When Alfred Lansing's Endurance was first published in 1959, few people in this country--or anywhere else for that matter--had heard of Shackleton or the Imperial Transantarctic Expedition of 1914. Britain's polar history had been rewritten with Shackleton airbrushed out and Captain Scott taking centre stage as the archetypal English hero who died on the Great Barrier on his long haul back from the South Pole.

If Scott's deification was almost instantaneous, Shackleton's descent into obscurity was more of a slow fade than a sudden death. He achieved a certain amount of acclaim when South, his own account of the Expedition, was published, but his legend seemed to die with him when he suffered a fatal heart attack on another trip south in 1922. His memory deserved much better. Not only was he a far better explorer than Scott, both in terms of his technical and man management capabilities, but the story of the Transantarctic expedition read like an epic out of a Boys Own annual. With his boat crushed, he led his men across the pack-ice, sailed them in open boats to Elephant Island. Once he realised there was no chance of rescue, he and four crew mates sailed a further 600 miles across the southern ocean to South Georgia where they were shipwrecked. The five men then made the first crossing of the island to reach the whaling station at Stromness. Three attempts and three and a half months later, Shackleton returned to Elephant Island to pick up the remaining men. Not a single member of either party was lost.

So we have Lansing to largely thank for Shackleton's rehabilitation. But herein lies the problem. Shackleton's story has been now been so well told both in books--especially Roland Huntford's definitive biography, and in film and TV, that even though Lansing's thrilling account, making liberal use of the diaries of several expedition members, was the first to be published it now feels all terribly familiar and adds nothing to what we already know. Even Frank Hurley's exquisite photographs which illustrate the book now engender a slight feeling of déjà vu--not least because they have already been better reproduced in a single volume published by Bloomsbury. But Lansing deserves his day in the snow and no polar library would be complete without this book. And if, by any chance, you've never previously read a word about Shackleton, this is as good a place as any to start. --John Crace

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

What is it about the English? Not the British overall, not the Scots, not the Irish or Welsh, but the English. Why do they seem so unsure of who they are? As Jeremy Paxman remarks in his preface to The English, being English "used to be so easy". Now, with the Empire gone, with Wales and Scotland moving into more independent postures, with the troubling spectre of a united Europe(and despite the raucous hype of "Cool Britannia"), the English seem to have entered a collective crisis of national identity.

Jeremy Paxman has set himself the task of finding just what exactly is going on. Why, he wonders, "do the English seem to enjoy feeling so persecuted? What is behind the English obsession with games? How did they acquire their odd attitudes to sex and food? Where did they get their extraordinary capacity for hypocrisy?" He ranges widely in pursuit of answers, sifting through literature, cinema and history. It is an intriguing investigation, encompassing many aspects of national life and character (such as it is), including the obligatory visit to that baffling phenomenon, the funeral of Princess Diana. Yet Paxman finds something fresh and interesting to say about even that now rather threadbare topic. In the end, he seems to find further questions to ask instead of answers. But why not? To him it is a sign that the English are acquiring a new sense of self. And some indication of this might lie in the obvious response to his remark that the English, being top of the British Imperial tree, had nicknames for the fellow nationalities--Jock, Taffy, Paddy and Mick--but there was no corresponding name for an Englishman. Of course, there is now, and it comes from one of the bits of empire to which so many undesirables were exported: Whinging Pom. --Robin Davidson

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Good attempt, 12 Jun 2008
Doesn't always flow perfectly, but that is because it is very dense and well written.
Reading it is not effortless, but well worth it

Heavy weather, 04 May 2008
I expected much from this book, particularly given the glowing praise blazoned on its back cover. Oh dear!
Despite (or because) it is so heavily referenced -a commendable sign of scholarly groundwork- ultimately Paxman has achieved little more than to string together a mass of quotations, references and extracts in a singularly meandering and confusing stream of consciousness.
As for humour, I am an ordinary middle-of-the-road Englishman from a less privileged background than Jeremy. And I didn't laugh. Not once.
Sadly, the self-indulgent Paxman demonstrates neither the warm sense of joy nor common touch of the much more grounded, observant and incisively witty Bryson.


Sometimes Inaccurate and often wide of the mark, 25 Mar 2008
Kate Fox highlighted some of Paxman's errors and misconceptions in her more informative "Watching the English" book. Some of Paxman's book ought to be called "Watching the Middle Class English" as his statements are at odds with reality or are only true of that social stratum. As for his assertion that the English lack a cafe culture where we can while away hours over a coffee and a newspaper, we have had a cafe culture - from Lyons Corner House teashops right to the modern day coffeeshop franchises. It's entertaining, but if you are genuinely interested in who the English think they are and why they behave in certain ways, Kate Fox's book is more accurate. To be honest, I sometimes wondered if the author was writing about the same England I live in.

As for not living in the street like our continental friends ... with our climate and our privacy culture?

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Good attempt, 12 Jun 2008
Doesn't always flow perfectly, but that is because it is very dense and well written.
Reading it is not effortless, but well worth it

Heavy weather, 04 May 2008
I expected much from this book, particularly given the glowing praise blazoned on its back cover. Oh dear!
Despite (or because) it is so heavily referenced -a commendable sign of scholarly groundwork- ultimately Paxman has achieved little more than to string together a mass of quotations, references and extracts in a singularly meandering and confusing stream of consciousness.
As for humour, I am an ordinary middle-of-the-road Englishman from a less privileged background than Jeremy. And I didn't laugh. Not once.
Sadly, the self-indulgent Paxman demonstrates neither the warm sense of joy nor common touch of the much more grounded, observant and incisively witty Bryson.


Sometimes Inaccurate and often wide of the mark, 25 Mar 2008
Kate Fox highlighted some of Paxman's errors and misconceptions in her more informative "Watching the English" book. Some of Paxman's book ought to be called "Watching the Middle Class English" as his statements are at odds with reality or are only true of that social stratum. As for his assertion that the English lack a cafe culture where we can while away hours over a coffee and a newspaper, we have had a cafe culture - from Lyons Corner House teashops right to the modern day coffeeshop franchises. It's entertaining, but if you are genuinely interested in who the English think they are and why they behave in certain ways, Kate Fox's book is more accurate. To be honest, I sometimes wondered if the author was writing about the same England I live in.

