I have vague memories of the 1969 movie adaptation of this strange little novel so knew something of what to expect. This was in many ways a brutal critique of the Great Depression and the crushing reality of what people will do to survive one more day. It’s also about the absolute loss of hope and what people will do to hasten the end and get it over with. The main characters are very well drawn, and I liked Robert even if he was rather naïve given the circumstances. He certainly wasn’t lucky, that’s for sure! Gloria is a NASTY piece of work whose main reason for living seems to be to ruin other people’s lives because her own is so apparently hopeless. Starting fights with other contestants is the least of her ‘talents’ and (just as we are supposed to) I really didn’t like her although she did elicit some pity which, no doubt, she would’ve thrown back in my face. The venue of the dance hall was very well done and even the organisers – despite making money from the horrible spectacle – seemed to be reasonable men. Overall, despite its very short length, I found this to be very affecting and thought provoking. It certainly offers an interesting perspective on the Depression era. Somewhat depressing (as you might imagine) but well worth a read. Recommended. 

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Just Finished Reading: Transforming the Skies – Pilots, Planes and Politics in British Aviation, 1919-1940 by Peter Reese (FP: 2018) [250pp] 

The end of WW1 (AKA ‘The Great War) came as a relief to millions across the world but as a shock to Britain’s aircraft industry. Not only were government contracts terminated with immediate effect – despite aircraft still rolling off production lines – but a war ‘excessive profits’ tax was levied, again with immediate effect. The economic shock of both government actions sent companies into bankruptcy, hasty amalgamation or heavily in debt to banks, other institutions and friends with deep pockets. With few private orders, no more government contracts for the foreseeable future and a glut of engines and airframes on the market things looked bleak and remained so for most of the 1920’s. But all was not lost and a few companies, through hard work and a dose of luck managed to survive and, in some cases, almost thrive on the crumbs that came their way. This book is their story. 

Covering the earliest days of civil aviation - locally within the UK, the trickle to Europe and (mostly) to connect the Empire to London – the author looked at pioneering, often record breaking, flights to (very) far off places as proof of concept. Using, at least initially, old military stock the public became used to the idea of flight as a viable (just!) alternative to ocean liners – if you were especially adventurous. But old stock only took you so far and so fast. Bigger, faster and more spacious planes were needed and started to appear helping the air industry survive a little longer. But it wasn’t just air transport that drove innovation. An important sporting event thrown into the mix was the Schneider Trophy races where the need for speed helped produced both the fabulous Supermarine S5 (precursor to the Spitfire) and the iconic Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Innovation in the RAF, however, was a long time coming stymied by lack of funds, a strong international movement for disarmament, the belief that the bomber would ‘always get through’ so what was the point in a fighter-based defence (I kid you not) and, to be honest, sheer bloody mindedness in the Air Ministry. Luckily a handful of men (and at least one woman) saw which way the wind was beginning to blow in the 1930’s and laid the groundwork for the buildup of the RAF in the run up to the war and especially the Battle of Britain. 

I knew some of this from previous reading but I was honestly amazed at how close Britain actually was to losing its historic encounter with the Luftwaffe over the fields of Kent in 1940. Not for want of effort but for want of the right weapons. It was a real possibility, right up until the last years of the 1930’s that Britain could’ve been facing the German 109 fighters with BIPLANES. Astounding. Both the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters were essentially private ventures that the Air Ministry initially reluctantly agreed to entertain as potential front-line aircraft. Only after MUCH effort and the ever-encroaching clouds of war did they get their finger out and start (just in time!) to produce these aircraft in significant numbers. 

But this excellent volume covers much more that that most significant fact. Full of interesting insights into British airship building, the earliest days of British Airways and tales of the great designers this was a fascinating read. Definitely a must for anyone interested in the aircraft industry between the two World Wars. Recommended.   

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Just Finished Reading: Ghosts of Karnak by George Mann (FP: 2016) [294pp] 

New York, 1927. After the recent events with the creature at the funfair it came as no surprise to Gabriel that Ginny needed a break – a break from New York, a break from monsters and even a break from him. Heading to Egypt seemed like a good idea. It was somewhere exotic, somewhere very different and somewhere where she could recharge and consider her next move. Gabriel, AKA The Ghost, barely had time to think about her. A turf war was breaking out between a new crime boss known as The Reaper and the smaller gangs that could challenge his authority. But the New York police department had other worries right now. A dead girl had been found, attacked and dumped in plain sight. This was no ordinary killing, not a robbery, not any kind of sexual assault, it was a message pure and simple – if the word ‘simple’ could be used in this case. Carved into the girl's skin, both pre and post-mortem were esoteric symbols quickly identified as Egyptian. That was really all Inspector Donnovan needed, a war brewing between mobsters and cultists with civilians and police officers in the middle. Meanwhile in Egypt itself, Ginny has fallen in with a pair of archaeologists eager to show her their latest findings in the desert. The dig is impressive and promises to reveal much about early religious practices long abandoned. But something is stirring in the deep desert, something old, something dreaming of revenge and dominion, something with designs on Ginny and then, New York itself. 