As for not living in the street like our continental friends ... with our climate and our privacy culture?

Frightfully good!!, 27 Nov 2006
History as it should be taught. There are all kinds of interesting facts that appeal to our disgustable (yes I know that's not really a word) sense of interest as humans. The cause of war, who was allies with whom, and why we hoped it would never happen again makes so much sense when read like this.

A book for children? No. A book for everyone! Everyone who likes to learn facts and be entertained at the same time.
Through wit, humour and true stories the author manages to make the First World War both interesting and poignant.





A Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Historical Knowledge!, 13 Jul 2004
'We're in because we're in because we're in!'
'Dire details about fierce flies, loathsome lice, foul food and Dick, the plane-spotting chicken.'
An ace CD - Relive the terrors, and the triumphs of the First World War!
Approx 1 hour running time.
The usual Deary humour adds a bit of light to a difficult subject to be humorous about!



Brilliant!, 20 Jun 2004
The First World War isn't an easy subject to inject humour into, but this Horrible Histories audiobook does it admirably, without ever becoming tasteless. These audio productions are wonderfully written and performed - more please!

A Funny Fantastic Horrible History, 30 Jul 2001
When I first heard of this book I thought wow I have to read this and now I have read it I would recommend this book to anybody.It is about the first and second world war and tells you facts in a funny way.The illustrations are clever,funny and amusing.Before I hardly knew anything about the first and second world war,but now I know so much my brain is overloaded.They give you facts,stories and questions to answer.This is a great book,so quickly go and read it.

This book is great., 21 Apr 2000
It puts all the facts in a way that is easy to understand, as well as being very interesting and extremely funny. Impossible to put down! Kim Barea, Gib

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Good attempt, 12 Jun 2008
Doesn't always flow perfectly, but that is because it is very dense and well written.
Reading it is not effortless, but well worth it

Heavy weather, 04 May 2008
I expected much from this book, particularly given the glowing praise blazoned on its back cover. Oh dear!
Despite (or because) it is so heavily referenced -a commendable sign of scholarly groundwork- ultimately Paxman has achieved little more than to string together a mass of quotations, references and extracts in a singularly meandering and confusing stream of consciousness.
As for humour, I am an ordinary middle-of-the-road Englishman from a less privileged background than Jeremy. And I didn't laugh. Not once.
Sadly, the self-indulgent Paxman demonstrates neither the warm sense of joy nor common touch of the much more grounded, observant and incisively witty Bryson.


Sometimes Inaccurate and often wide of the mark, 25 Mar 2008
Kate Fox highlighted some of Paxman's errors and misconceptions in her more informative "Watching the English" book. Some of Paxman's book ought to be called "Watching the Middle Class English" as his statements are at odds with reality or are only true of that social stratum. As for his assertion that the English lack a cafe culture where we can while away hours over a coffee and a newspaper, we have had a cafe culture - from Lyons Corner House teashops right to the modern day coffeeshop franchises. It's entertaining, but if you are genuinely interested in who the English think they are and why they behave in certain ways, Kate Fox's book is more accurate. To be honest, I sometimes wondered if the author was writing about the same England I live in.

As for not living in the street like our continental friends ... with our climate and our privacy culture?

Frightfully good!!, 27 Nov 2006
History as it should be taught. There are all kinds of interesting facts that appeal to our disgustable (yes I know that's not really a word) sense of interest as humans. The cause of war, who was allies with whom, and why we hoped it would never happen again makes so much sense when read like this.

A book for children? No. A book for everyone! Everyone who likes to learn facts and be entertained at the same time.
Through wit, humour and true stories the author manages to make the First World War both interesting and poignant.





A Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Historical Knowledge!, 13 Jul 2004
'We're in because we're in because we're in!'
'Dire details about fierce flies, loathsome lice, foul food and Dick, the plane-spotting chicken.'
An ace CD - Relive the terrors, and the triumphs of the First World War!
Approx 1 hour running time.
The usual Deary humour adds a bit of light to a difficult subject to be humorous about!



Brilliant!, 20 Jun 2004
The First World War isn't an easy subject to inject humour into, but this Horrible Histories audiobook does it admirably, without ever becoming tasteless. These audio productions are wonderfully written and performed - more please!

A Funny Fantastic Horrible History, 30 Jul 2001
When I first heard of this book I thought wow I have to read this and now I have read it I would recommend this book to anybody.It is about the first and second world war and tells you facts in a funny way.The illustrations are clever,funny and amusing.Before I hardly knew anything about the first and second world war,but now I know so much my brain is overloaded.They give you facts,stories and questions to answer.This is a great book,so quickly go and read it.

This book is great., 21 Apr 2000
It puts all the facts in a way that is easy to understand, as well as being very interesting and extremely funny. Impossible to put down! Kim Barea, Gib

Delightful read, 27 Jun 2006
Bryan Gallagher, an occasional contributor to the late John Peel's "Home Truths", on Radio 4, reminisces about growing up in rural County Fermanagh in the forties. A time of poverty, deprivation, ignorance and yet love, joy, humour and music. This was a sparse yet close-knit community, where schoolchildren more often than not went to school barefoot, where there was no radio, TV, phone, electricity. Cars were a rarity. One is struck by how recent it was and how much life has changed - but we've also lost something. You don't have to be Irish or old or to live in the country, to appreciate this - these short stories would appeal to anyone.

Lovely..., 29 Mar 2006
In this book Bryan Gallagher reminisces about his life growing up near the shores of Lough Erne in Fermanagh. Every chapter is quite short and contains a different story. It's a beautiful book and very easy to read. The innocence of the country people living in the 40s and 50s is told and shows how witty they were even when they were trying to be serious. I highly recommend this book. Anyone who enjoys this will also enjoy Frank Delaneys' 'Ireland' book.

Wonderful timeless stories, 31 Jan 2006
Bryan Gallagher has brought together what amounts to a local history and beautiful storytelling. The stories have a timelessness and depth that fit every community. This isn't just about Ireland wherever you live you will connect with this gem.
Buy, dip into and enrich your life.

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Good attempt, 12 Jun 2008
Doesn't always flow perfectly, but that is because it is very dense and well written.
Reading it is not effortless, but well worth it

Heavy weather, 04 May 2008
I expected much from this book, particularly given the glowing praise blazoned on its back cover. Oh dear!
Despite (or because) it is so heavily referenced -a commendable sign of scholarly groundwork- ultimately Paxman has achieved little more than to string together a mass of quotations, references and extracts in a singularly meandering and confusing stream of consciousness.
As for humour, I am an ordinary middle-of-the-road Englishman from a less privileged background than Jeremy. And I didn't laugh. Not once.
Sadly, the self-indulgent Paxman demonstrates neither the warm sense of joy nor common touch of the much more grounded, observant and incisively witty Bryson.


Sometimes Inaccurate and often wide of the mark, 25 Mar 2008
Kate Fox highlighted some of Paxman's errors and misconceptions in her more informative "Watching the English" book. Some of Paxman's book ought to be called "Watching the Middle Class English" as his statements are at odds with reality or are only true of that social stratum. As for his assertion that the English lack a cafe culture where we can while away hours over a coffee and a newspaper, we have had a cafe culture - from Lyons Corner House teashops right to the modern day coffeeshop franchises. It's entertaining, but if you are genuinely interested in who the English think they are and why they behave in certain ways, Kate Fox's book is more accurate. To be honest, I sometimes wondered if the author was writing about the same England I live in.

As for not living in the street like our continental friends ... with our climate and our privacy culture?

Frightfully good!!, 27 Nov 2006
History as it should be taught. There are all kinds of interesting facts that appeal to our disgustable (yes I know that's not really a word) sense of interest as humans. The cause of war, who was allies with whom, and why we hoped it would never happen again makes so much sense when read like this.

A book for children? No. A book for everyone! Everyone who likes to learn facts and be entertained at the same time.
Through wit, humour and true stories the author manages to make the First World War both interesting and poignant.





A Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Historical Knowledge!, 13 Jul 2004
'We're in because we're in because we're in!'
'Dire details about fierce flies, loathsome lice, foul food and Dick, the plane-spotting chicken.'
An ace CD - Relive the terrors, and the triumphs of the First World War!
Approx 1 hour running time.
The usual Deary humour adds a bit of light to a difficult subject to be humorous about!



Brilliant!, 20 Jun 2004
The First World War isn't an easy subject to inject humour into, but this Horrible Histories audiobook does it admirably, without ever becoming tasteless. These audio productions are wonderfully written and performed - more please!

A Funny Fantastic Horrible History, 30 Jul 2001
When I first heard of this book I thought wow I have to read this and now I have read it I would recommend this book to anybody.It is about the first and second world war and tells you facts in a funny way.The illustrations are clever,funny and amusing.Before I hardly knew anything about the first and second world war,but now I know so much my brain is overloaded.They give you facts,stories and questions to answer.This is a great book,so quickly go and read it.

This book is great., 21 Apr 2000
It puts all the facts in a way that is easy to understand, as well as being very interesting and extremely funny. Impossible to put down! Kim Barea, Gib

Delightful read, 27 Jun 2006
Bryan Gallagher, an occasional contributor to the late John Peel's "Home Truths", on Radio 4, reminisces about growing up in rural County Fermanagh in the forties. A time of poverty, deprivation, ignorance and yet love, joy, humour and music. This was a sparse yet close-knit community, where schoolchildren more often than not went to school barefoot, where there was no radio, TV, phone, electricity. Cars were a rarity. One is struck by how recent it was and how much life has changed - but we've also lost something. You don't have to be Irish or old or to live in the country, to appreciate this - these short stories would appeal to anyone.

Lovely..., 29 Mar 2006
In this book Bryan Gallagher reminisces about his life growing up near the shores of Lough Erne in Fermanagh. Every chapter is quite short and contains a different story. It's a beautiful book and very easy to read. The innocence of the country people living in the 40s and 50s is told and shows how witty they were even when they were trying to be serious. I highly recommend this book. Anyone who enjoys this will also enjoy Frank Delaneys' 'Ireland' book.

Wonderful timeless stories, 31 Jan 2006
Bryan Gallagher has brought together what amounts to a local history and beautiful storytelling. The stories have a timelessness and depth that fit every community. This isn't just about Ireland wherever you live you will connect with this gem.
Buy, dip into and enrich your life.

Fraser at his best, 01 Sep 2008
Anyone who is even vaguely interested in the Second World War should read this, the memoirs of an ordinary soldier who fought in the Burma campaign. It is, in my opinion, the best autobiographical account of that war ever written. Fraser tells it like it undoubtedly was, and doesn't succumb to political correctness or any other sort of modern nonsense.

Grandarse for PM, 13 Jun 2008
This is one of the best war memoirs you will ever read. I first read it as an officer serving in the British Army and I can tell you that he nails the Army spot on: the camaraderie, the banter, the humour and, above all, the unreal, shocking suddenness of combat. As well as the riotous belly laughs we expect from GMF, 'Quartered Safe out Here' also has moments of great poignancy and sadness. It is written with Fraser's characteristic verve, candour and wit, as well as his peerless eye for characterisation and dialogue; this really is how soldiers think, feel and speak, and this - with all its humour, bravery, pathos, excitement and absurdity - is how wars are actually fought. If I might offer a tip, it would be to read it in conjunction with Slim's 'Defeat into Victory' to compare the grand strategic narrative of the Burma campaign with the view from the rifle pit.

His comparisons of Britain then and now (or then and 1992, when this book was written) do occasionally sound like an old man's sentimentality for the world of his youth but, then again, Fraser has every right to feel agrieved at seeing the peace that he and his generation bought squandered, as he saw it, by selfishness and greed. Clearly, these bits are unlikely to appeal to you if you voted New Labour....but, as another reviewer has noted, that's your problem.