This was my third Ghost book (one more to go in the series) and I enjoyed it quite a bit. About the only thing that disappointed me was a notable lack of world building present in the previous books. As with any alternate history piece, or indeed any SF/Fantasy world, I’m interested in the how and the why of things being different and how the particular society functions. We get very little of that here. Indeed, apart from police dirigibles, the mention of coal powered cars (in passing only), and some crude ‘cyborg’ enforcers it could very well have been our world he was writing about – almost. But... There were many things to enjoy here too. My regulars will know that I keep banging on about the importance (to me) of good characterisation. Here we have that in spades. Gabriel/The Ghost is an interesting character – part Gatsby, part PTSD fighter pilot from WW1, part steampunk Batman. His psyche is complicated (or shattered and barely holding together depending on your PoV) and I’d like to know a LOT more about his experiences in and above No Man’s Land. Donnovan and his sergeant side-kick Mullins are definitely growing on me and I look forward to knowing more about them in the next/last book in the series. Ginny is a FUN character, attractive, somewhat dissolute but useful in a firefight and not easily fazed or controlled by anyone. A new favourite is Astrid who is Gabriel’s esoteric expert and, I think, essentially a witch. She’s feisty, fun and VERY knowledgeable – pretty handy with a gun too! The baddy was somewhat disappointing considering who and what he was but I suppose having an unbeatable ‘boss’ isn’t exactly fun either for the reader or the good guys fighting him. The ‘boss’ in the second novel is still my favourite so far. Overall, this was a FUN read and the plot whizzed along nicely. I’m definitely looking forward to the next volume and other books by this author. I may even dip into some works I have on Egyptian religion as this book definitely piqued or re-piqued my interest in the subject. Recommended but read the other two books first to get based properly in the world.  

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Just Finished Reading: The Child Thief by Dan Smith (FP: 2012) [355pp] 

Vyriv, Western Ukraine, Winter 1930. Luka knew that no good deed goes unpunished but, despite everything, he had yet to lose his humanity. The man walking towards them looked half dead with exhaustion, his last words being ‘Thank God’ before he collapsed at their feet. But it was the contents of the sled that shocked Luka and his two sons – a pair of children, dead, frozen and one, seemingly, partially butchered. Was the stranger a killer or a rescuer? They’d have to wait until he recovered to answer those pressing questions. Returning to his village, Luka hoped to keep the young bodies secret so as not to worry the others further. But in such a close-knit community such a secret was impossible with predictable consequences. The nightmare seems to be over until Dariya, his niece, fails to return home that night. A search party finds nothing until Luka’s tracking skills show a pair of tracks heading into the forest. One track is clearly Dariya’s, the other is unknown, a stranger's track, an outsider. There is nothing left to do but follow and hope. But this is not a simple case of abduction. The child thief wants to play with his pursuers and he’s very good at the game... 

As with most of these thriller novels, I picked this up because it looked different and interesting. It was certainly that! Peppered throughout with insights into the Soviet occupation and exploitation of Ukraine during Stalinist rule, this was a tense tale of man dealing with an uncomfortable past and looking towards a more troubling future. Luka is an interesting character study – a Russian living in Ukraine with a complicated military history fighting for the Imperial Army, the Communists and then the Ukrainian Anarchists as his disillusion grew with grand ideas. A soldier forced by circumstances to farm, a loving husband wracked by doubt and nightmares, a man more adept with a rifle than a shovel who just wants the best for his family – if only circumstance and history would leave him alone. 

Luka is the core of the novel and carries that weight and responsibility well. The atmosphere is very well crafted, from small village prejudices to Soviet arrogance, from the damage war causes years after the fighting stops to the desire to be left to your own devices no matter how sparse they are. The winter environment is real enough to produce a chill and there is little fault with the overall narrative. The only irritation for me at least was the behaviour of Luka’s teenage sons, but then again they were teenagers so I guess they SHOULD be irritating. This is often not exactly a pleasant or uplifting read but it is consistently a page-turning one. Full of interesting and believable characters in the midst of a threatening situation you do find yourself hoping against hope for those caught in the middle of things and cheering on Luka as he does his best for his family and everyone else he comes into contact with. Definitely recommended. 