'Quartered Safe out Here' is a virtuoso piece of memoir writing, a military equivalent to 'The Moon's a Balloon' or 'Unreliable Memoirs'. But as well as being a thumping good read on it own account, this really is soldiering as it actually happens. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Love Affair with a Rifle?, 19 Apr 2008
The late-George MacDonald Fraser chronicles his part in the latter days of the Second World War as a rifleman in a Cumbrian infantry battlion. The author talks about his issue First World War Short Magazine Lee Enfield .303 rifle as if it were is wife. He lavished care on his rifle as it was necessary to save his life when fighting the Japanese in the Burmese jungles and plains.
The characters of his fellow infantrymen are brought alive by the author's graphic descriptions of them. The encounter of the password challenge is laugh-out-loud-funny; as is the incident at the well and the meeting with the eccentric Captain Grief. George writes in endearing terms about the Cumbrian soldiers and Ghurkas. Matters of life and death are described from the perspective of the best soldier in the world - the British Tommy.
Inevitably the book refers to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan which precripitated the end of the war. The author also compared and contrasted his experiences of British reserve, exemplified by soldiers of his generation, with the media prompted soul-bearering of those soldiers preparing for the Gulf War.
This book is not politically correct, nor was it intended to be, it is a genuine exposition of war from a soldier who experienced it first hand. These have coloured his view of the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and those critics of the atomic bomb. It probably would not make comfortable reading for people of a liberal or pacifist leaning. The author does pontificate about political correctness, race and nuclear issues - after what he experienced he has earned that right.
This book is one of the best reads about the fighting in Burma. It is an honest account of men at war: Full of pathos, grit and humour. A fitting tribute to the dour Cumbrian men who served in Nine Section.


Wonderfully insightful. Moving and very funny., 06 Nov 2007
George MacDonald Fraser is a master with a pen in his hand. He has a knack for sound sense, and he can also be very funny. All three traits are brought gracefully together in this superb book.

I should point out that there is nothing Flashmanesque about Quartered Safe Out Here, but the book is none the poorer for that. The writing is typically fluent, charming, broad, and witty; and the characterisation is, characteristically, splendid. There is also something deeply moving about his exploits in Burma with the XIV Army during The Second World War. As a personal window into 'The Forgotten Army' there can surely be few better examples.

If you are inclined towards 'Political Correctness', you may take issue with some aspects of this work. But then, that's your problem.

Britain is running out of men like George MacDonald Fraser. And it should try and do something about that.

Thank you Mr Fraser.

Yet to read but know the history, 09 Sep 2007
I have only just encountered this book this weekend and read a few chapters after being "lent" a hard copy from my partners father whose father in law was one of the chindits who served in Burma. Her grand father also passed my partner a copy of the map he was issued and we visitied Burma last year for 3 weeks to see how close to get to where he served. An incredible regiment. When he told me over Christmas lunch many years ago that "yes, he got it right, thats how the bloody Japanese soap smelled", you know he got it right. 14 out of 19 reports give it a 5/5. This is not a Flashman book, its a guts and all report of a bloody battle and the humour that kept people going in a raw, yet beautiful country.....still to this day.

Claire Tomalin was born to write a biography of Samuel Pepys. Her previously acclaimed biographies of Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft have defined her as a scrupulous biographer who establishes a unique empathy with her subjects. In Pepys Tomalin has found her perfect subject, a man who is "both the most ordinary and the most extraordinary writer you will ever meet".

Pepys wrote his diary throughout the 1660s, "a period as intellectually thrilling as it was dangerous and bloody", and Tomalin's book vividly brings to life the tumultuous world of 17-century London, where Pepys grew up. Pepys' life spanned the execution of one king and the restoration of another, and Tomalin elegantly recreates both Pepys' public and private lives. From his early days in London and then Cambridge, Tomalin pieces together the crucial years when "the private Samuel Pepys began to develop and yearn". She chronicles his rise through the bureaucracy of the restored king, Charles II, to his position as energetic reformer of the navy and successful husband to his vivacious, mercurial wife Elizabeth. But the book also deals with Pepy's personal tragedies, his struggle to secure patronage as a commoner, his frank and hilarious extra-marital exploits, and the cataclysmic Fire of London in 1666.

This is a fine biography of an extraordinary man who "found the energy and commitment to create a new literary form" while also coming across as a generous, likeable, flawed human being. Tomalin's admiration for her subject is infectious, and will ensure that her biography becomes the standard reference for anyone interested in both Pepys's life and his art.--Jerry Brotton

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Good attempt, 12 Jun 2008
Doesn't always flow perfectly, but that is because it is very dense and well written.
Reading it is not effortless, but well worth it

Heavy weather, 04 May 2008
I expected much from this book, particularly given the glowing praise blazoned on its back cover. Oh dear!
Despite (or because) it is so heavily referenced -a commendable sign of scholarly groundwork- ultimately Paxman has achieved little more than to string together a mass of quotations, references and extracts in a singularly meandering and confusing stream of consciousness.
As for humour, I am an ordinary middle-of-the-road Englishman from a less privileged background than Jeremy. And I didn't laugh. Not once.
Sadly, the self-indulgent Paxman demonstrates neither the warm sense of joy nor common touch of the much more grounded, observant and incisively witty Bryson.


Sometimes Inaccurate and often wide of the mark, 25 Mar 2008
Kate Fox highlighted some of Paxman's errors and misconceptions in her more informative "Watching the English" book. Some of Paxman's book ought to be called "Watching the Middle Class English" as his statements are at odds with reality or are only true of that social stratum. As for his assertion that the English lack a cafe culture where we can while away hours over a coffee and a newspaper, we have had a cafe culture - from Lyons Corner House teashops right to the modern day coffeeshop franchises. It's entertaining, but if you are genuinely interested in who the English think they are and why they behave in certain ways, Kate Fox's book is more accurate. To be honest, I sometimes wondered if the author was writing about the same England I live in.

As for not living in the street like our continental friends ... with our climate and our privacy culture?

Frightfully good!!, 27 Nov 2006
History as it should be taught. There are all kinds of interesting facts that appeal to our disgustable (yes I know that's not really a word) sense of interest as humans. The cause of war, who was allies with whom, and why we hoped it would never happen again makes so much sense when read like this.

A book for children? No. A book for everyone! Everyone who likes to learn facts and be entertained at the same time.
Through wit, humour and true stories the author manages to make the First World War both interesting and poignant.





A Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Historical Knowledge!, 13 Jul 2004
'We're in because we're in because we're in!'
'Dire details about fierce flies, loathsome lice, foul food and Dick, the plane-spotting chicken.'
An ace CD - Relive the terrors, and the triumphs of the First World War!
Approx 1 hour running time.
The usual Deary humour adds a bit of light to a difficult subject to be humorous about!



Brilliant!, 20 Jun 2004
The First World War isn't an easy subject to inject humour into, but this Horrible Histories audiobook does it admirably, without ever becoming tasteless. These audio productions are wonderfully written and performed - more please!

A Funny Fantastic Horrible History, 30 Jul 2001
When I first heard of this book I thought wow I have to read this and now I have read it I would recommend this book to anybody.It is about the first and second world war and tells you facts in a funny way.The illustrations are clever,funny and amusing.Before I hardly knew anything about the first and second world war,but now I know so much my brain is overloaded.They give you facts,stories and questions to answer.This is a great book,so quickly go and read it.

This book is great., 21 Apr 2000
It puts all the facts in a way that is easy to understand, as well as being very interesting and extremely funny. Impossible to put down! Kim Barea, Gib

Delightful read, 27 Jun 2006
Bryan Gallagher, an occasional contributor to the late John Peel's "Home Truths", on Radio 4, reminisces about growing up in rural County Fermanagh in the forties. A time of poverty, deprivation, ignorance and yet love, joy, humour and music. This was a sparse yet close-knit community, where schoolchildren more often than not went to school barefoot, where there was no radio, TV, phone, electricity. Cars were a rarity. One is struck by how recent it was and how much life has changed - but we've also lost something. You don't have to be Irish or old or to live in the country, to appreciate this - these short stories would appeal to anyone.

Lovely..., 29 Mar 2006
In this book Bryan Gallagher reminisces about his life growing up near the shores of Lough Erne in Fermanagh. Every chapter is quite short and contains a different story. It's a beautiful book and very easy to read. The innocence of the country people living in the 40s and 50s is told and shows how witty they were even when they were trying to be serious. I highly recommend this book. Anyone who enjoys this will also enjoy Frank Delaneys' 'Ireland' book.

Wonderful timeless stories, 31 Jan 2006
Bryan Gallagher has brought together what amounts to a local history and beautiful storytelling. The stories have a timelessness and depth that fit every community. This isn't just about Ireland wherever you live you will connect with this gem.
Buy, dip into and enrich your life.

Fraser at his best, 01 Sep 2008
Anyone who is even vaguely interested in the Second World War should read this, the memoirs of an ordinary soldier who fought in the Burma campaign. It is, in my opinion, the best autobiographical account of that war ever written. Fraser tells it like it undoubtedly was, and doesn't succumb to political correctness or any other sort of modern nonsense.

Grandarse for PM, 13 Jun 2008
This is one of the best war memoirs you will ever read. I first read it as an officer serving in the British Army and I can tell you that he nails the Army spot on: the camaraderie, the banter, the humour and, above all, the unreal, shocking suddenness of combat. As well as the riotous belly laughs we expect from GMF, 'Quartered Safe out Here' also has moments of great poignancy and sadness. It is written with Fraser's characteristic verve, candour and wit, as well as his peerless eye for characterisation and dialogue; this really is how soldiers think, feel and speak, and this - with all its humour, bravery, pathos, excitement and absurdity - is how wars are actually fought. If I might offer a tip, it would be to read it in conjunction with Slim's 'Defeat into Victory' to compare the grand strategic narrative of the Burma campaign with the view from the rifle pit.

His comparisons of Britain then and now (or then and 1992, when this book was written) do occasionally sound like an old man's sentimentality for the world of his youth but, then again, Fraser has every right to feel agrieved at seeing the peace that he and his generation bought squandered, as he saw it, by selfishness and greed. Clearly, these bits are unlikely to appeal to you if you voted New Labour....but, as another reviewer has noted, that's your problem.

'Quartered Safe out Here' is a virtuoso piece of memoir writing, a military equivalent to 'The Moon's a Balloon' or 'Unreliable Memoirs'. But as well as being a thumping good read on it own account, this really is soldiering as it actually happens. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Love Affair with a Rifle?, 19 Apr 2008
The late-George MacDonald Fraser chronicles his part in the latter days of the Second World War as a rifleman in a Cumbrian infantry battlion. The author talks about his issue First World War Short Magazine Lee Enfield .303 rifle as if it were is wife. He lavished care on his rifle as it was necessary to save his life when fighting the Japanese in the Burmese jungles and plains.
The characters of his fellow infantrymen are brought alive by the author's graphic descriptions of them. The encounter of the password challenge is laugh-out-loud-funny; as is the incident at the well and the meeting with the eccentric Captain Grief. George writes in endearing terms about the Cumbrian soldiers and Ghurkas. Matters of life and death are described from the perspective of the best soldier in the world - the British Tommy.
Inevitably the book refers to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan which precripitated the end of the war. The author also compared and contrasted his experiences of British reserve, exemplified by soldiers of his generation, with the media prompted soul-bearering of those soldiers preparing for the Gulf War.
This book is not politically correct, nor was it intended to be, it is a genuine exposition of war from a soldier who experienced it first hand. These have coloured his view of the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and those critics of the atomic bomb. It probably would not make comfortable reading for people of a liberal or pacifist leaning. The author does pontificate about political correctness, race and nuclear issues - after what he experienced he has earned that right.
This book is one of the best reads about the fighting in Burma. It is an honest account of men at war: Full of pathos, grit and humour. A fitting tribute to the dour Cumbrian men who served in Nine Section.


Wonderfully insightful. Moving and very funny., 06 Nov 2007
George MacDonald Fraser is a master with a pen in his hand. He has a knack for sound sense, and he can also be very funny. All three traits are brought gracefully together in this superb book.

I should point out that there is nothing Flashmanesque about Quartered Safe Out Here, but the book is none the poorer for that. The writing is typically fluent, charming, broad, and witty; and the characterisation is, characteristically, splendid. There is also something deeply moving about his exploits in Burma with the XIV Army during The Second World War. As a personal window into 'The Forgotten Army' there can surely be few better examples.

If you are inclined towards 'Political Correctness', you may take issue with some aspects of this work. But then, that's your problem.

Britain is running out of men like George MacDonald Fraser. And it should try and do something about that.