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Just Finished Reading: The Great Depression & The New Deal – A Very Short Introduction by Eric Rauchway (FP: 2008) [131pp] 

The Great Crash of 1929 led directly to the Great Depression of the 1930’s - right? It might certainly seem that way but the direct cause and effect of both events is far trickier. There had been crashes before, sure not as bad or as deep or lasting so long as the one in ‘29 but they had happened and, after a short sharp recession, the economy had recovered. The thinking at the time, the prevailing idea of laissez-faire, suggested that if left alone the stock market as well as the larger economy would ‘self-correct’ in time. So, time was given then more time and then some more time. Instead of any self-correction things instead grew steadily worse. Pronouncements from politicians and industry leaders followed stating publicly that everything was fine and that people really should spend money. Meetings were held (again very publicly) between government and industry to show that they were ‘doing something’. Eventually, the Hoover administration decided that they really had to do something but it was too little and too late – their thunder’ had already been stolen by the Democratic candidate for President who promised a New Deal if elected: Franklin D Roosevelt. The problem was, even FDR had no clear idea what could be done, if anything, to bring the country back. 

Looking back with a ‘big picture’ lens it's easy to see the New Deal program as a coherent and coordinated response to the Great Depression. At the time it was nothing of the sort. FDR and his administration knew (as did most people) that ‘something’ needed to be done but there was only so much that could be done as well as only so much that would be allowed to be done. Despite the condition of the US, and the world, economy the idea of direct government intervention was still anathema to many. Even those most effected on the ground were loath to take charity or government handouts even if they desperately needed them. Yet still, something had to be done. The first order of business was to shore up the financial sector and restore confidence in the banks. Then there were incentives for business to invest and grow. Some things seemed to work and were expanded, others seemed not to work and were dropped. The Federal government extended aid and guarantees to the States for plans already drawn up and awaiting funds. States were encouraged to plan more projects and businesses were asked, encouraged and sometimes bullied into keeping their workers in employment even at shorter hours or reduced pay. Although things improved slightly, or stopped being so bad for so many, it still wasn’t enough. Nowhere near enough. The government would, it seemed, need to get its hands dirty. Over the coming years the Federal government started funding projects directly – to build roads, schools, dams and much else. It increased Social Security and began to directly influence business decisions. It was heavily criticised for inaugurating Socialism in America (whilst being nothing of the sort of course) but things did improve and keep on improving. But did the New Deal work? Did it end the Great Depression. The clear answer is No. Although things were improving as the 1930’s began to draw to a close it was the war in Europe which boosted job numbers and then the massive increase in defence spending prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor that pulled the economy out of Depression and laid the foundation for American financial dominance for the rest of the 20th century and beyond. 

I thought this was a useful follow up to my previous read on the Wall Street Crash and rounded off the subject nicely. Obviously in a mere 130 pages the author couldn’t do full justice to either the Depression nor the response to it – in America never mind the rest of the world – but he did manage to hit the highlights and, as always, provide a full bibliography for further reading. I’ll see if I can follow this up (at some point) with some of the different responses to the Depression in the UK, France and other places around the world. A very good (as these very often are) introduction to an interesting and important topic especially after the Crash of 2008. Recommended. 

Just Finished Reading: The Great Crash 1929 by John Kenneth Galbraith (FP: 1954) [210pp] 

The NY Stock Market crash of 1929 is undoubtedly one of the most important events of the 20th century. The worldwide ramifications of the event and the Depression that followed shaped the world we live in to a significant extent. Without an understanding of what happened and why it happened any appreciation of 20th century history can only be severely hampered. But what made the Crash of ‘29 so devastating? Afterall, we’ve had economic boom & bust for a good chunk of human history, likewise we’ve had financial ‘bubbles’ that have emerged, grown and ‘popped’ before without dragging the world into economic chaos. What was significant about this one? 