Thank you Mr Fraser.

Yet to read but know the history, 09 Sep 2007
I have only just encountered this book this weekend and read a few chapters after being "lent" a hard copy from my partners father whose father in law was one of the chindits who served in Burma. Her grand father also passed my partner a copy of the map he was issued and we visitied Burma last year for 3 weeks to see how close to get to where he served. An incredible regiment. When he told me over Christmas lunch many years ago that "yes, he got it right, thats how the bloody Japanese soap smelled", you know he got it right. 14 out of 19 reports give it a 5/5. This is not a Flashman book, its a guts and all report of a bloody battle and the humour that kept people going in a raw, yet beautiful country.....still to this day.

True to Himself, 02 Jan 2008
I read this book some time ago, consequently the finer details escape me. However, what remains vivid is the sense that Ms Tomalin's book evinces of a remarkable man from our distant past, and of the social and political context of the times in which he lived. It is a cliche to say that 'someone is of his time', but there's no better way of saying it in Pepys's case. Yes, he could be cruel in his remarks about others, particularly when he's been disappointed, or when he feels that he's been misunderstood. But, then, there are no doubt many equally successful men (and women) today, who are much more ruthless in their dealings with others, both domestically and professionally.

However, it is highly unlikely (if not utterly unlikely) to comment so honestly about how unpleasant he has been - either to his wife, his maid or his underlings. Granted, he wrote in 'code', but he knew the code could easily be cracked by someone who had shorthand skills (as indeed it was) so he could have destroyed his diaries after he stopped writing them.

The other thing that stood out for me, was the pain he experienced with his 'stone'. This is something I could relate to, since, a couple of years before I read this book, I too had a 'stone', and, until it was removed, I was in considerable discomfort, and often pain, every night. My stone was about an inch long by a quarter of an inch thick. Pepys's was the size of a grape-fruit. Mine was removed painlessly while I was anaesthetised. Pepys's was removed while he was fully conscious (albeit by the best man in London). He wasn't even allowed alcohol (too dangerous) and his chances of survival had been about 20%. Small wonder that, afterwards, he reflected on life 'before the stone' in a way that suggests his re-birth. Nobody, from no matter what era, could have gone through that amount of pain and fear without being considerably changed.

The other remarkable honesty Pepys' displayed was regarding his sexual liaisons; one of his most endearing features was the feelings of guilt he expressed - always immediately afterwards. All right, he made little attempt to curb his habits, but he does come across as a man with a conscience and well aware of his bad behaviour. In our own times such men are pretty rare.

And the third thing that remains in my memory was his unique use of 'pidgin' English when describing his sexual adventures. He would use a combination of French, English and (I think) Latin, in order to 'obscure' (or, possibly, negate) the reality of his behaviour, even though what he was doing was as plain as a pikestaff to even the most naive of readers. In this way he was very child-like.

Yes, Pepys was a womaniser and, occasionally, a wife-beater. He was as flawed as any man in this respect, but put anyone under a microscope for a life-time and see if he remains faultless.

What was such a joy in this book was Ms Tomalin's impeccable writing. The biography read almost as a novel would, and Pepys's character flowed across every page. The humour, occasional violence, anger, opportunism (oh, yes, he was probably as dishonest in his naval dealings as any man, in any century has ever been) and skill, both as an administrator and as a survivor.

In fact, his greatest achievement was as a survivor of possibly the greatest upheaval in English history (including the blitz and the Battle of Britain) - the execution of Charles l, the social and political mayhem of the Commonwealth years, the Great Fire of London and the recurrent Plagues. His was a consummate balancing act - particularly given his elevated position - from being a known (or at least suspected) Royalist sympathiser, to acceptance by the Puritans and then to a timely and convincing reversion to the Royal cause. Although he had numerous close-shaves, generally he prosperred and maintained friendships at several levels of society, including the very highest, in spite of his humble start in life.

Pepys must rate alongside William Shakespeare as being a key figure, without whom England would have a much poorer history, and Miss Tomalyn's biography has made him eminently accessible to the twenty-first century reader.

A Truly Fascinating Man, 17 Jul 2006
This is another fascinating historical biography that reads more like a novel than a stuffy factual book. Virtually everyone knows the name of Samuel Pepys. Ah yes, he's the man who wrote the diary. This is of course true, but do they actually know anything about the man behind the name of Samuel Pepys. What for instance were his feelings on the politicians of the day. What were his own ambitions and aspirations.

Pepys was a naval administrator and friend and confidant of some of the most famous and powerful people in London . Sex, the plague, music, marital conflict, naval life, public executions and incarcerations in the Tower of London. These are just some of the colourful events in the life of a man famous for his writing of a diary.

The book contains a wealth of interesting material about the life of a man who's name goes before him. Everyone knows his name, but few know of the life of the man himself.

Am I the only one who can't like Pepys?, 23 May 2006
Firstly this is an excellent biography as the reviews and prizes show, but I had a serious problem empathising with Pepys. Someone describes it as a 'warts & all' book, but it's more than that: I don't have a problem with Pepys' numerous adulteries and fumblings with the servant girls - as long as they don't mind either. But that's where the problem starts: there's a whole section, for example, where Pepys forces a girl to touch him sexually in surreptitious circumstances despite her continuous protests that she doesn't like doing it. The fact that he and his wife also befriend the poor girl and her husband thus putting a power overlay to the story just makes it worse. I also have a problem with Pepys' casual violence towards his wife: a bit of nose pulling I can accept but to black someone's eye you have to hit them pretty hard...
I know that this is 17th century London, and I'm not saying that Tomalin should suppress the fact that these things happen, I'm just surprised that she can overlook these as merely playful characteristics and continue to evince an affection for the man. Personally, I found him offensive and unpleasant and so didn't finish the book because I didn't want to spend any more time in his company.

I feel like I've been there myself, 06 Oct 2005
despite a perfectly good education, I have always found history a bit remote and difficult to get involved in, something I ought to know about but don't. I bought this book because I thought I might learn something. I did, and more! It's quite slow at the beginning, but it's worth persevering because once the circumstances are established it reads like a juicy novel, with people you care about and a plot you couldn't make up! In particular, if you know London, you will love it when he talks about places that you know now - for example when he goes out to the country - to Clapham! And there are some bigger lessons in it as well, about duty, hard work and integrity. I can't recommend it enough.

Samuel Pepys, 25 May 2005
I first heard of Samuel Pepys in 84 Charing Cross Road, I proceeded to read a selection from his diary and then I just wanted to know more.

This is the first biography I have read - I am usually not very interested in them, but Pepys is such an interesting man I had to find out more.

I could not have been more pleased when I read this book, I expected something so dull it would fail to be informative, but Tomalin recreates a world of history for the reader who has perhaps not read extensively into history before. It is easy to read, completely enchanting and very involved with the person and time she was writing about.

No detail was spared, every little thing was explained and I was left wanting for nothing more then to read the full version of Samuel Pepys' Diary feeling that I know a lot more about him and the time he was in. Otherwise, to read the diary without knowing about his life and the history behind it, it is quite hard I think to grip the character behind the diary.

I have definately come out with a better knowledge of this time in history and of a truly extrodinary man.

Liza Picard certainly isn't tired of London. The lives that once thronged its streets are the stuff of her books, and Dr Johnson's London updates her 1997 volume, Restoration London, by one hundred years or so. Samuel Pepys gives way to Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, though, entertainingly, she shows no affection for the pair. She pursues them solely for their era, stretching 30 years from 1740 to 1770, pivoted on the publication of Johnson's Dictionary in 1755. Starting with a "virtual" sedan-chair tour of the city, she proceeds to elucidate every aspect of urban life, with particular attention paid to the poor, and the "middling sort", a fledgling middle class. This goes some way to redressing a balance which historically has tended to favour the rich and famous, who left behind the majority of buildings and ephemera.

Picard's conversational style, as bursting with rhetorical questions as a primary teacher, belies the breadth of her reading and research. Her informality breathes life into dry descriptions, and her sharp eye lends itself to shrewd selection from source passages. The familiarity of this Blackadder-esque London is borne out by its physical dimensions, with parks, hospitals and even bridges already starting to become recognisable to a contemporary eye, as well as its phenomena, such as lottery tickets and road rage. Although Picard sways between tenses with a giddy ease, adding a sprinkling of her own curious observations, her assimilation of information renders her prose sprightly, whether she be observing a meal in "real time", or delighting in the medical remedies, often involving quite the worst ingredients (though it's useful to know that powdered roast mouse is a reliable cure for incontinence). Saving the best to last, the concluding pages offer a cost of living index, which, as Picard admits, almost renders the book redundant. From a 1/2d half-loaf of bread to a £64,000 reward, it evocatively summarises the victuals and commodities of the time, and closes a bustling, collective portrait of the city not just of Johnson, but also of Henry Fielding, Tobias Smollett and William Hogarth.--David Vincent

A remarkable tale woderfully written, 23 Aug 2007
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful and fascinating tale of the bravery and determination of Shackleton and his men to survive agianst all the odds and live to tell the tale.

the ultimate survival story, 12 Apr 2006
If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survive in the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled and could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.

Brilliant subject, lousy book layout, 15 Feb 2006
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs and no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.

A superb account.., 14 Jul 2004
This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job and keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,as in 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.

If I didn't know it was true..., 02 Dec 2003
This account of Shackleton's famous expedition reads like a thriller novel. It may lack some technical detail that a student of Antarctica might desire, but it gives full vent to the predicament the party found themselves in, and the inspirational fortitude and courage of their leader. One advantage of this book is that the author had access to surviving expedition members when researching the subject, and the book benefits from these first hand accounts of the persoanlities involved as well as the bleak details of their situation.

As the story unfolds, each step required to get nearer rescue becomes more 'impossible'. Threat of starvation, wintering on ice, breaking ice floes, an incredible boat journey, amputation, crossing impenetrable mountains (the first to do so)---it is all in here. Each phase is a powerful story in itself. It is one of the great stories of the 20th century---up there with the Apollo 13 crew---but these men had no-one except themselves and their determination to get themselves home safely. If you know little or nothing about Shackleton's adventure this is, I think, the best book to introduce the subject. It is the pinnacle of the 'heroic age' adventures, and Alfred Lansing captures the mood beautifully.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Enjoyable and informative, 17 Jul 2008
Paxo writes well and is a joy to read. This book is far ranging on who we English are, our strange national characteristics which relate to our history. "Like a pair of newly-weds in a sabotaged car, every people sets off into the future clattering behind it the tin-cans of its history." Here are many tin cans and some glimpses too of the possible road ahead. I would recommend this book to visitors to our country. The only slight draw back is that reading it ten years after it was written I sense it is slightly dated. It predates 9-11, the rise of Islamic militancy and a new huge wave of immigration, to say nothing of the effects of devolution and the rise of Scottish nationalism. All these are now having an effect on what it means to be English today. Some of his chapters are masterfull and memorable. Our animosity to the French and the sentimentality over Diana are examples.

Good attempt, 12 Jun 2008
Doesn't always flow perfectly, but that is because it is very dense and well written.
Reading it is not effortless, but well worth it

Heavy weather, 04 May 2008
I expected much from this book, particularly given the glowing praise blazoned on its back cover. Oh dear!
Despite (or because) it is so heavily referenced -a commendable sign of scholarly groundwork- ultimately Paxman has achieved little more than to string together a mass of quotations, references and extracts in a singularly meandering and confusing stream of consciousness.
As for humour, I am an ordinary middle-of-the-road Englishman from a less privileged background than Jeremy. And I didn't laugh. Not once.
Sadly, the self-indulgent Paxman demonstrates neither the warm sense of joy nor common touch of the much more grounded, observant and incisively witty Bryson.


Sometimes Inaccurate and often wide of the mark, 25 Mar 2008
Kate Fox highlighted some of Paxman's errors and misconceptions in her more informative "Watching the English" book. Some of Paxman's book ought to be called "Watching the Middle Class English" as his statements are at odds with reality or are only true of that social stratum. As for his assertion that the English lack a cafe culture where we can while away hours over a coffee and a newspaper, we have had a cafe culture - from Lyons Corner House teashops right to the modern day coffeeshop franchises. It's entertaining, but if you are genuinely interested in who the English think they are and why they behave in certain ways, Kate Fox's book is more accurate. To be honest, I sometimes wondered if the author was writing about the same England I live in.