Part of the reason it seems is both the length and the height of the boom before it all fell apart. It’s not unusual for stock markets to climb and then fall back but it is unusual for the market to climb to giddy heights and then keep on climbing. For a LONG while it looked like, and was talked about by people who should have known better, as if the rise in value could indeed go on indefinitely. It’s hardly surprising then that people saw buying stocks as an easy, indeed essentially free, way to make money. Starting with the usual suspects – the financial speculators – it wasn’t long until average people started buying stocks and watched with great pleasure as their net worth grew week on week. As the market continued to grow it made sense to borrow money to buy stock and then to use that stock as collateral to extend the loan to buy more stock. It was even worth companies cutting back on investment in order to buy stock (often in their own company) which seemed like a sure way to ensure ever greater profits. As the bubble grew and grew those ‘in the know’ knew that, at some point, the bubble would burst and the market would ‘self-correct’. The trick was to sell just before this happened. The problem was, of course, knowing precisely when to do so. This decision wasn’t exactly made easy by the market reporting methods of the time. These were designed to report on market prices where a reasonably moderate number of shares exchanged hands each day. As the number of shares bought and sold ballooned in the late 20’s information regarding these sales started to lag behind reality. In this state of uncertainty, it was all too possible to jump too soon or, even worse, too late without even knowing it.  

Of course, the US government could also see the risk of a burst bubble but what to do about it, that was the question. It was certain that the bubble would burst eventually but would intervention make things better in the long run or worse in the short term and, most importantly to the political mind, who would be blamed for either action (or inaction). In an attempt to ‘cool things down’ the bank borrowing rate was increased. This, by and large, achieved little to nothing. The interest on any loan paled in comparison to the interest on bought shares. In any case, the prevailing theories of the time confidently said, after the burst would come the market self-correct and after a short period of pain, the market would start increasing again. Afterall, the fundamentals of the real economy were sound. Unfortunately, the politicians, the economic theories, and the experts were wrong. Dead wrong. 

After a few minor falls and recoveries, the market dropped a LOT. The next day it was expected to recover, at least in part, but the delayed transactions from the day before put paid to that. The market dropped again, and kept on dropping. It wasn’t long before the panic set in. Stock prices plummeted with even so-called guilt stock losing 20, 30, 50% of its price within days. Those who didn’t cash out quickly lost everything. Those who managed to sell in the early days still lost a great deal. But, no matter how bad the Crash itself was it was assumed that, once things hit bottom, a recovery could begin. Unfortunately, that ‘bottom’ failed to materialise in days, weeks or months after the initial precipitous fall. Many assurances were made, both in the financial and political realm that the ‘real’ economy was fine and that whatever happened in New York really didn’t influence things ‘out there’ too much. Stocks were ephemeral things but bricks and mortar, land, and acres of wheat were the real wealth of the country, right? The problem, however, was twofold: firstly, the underlying economy was NOT fundamentally sound and second even those who had money (and only a small percentage of people had actually speculated in the market) where reluctant to spend it during a period of growing uncertainty. It wasn’t long before the fantasy world of the stock market started to infect the real-world decisions of whether to buy or not or whether to keep your money in the local bank (if you had it) rather than under your mattress. The Great Depression was about to begin. 

Although, I’m sure along with most other people, I had an appreciation of the events of 1929 I wasn’t fully aware of the details of that disaster. This classic work of Economic history has filled in a lot of blanks in that regard. Written within living memory of the events and by an economist of note this was a quite fascinating look at the logical, almost rational, madness that gripped the US and the world in the late 1920’s. If you’ve ever wondered about the Crash and where it fits into 20th century history but didn’t know where to start, I think this is definitely the place. Written in an easily digestible language format you won’t need a background in Economics to witness the financial trainwreck unfold before your eyes. Recommended for all those interested in 20th century history and economics.    

Just Finished Reading: Kristallnacht – Prelude to Destruction by Martin Gilbert (FP: 2006) [269pp] 

Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, took place across Germany over 9th-10 November 1938. It involved the organised and vicious attacks on Jewish properties, businesses and Synagogues as well as targeted arrests, beatings and killings of Jews throughout the country. Although it was far from the beginnings of Nazi oppression of Jews and other so-called ‘undesirables’ it showed its citizens, and the larger world, the horror that was coming in just a few short years. The events of that day, as well as those in the months following, not only shocked the world – as they were reported by international journalists who could still report from German held territory – but added an additional sense of urgency to the increased rearmament efforts of France, Britain and the Soviet Union following the earlier Anschluss between Germany and Austria. 