As for not living in the street like our continental friends ... with our climate and our privacy culture?

Frightfully good!!, 27 Nov 2006
History as it should be taught. There are all kinds of interesting facts that appeal to our disgustable (yes I know that's not really a word) sense of interest as humans. The cause of war, who was allies with whom, and why we hoped it would never happen again makes so much sense when read like this.

A book for children? No. A book for everyone! Everyone who likes to learn facts and be entertained at the same time.
Through wit, humour and true stories the author manages to make the First World War both interesting and poignant.





A Brilliant Way to Learn, and Retain, Historical Knowledge!, 13 Jul 2004
'We're in because we're in because we're in!'
'Dire details about fierce flies, loathsome lice, foul food and Dick, the plane-spotting chicken.'
An ace CD - Relive the terrors, and the triumphs of the First World War!
Approx 1 hour running time.
The usual Deary humour adds a bit of light to a difficult subject to be humorous about!



Brilliant!, 20 Jun 2004
The First World War isn't an easy subject to inject humour into, but this Horrible Histories audiobook does it admirably, without ever becoming tasteless. These audio productions are wonderfully written and performed - more please!

A Funny Fantastic Horrible History, 30 Jul 2001
When I first heard of this book I thought wow I have to read this and now I have read it I would recommend this book to anybody.It is about the first and second world war and tells you facts in a funny way.The illustrations are clever,funny and amusing.Before I hardly knew anything about the first and second world war,but now I know so much my brain is overloaded.They give you facts,stories and questions to answer.This is a great book,so quickly go and read it.

This book is great., 21 Apr 2000
It puts all the facts in a way that is easy to understand, as well as being very interesting and extremely funny. Impossible to put down! Kim Barea, Gib

Delightful read, 27 Jun 2006
Bryan Gallagher, an occasional contributor to the late John Peel's "Home Truths", on Radio 4, reminisces about growing up in rural County Fermanagh in the forties. A time of poverty, deprivation, ignorance and yet love, joy, humour and music. This was a sparse yet close-knit community, where schoolchildren more often than not went to school barefoot, where there was no radio, TV, phone, electricity. Cars were a rarity. One is struck by how recent it was and how much life has changed - but we've also lost something. You don't have to be Irish or old or to live in the country, to appreciate this - these short stories would appeal to anyone.

Lovely..., 29 Mar 2006
In this book Bryan Gallagher reminisces about his life growing up near the shores of Lough Erne in Fermanagh. Every chapter is quite short and contains a different story. It's a beautiful book and very easy to read. The innocence of the country people living in the 40s and 50s is told and shows how witty they were even when they were trying to be serious. I highly recommend this book. Anyone who enjoys this will also enjoy Frank Delaneys' 'Ireland' book.

Wonderful timeless stories, 31 Jan 2006
Bryan Gallagher has brought together what amounts to a local history and beautiful storytelling. The stories have a timelessness and depth that fit every community. This isn't just about Ireland wherever you live you will connect with this gem.
Buy, dip into and enrich your life.

Fraser at his best, 01 Sep 2008
Anyone who is even vaguely interested in the Second World War should read this, the memoirs of an ordinary soldier who fought in the Burma campaign. It is, in my opinion, the best autobiographical account of that war ever written. Fraser tells it like it undoubtedly was, and doesn't succumb to political correctness or any other sort of modern nonsense.

Grandarse for PM, 13 Jun 2008
This is one of the best war memoirs you will ever read. I first read it as an officer serving in the British Army and I can tell you that he nails the Army spot on: the camaraderie, the banter, the humour and, above all, the unreal, shocking suddenness of combat. As well as the riotous belly laughs we expect from GMF, 'Quartered Safe out Here' also has moments of great poignancy and sadness. It is written with Fraser's characteristic verve, candour and wit, as well as his peerless eye for characterisation and dialogue; this really is how soldiers think, feel and speak, and this - with all its humour, bravery, pathos, excitement and absurdity - is how wars are actually fought. If I might offer a tip, it would be to read it in conjunction with Slim's 'Defeat into Victory' to compare the grand strategic narrative of the Burma campaign with the view from the rifle pit.

His comparisons of Britain then and now (or then and 1992, when this book was written) do occasionally sound like an old man's sentimentality for the world of his youth but, then again, Fraser has every right to feel agrieved at seeing the peace that he and his generation bought squandered, as he saw it, by selfishness and greed. Clearly, these bits are unlikely to appeal to you if you voted New Labour....but, as another reviewer has noted, that's your problem.

'Quartered Safe out Here' is a virtuoso piece of memoir writing, a military equivalent to 'The Moon's a Balloon' or 'Unreliable Memoirs'. But as well as being a thumping good read on it own account, this really is soldiering as it actually happens. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Love Affair with a Rifle?, 19 Apr 2008
The late-George MacDonald Fraser chronicles his part in the latter days of the Second World War as a rifleman in a Cumbrian infantry battlion. The author talks about his issue First World War Short Magazine Lee Enfield .303 rifle as if it were is wife. He lavished care on his rifle as it was necessary to save his life when fighting the Japanese in the Burmese jungles and plains.
The characters of his fellow infantrymen are brought alive by the author's graphic descriptions of them. The encounter of the password challenge is laugh-out-loud-funny; as is the incident at the well and the meeting with the eccentric Captain Grief. George writes in endearing terms about the Cumbrian soldiers and Ghurkas. Matters of life and death are described from the perspective of the best soldier in the world - the British Tommy.
Inevitably the book refers to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan which precripitated the end of the war. The author also compared and contrasted his experiences of British reserve, exemplified by soldiers of his generation, with the media prompted soul-bearering of those soldiers preparing for the Gulf War.
This book is not politically correct, nor was it intended to be, it is a genuine exposition of war from a soldier who experienced it first hand. These have coloured his view of the soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and those critics of the atomic bomb. It probably would not make comfortable reading for people of a liberal or pacifist leaning. The author does pontificate about political correctness, race and nuclear issues - after what he experienced he has earned that right.
This book is one of the best reads about the fighting in Burma. It is an honest account of men at war: Full of path