Regular readers here will know that I hardly ever read directly about the Holocaust. It is, to be honest, a subject I tend to avoid. Although I do not know everything about that horrifying time in European history, I know enough to realise how depressed and emotionally upset it would leave me to read into the subject deeply enough to truly understand it. I know it happened and I know enough about those events to be aware of the parameters of the tragedy as it unfolded. So why, you must be asking yourselves, did I read this book? It’s a good question actually! I picked it up some years ago (although not as far back as 2006 I think!) almost on impulse. It’s been sitting in a stack since then waiting for me to (almost) have the courage to read it. Despite everything I’m ‘glad’ I did. Let me explain... 

Kristallnacht and the obscenity that followed are, beyond question, examples of the worse aspects of humanity writ large. Such events need to be remembered if, for nothing else, we can hold tight to the idea that they will happen Never Again. But as this book reminds us, in the midst of such inhumanity acts of heroic humanity shone through. On the night itself, and over the subsequent days, friends, neighbours and complete strangers, helped Jews displaced from their homes (and often at great personal risk to themselves) to find shelter, food and ways to escape the coming storm. Local police gave warnings of raids, turned blind eyes to those they were tasked to find and ignored valuables (often the only items carried) held by refugees as they crossed borders. Organisations across the world, often run by Quakers, put together rescue schemes like the Kindertransport which helped thousands of Jewish and other children escape to England. What I was most impressed by were stories of consulate officials who worked tirelessly (and often against direct orders) to issue exit visas to anyone who asked for them. Some officials issued THOUSANDS more than normal, working 18 hour days, and one (I think he was from Portugal) actually continued issuing them whilst returning ‘home’ after being recalled. As he crossed the border he produced his last visas on any scrap of paper he could find to save the last few people before returning home in ‘disgrace’.  

But while some did everything they could to help as much as humanly possible, others stuck to outdated rules that restricted the number of legitimate immigrants and even, on far too many occasions, turned ships around to return their frightened human cargo straight back into Hell. On some level you can almost understand it. They, at least, didn’t have access to the knowledge we do. Although the world knew about German concentration camps, the existence of death camps was still in the future. But still, even without this foreknowledge, it almost beggared belief that officials could turn desperate people away and still sleep at night. There was even debate in the US Congress about what to do with German Jews on student visas and whether their stay would be extended for the duration of the war! Incredible. 

Given the subject matter, no matter how professionally conveyed, this is certainly NOT a book for sensitive souls. It is an examination of both the worst and some of the best of humanity in action. Both the worst and the best should not be forgotten – especially the best examples of humanity who give us hope and stand as examples for the rest of us. This is why I’m ‘glad’ I read this. It gives me hope for our future.  

Just Finished Reading: Ghosts of War by George Mann (FP: 2011) [348pp] 

New York, 1927. It started with the birds falling from the sky – dead before they hit the ground. Then the disappearance's, random, sudden, unexplained. The police responded in the only way they could, with warnings in the newspapers and over the radio, with talk of a curfew and with increased airship patrols. Still the abductions occurred without apparent rhyme or reason. The Ghost watched from above and caught only glimpses of strange looking brass creatures seemingly searching for something. He wanted to discuss them with his police contact but Inspector Donovan had other priorities. The commissioner himself had tasked him with an important matter of national security. A British spy had obtained information vital to the nation's defence and needed to be tracked down and stopped immediately. All other tasks must be dropped. The spy was Donovan’s top priority. If the spy managed to leave New York it could mean another World War. But both the Ghost and his friend the Inspector knew that such a request didn’t feel right. Tracking down spies wasn’t something the NYPD did, that was a task for the Secret Service. Plus, why was an isolationist politician putting so much pressure on Commissioner Montague which he then applied to Donovan? Maybe they both needed to find the spy (if he even existed) and talk to him before handing him over to the authorities – unless the long-predicted war with the British Empire broke out first! 

This was the second book in the Ghost series (two more to go) and as much as I enjoyed the first book – with a few minor caveats – I enjoyed this one more. As I’d hoped after reading the first book, the author expanded his world a little and we discovered a bit more about the Ghost’s background and experiences during the Great War and his early encounter with a tentacled creature in No Man’s Land. We also discovered a bit more about the British Empire and it’s less than amicable relationship with the growing power of the United States. The Ghost also had a new love life, or actually a reintroduced love life, in the shape of Ginny who turned out to be a capable asset who could handily cope with a shoot-out or an encounter with an alien beast from another dimension (always useful in a girlfriend I think!). Although I was a little disappointed by the baddie in the previous book, I had no problems at all with this one (or actually with this cabal plus the ubiquitous mad-scientist). Each baddie was suitably bad, with few if any redeeming qualities and even fewer moral scruples. We were obviously supposed to cheer when they came to bad ends and, in true pulp style, we did when they did! The inevitable final ‘boss fight’ was handled very well, especially when it looked like the author had painted the Ghost into a corner but got him (and the rest of the world) out of it without use of any ‘magical’ device or anything like that. Things were solved by ingenuity and the application of sufficient – or more than sufficient! - force. Overall, this was a solid work of SF, alt-history, horror tinged, steampunk and I really enjoyed it. I’ll definitely be reading the other two books later in the year – probably when the nights start drawing in again – as I’m still intrigued with the world the author created and where he’s going to take us next. Definitely recommended for steampunk and HP Lovecraft fans.     

Just Finished Reading: The Vanishing Futurist by Charlotte Hobson (FP: 2016) [293pp] 

Moscow, 1918. She knew that her parents would never approve which, she was honest with herself, was one of the driving forces behind her decision. She could have taken up the role of governess anywhere but Gerty Freely wanted something more exotic. So, when a posting to a family in Russia was advertised, she jumped at it. On her arrival in 1914 the initial culture shock was, indeed, quite shocking. But after coming to terms with the odd family dynamic and, slowly, learning the language she starting settling in. With the advent of war she was strongly advised to return to England, but the activities of German U-boats persuaded her to stay. Even as Revolution began to seem a real possibility, she could hardly abandon the family she had grown to love in their hour of most desperate need. What she never expected was how closely she found herself identifying with the revolutionaries who, right in front of her eyes, were building a new world and shaping themselves into people fit to occupy it. Even as conditions worsened day by day and the country fell into a brutal Civil War she still wanted to be a part of the commune set up by the charismatic scientist Nikita Slavkin – the now famous Vanishing Futurist. But Gerty is one of the few people who knows exactly what happened to him in those dark and turbulent days and, looking back from the 1960’s, begins to tell her daughter the story of her Revolution. 

This was yet another one of those books I picked up because of the cover – which I loved. Plus, it was out of my general reading ‘comfort zone’. I was not disappointed. Told almost exclusively from Gerty’s point of view (a very interesting and well-formed character) this was a microcosm of Russia’s descent from Monarchy to revolution to chaos during World War 1. From what I’ve read elsewhere, and in particular the works of Helen Rappaport, the author really knows what she’s talking about here. The descent from moderate gentility to at first a rather idealistic but naïve commune to the harsh reality of Communist rule (and misrule) under the Bolsheviks was quite something to behold. The fervour of those involved was very believable. The wanted, indeed needed, to believe that their actions and the hardships they were living through must be for something greater than themselves. Even when forced to eat animal feed – it was that or starve – and burn outbuildings and even interior doors and furniture to keep from freezing in the winter they still believed that their course was the correct one and jumped on any dissent with both feet. I think that was the most interesting aspect of the whole very well written novel – getting into the mindset of people who were literally starving whilst defending the very situation that was causing their starvation. If you’ve ever wondered how people can live through revolutionary times and come out the other end still being true believers then this book might give you some insights. Although not as amazing as I thought it would be at the beginning this was still a very worthwhile read and I can see what it was nominated for an award on publication. Recommended. 

Awards 

Walter Scott Prize Best Historical Novel (nominee)

Just Finished Reading: Ghosts of Manhattan by George Mann (FP: 2010) [326pp] 

New York, 1926. Despite the deepening Cold War with the British Empire Manhattan’s police commissioner has more pressing problems. There’s a new crime lord in town who has managed to muscle his way into the world of organised crime using a combination of extreme violence and mystery to intimidate his enemies. The NYPD are at a loss to discover who this player is and can only refer to him as ‘The Roman’ because of his habit of leaving priceless Roman coins on the eyes of his high-profile victims. If that wasn’t bad enough a new vigilante is running around the streets doing what the police are singularly incapable of – fighting the Roman’s minions on their own turf. Leaving dead gangsters, along with the occasional civilian bystander, in his wake the press has named him ‘The Ghost’ for his ability to appear and disappear at will. Detective Donovan has been given the dubious ‘honour’ of tracking down both ‘The Roman’ and his seeming nemesis-wannabee ‘The Ghost’ but is at a loss as how to proceed. In an act of desperation, he decides to enlist the one person who is actually making headway in the case – the spectral apparition himself. But is joining forces with a self-appointed crime fighter the right thing to do? Only time and results will tell. 

To be honest I picked this first book of the series up because of its amazing cover. Generally, I’m a sucker for all things steampunk so I thought it was worth the punt. What sold it for me – even before I read the first page – was the overall description of the book on the back. This was ‘a glorious mash-up of alternate history, science-fiction, supernatural horror and detective thriller.’ With that to look forward to how could I possibly resist? The noir feeling of 20’s America was handled well with seedy streets, seedy people doing seedy things to get by. There was a depression era feel to things throughout and I couldn’t help visualise a Sam Spade vibe whenever the police were involved. ‘The Ghost’ came across as a Batman/Bruce Wayne/Gatsby character (with probably a healthy dose of Hemingway thrown in) who struggled with his wartime experiences in France as well as nightmares about ‘things’ he experienced in no-man's land (I’m REALLY hoping we find out more about that in subsequent novels!). The cop, Donovan, is reasonably drawn but is the weaker of the pair. ‘The Roman’ I thought was a bit disappointing and could have been a much stronger protagonist given his unusual background and was probably the weakest part of an otherwise excellent and highly entertaining romp. Overall though I enjoyed this first installment a great deal. It was MUCH fun with the mashing together of multiple genres (generally) working very well. Some aspects were a little silly – such as steam-powered cars requiring regular top-ups with powdered coal which resulted in quite a lot of mess (something that would’ve been fixed long before it came into general use) and others intriguing, like the use of holographic video phones! The sprinkling of the supernatural element (with strong hints of Lovecraft) was totally intriguing as was the political falling out of the USA and British Empire after the victory of WW1. I DO hope we learn more about THOSE aspects going forward. I’ve scheduled in the 2nd book soon with the final two probably going to be read later in the year. If you find the idea of a steampunk Batman with a supernatural ‘edge’ interesting then this is definitely the book/series for you. Much fun and highly recommended.  

Just Finished Reading: Chamberlain and the Lost Peace by John Charmley (FP: 1989) [212pp] 

The word ‘appeasement’ can hardly be used, it seems, without an accompanying frown, a head shake or the inevitable link between it and war. Appeasement is, without argument, wrong. Or at least so I had been led to believe all through my school years. The Second World War was at least in part due to Prime Minister Chamberlain’s failure to deter Hitler from the relentless expansion of a resurgent Germany inevitably leading to war and the death of millions. It’s quite a lot to lay at the feet of a British Prime Minister, but does the idea hold any water? 

My previous reading on the subject, in both non-fiction and novelised format, painted a much more sympathetic picture of Chamberlain and the obvious strain he was under up to and during the 1938 Munich talks. Rather than concentration on that narrow window, this densely argued book looks at the period May 1937 to September 1939 when it all fell apart. Chamberlain and (most of) his cabinet had one primary aim in mind – to avoid war. With memories of the previous cataclysmic conflict still very fresh and with an accurate reading of British public opinion the PM not only believed that he could negotiate with Hitlers Germany but that he had a moral imperative to do so. Unlike the French (for a whole host of good reasons) the British were not wedded to the workings of the Versailles Treaty and, again in line with public opinion at the time, saw the need to redress what had been done – both for the practical reason of reducing tension and in the name of fairness. Anyone could see that the Versailles Treaty was often overly harsh and more often both counter-productive to the aim of peace and in blatant contradiction to the principles of self-determination which lay at its foundation. So, when German moved troops into the Rhineland the British said little. Likewise, talk of ‘readjusting’ the Versailles imposed borders caused few in England to lose much sleep. Those few, Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden among them, were seen as trouble-makers, alarmist and even warmongers. 

Several things, over and above a deep reluctance to becoming involved in yet another European conflict, drove the arguments for appeasement. For purely economic reasons, it was argued, a strong and prosperous Germany was going for the whole of Europe and, indeed, the world. With many countries only just emerging from the Great Depression (or struggling to do so) not only was war and rearmament to be avoided on cost grounds an economically resurgent Germany could be the locomotive to pull Europe out of the doldrums. Britain had no commitments in the East, where Germany promised any future expansion would take place, so any conflict of interests did not exist. Germany was also seen by many in the West as a bulwark against Communist Russia so at least some expansion East was seen as a good thing. France, however, was a problem. France had a mutual protection pact with the new state of Czechoslovakia and Britain had a pact with France. With growing tensions in the Czech Sudetenland, it was possible that France could be pulled into conflict with Germany and this could also pull Britain into a war it wanted no part of.  

For France to save face and to avoid a war that neither France nor Britain was prepared for an immense pressure was put on the Czechoslovak government to co-operate with the Germans and given them what they wanted. Reluctantly eventually they did. Hitler promised, in writing indeed, that he had no more territorial ambitions and the Sudetenland would be the end of things. History, as we know, told a very different story. The selling of Czechoslovakia in the name, or at least the hope, of peace left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths. The later full occupation of that country by German armed forces showed the world that German could not be trusted. At that point, Britain finally started to seriously rearm for what many started to see as the inevitable coming conflict. When war finally broke out in late 1939 Chamberlain, who had worked so hard to avoid it was a broken man. Appeasement had failed and he knew, all too well, that history would blame him for it – and it did. 

Despite reading about this previously late last year, I still learnt quite a bit about the run up to World War Two. As with the previous book I was actually surprised at how sympathetically Chamberlain was portrayed here. He honestly had very little ‘wriggle room’ in his options – constrained by economics, war readiness, public opinion and our French allies. If he had pushed for a harder line and the Czech invasion had become a trip wire to a European conflict it’s entirely possible – indeed probable - that the combined forces of France and Britain would have been defeated completely. Would a harder diplomatic line and military threat (or actually bluff!) have stopped Hitler’s ambitions? That’s rather doubtful. Chamberlain was stuck between a hot rock and a very hard place. He knew that he had sacrificed Czechoslovakia to buy time for both Britain and France to get into a position where they could fight Germany and win. It didn’t sit well with him and it didn’t sit well with the country. The Czech invasion showed clearly that Europe was on the path to war. This rather thin volume had a rather impressive amount of information and analysis packed into it. I certainly have a great appreciation of what Chamberlain (and others) were going through as they tried to negotiate their way through a diplomatic and potentially military minefield. I really couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. Definitely worth a read if you can get access to a copy. More on this subject to come..

Just Finished Reading: One Summer – America 1927 by Bill Bryson (FP: 2013) [600pp] 

Using the first successful solo flight across the Atlantic by the young, photogenic and previously unknown pilot Charles Lindbergh as the core story to one amazing summer, the author presents a highly entertaining look at the strange, but strangely familiar world of late 1920’s USA. Looking at the very beginnings of transcontinental flight, organised crime, Prohibition (two things that where most definitely linked at the hip flask), the 1927 World Series baseball winners – the New York Yankees – the birth of the talkies (and the origins of television), the devastating floods in the Mississippi basin, the rise and rise of boxing as a respectable sport and so much else this was a HIGHLY entertaining look at an America starting to figure out its place on the world stage – and whether it wanted that place to begin with! 

The first thing I really have to say is that this was my first Bryson book (yes, I know I’m always late to the party) and I’m regretting waiting so long to take the plunge. Not only did I feel that I learnt a whole lot of interesting facts about the time and place – May to September 1927 – but that I was extremely entertaining along the way. About the only (very minor) niggle I had along the journey was a drip-drip feeling of anything Lindburgh related which, to be honest, was understandable given the way that his achievement was the glue that held the books narrative together! Although I did find the focus on the trials and tribulations of the trans-Atlantic flight attempts very interesting, I was surprised to discover that I derived most of my fun throughout the book whenever the topic turned to Baseball. Now, I’ll be the very first to admit that I have very little – or at least had very little – interest in sport of any kind but the authors description of the 1927 World(s) Series (a title that always makes me smile to be honest) and the great players involved: ‘Babe’ Ruth, Lou Gehrig and others, not only made me wish I could have been in those ballparks watching the homers or at least put on ‘The Natural’ or ‘League of Their Own’ on DVD but made me want to know more, much more about interwar baseball. I mean, how weird is THAT! Needless to say, I have added several titles to my Amazon Wish List on the subject [lol] 

This was a delight to read and, despite being only 2/3 of the way through January, this has already made it into my Best Books of 2022. It certainly didn’t feel like 600 pages, never felt like an effort to pick up (despite its wrist aching size!) and never disappointed. As with all the best history books it left me wanted to know more and had a handy bibliography to help me do just that. I did appreciate that the author looked at both the good and bad during that summer and didn’t shy away from the darker aspects of 1920’s American culture. This certainly wasn’t an example of US jingoistic propaganda I’m come across previously which I’m grateful for. Although this was my first Bryson, I have a feeling it won’t be my last – though I’m not sure I want to find out what he thought of us ‘Brits’ in some of his other books! Most definitely recommended even to my American readers.  

New High Score (since records began 22nd October 2020) 

Average Page Count: 341pp (+2p) 

Previous Record Duration: 10 days.