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 Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
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Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Disappointing, 03 Dec 2008
Disappointing. Patch's own words are fine, especially for a man of his age, but the ghost-writer (Richard van Emden) is too intrusive and spoils the flow of the narrative.
The Last fighting Tommy, The life of Harry Patch, 18 Nov 2008
Amazing this all I can say, Im not a fan of War books, but this is truly brilliant, Richard VAN Emden has put this together amazingly, Im going to read a few more of his books. READ IT
A century of experiences, 12 Nov 2008
I saved this for now as it is the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. It is amazing how clear Harry's memories are and in what fine fettle he is considering his great age. The most remarkable thing about him is that he was an unremarkable man in remarkable, indeed shattering and horrific, times. Worth reading for a century and more of an ordinary man's life and memories.
A hero tells his story and let us never forget., 06 Oct 2008
I have just read Henry Allingham's book which led me to reread Jimmy Corbin's ,(please read my reviews on these books), and now I have just finished rereading Harry's book.
It is very interesting to hear how their lives panned out and when you consider how differently these three mens lives are it beggars belief to even contemplate the lives of every other fighter from ww1 and 2. One thing I know is that every last one of them would have a story worth reading though.
I would distrust anyone who considers this book to be worthy of less than 5 stars as this man like so many others did his duty so we were able to keep our freedom. These boys were fighting for more than their own lives as some reviewers seem to forget.
sour grapes are best left with footballers wives and the likes.
A Patchwork Quilt named Peace, 04 Oct 2008
No more than a week or so ago the nearby village of Langemarck-Poelkapelle hailed our long-term and cherished visitor Harry Patch. Patch, who has recently turned an unheard of 110 (!) and boasts an equally impressive score of visits to our Salient, had been a simple plumber before he came over to fight, which turned him into a hero just by surviving and then waiting (and testifying).
At Langemarck, where thousands of German young students were laid to rest, Harry pointed out the very spot where in 1917 he and his fellow-soldiers crossed the Steenbeek (een beek is a brook; Steenbeek could be Stone brook) and insisted on a simple memorial stone to be erected there in an act of commemoration of all his fellow-soldiers, whether or not they made it, even whether or not they hade been on his own or on the other side.
Mr Patch is cherished especially as he is one of the very last three (3!) Tommies to have survived the war and, like Harry, are well in their 100s themselves now.
Around the same time as Harry's visit, which - as the media said - might well be his last, a Belgian soldier and inhabitant of Langemarck-Poelkapelle (35) met his death while attempting to `put away with a shell' while in the course of a peaceful UN mission in the Lebanon.
Perhaps the long and the short of it is that what one tries to do here in our region is to enhance and foster the awareness that no, this war is anything but over; what the concept of the prospective Peace Park Flanders comes up to is to continue to draw that thin line of life that stretches from here to way back there. Pretty much as Harry Patch does, if one comes to think of it.
It is as thin as the line between love and hate. And thin as the line between reminiscence and forgetfulness.
As our unholy holy region of Ypres was and is burdened with history, let us continue to preserve the memory of all those nameless shameless names. `Lest I my pangèd grave must share with you. / Else dead. Else cold.', as the passionate soldier-poet Ivor Gurney said it. Remembering is conservative.
It sets out to preserve the past and keep it unscathed, for the benefit of ourselves and our future.
What a character you are, Harry! Thank you, for just being yourself.
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Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Disappointing, 03 Dec 2008
Disappointing. Patch's own words are fine, especially for a man of his age, but the ghost-writer (Richard van Emden) is too intrusive and spoils the flow of the narrative.
The Last fighting Tommy, The life of Harry Patch, 18 Nov 2008
Amazing this all I can say, Im not a fan of War books, but this is truly brilliant, Richard VAN Emden has put this together amazingly, Im going to read a few more of his books. READ IT
A century of experiences, 12 Nov 2008
I saved this for now as it is the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. It is amazing how clear Harry's memories are and in what fine fettle he is considering his great age. The most remarkable thing about him is that he was an unremarkable man in remarkable, indeed shattering and horrific, times. Worth reading for a century and more of an ordinary man's life and memories.
A hero tells his story and let us never forget., 06 Oct 2008
I have just read Henry Allingham's book which led me to reread Jimmy Corbin's ,(please read my reviews on these books), and now I have just finished rereading Harry's book.
It is very interesting to hear how their lives panned out and when you consider how differently these three mens lives are it beggars belief to even contemplate the lives of every other fighter from ww1 and 2. One thing I know is that every last one of them would have a story worth reading though.
I would distrust anyone who considers this book to be worthy of less than 5 stars as this man like so many others did his duty so we were able to keep our freedom. These boys were fighting for more than their own lives as some reviewers seem to forget.
sour grapes are best left with footballers wives and the likes.
A Patchwork Quilt named Peace, 04 Oct 2008
No more than a week or so ago the nearby village of Langemarck-Poelkapelle hailed our long-term and cherished visitor Harry Patch. Patch, who has recently turned an unheard of 110 (!) and boasts an equally impressive score of visits to our Salient, had been a simple plumber before he came over to fight, which turned him into a hero just by surviving and then waiting (and testifying).
At Langemarck, where thousands of German young students were laid to rest, Harry pointed out the very spot where in 1917 he and his fellow-soldiers crossed the Steenbeek (een beek is a brook; Steenbeek could be Stone brook) and insisted on a simple memorial stone to be erected there in an act of commemoration of all his fellow-soldiers, whether or not they made it, even whether or not they hade been on his own or on the other side.
Mr Patch is cherished especially as he is one of the very last three (3!) Tommies to have survived the war and, like Harry, are well in their 100s themselves now.
Around the same time as Harry's visit, which - as the media said - might well be his last, a Belgian soldier and inhabitant of Langemarck-Poelkapelle (35) met his death while attempting to `put away with a shell' while in the course of a peaceful UN mission in the Lebanon.
Perhaps the long and the short of it is that what one tries to do here in our region is to enhance and foster the awareness that no, this war is anything but over; what the concept of the prospective Peace Park Flanders comes up to is to continue to draw that thin line of life that stretches from here to way back there. Pretty much as Harry Patch does, if one comes to think of it.
It is as thin as the line between love and hate. And thin as the line between reminiscence and forgetfulness.
As our unholy holy region of Ypres was and is burdened with history, let us continue to preserve the memory of all those nameless shameless names. `Lest I my pangèd grave must share with you. / Else dead. Else cold.', as the passionate soldier-poet Ivor Gurney said it. Remembering is conservative.
It sets out to preserve the past and keep it unscathed, for the benefit of ourselves and our future.
What a character you are, Harry! Thank you, for just being yourself.
Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.
Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.
It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.
I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.
The chapters are very short and very easy to read.
All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!
The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.
Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.
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Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Disappointing, 03 Dec 2008
Disappointing. Patch's own words are fine, especially for a man of his age, but the ghost-writer (Richard van Emden) is too intrusive and spoils the flow of the narrative.
The Last fighting Tommy, The life of Harry Patch, 18 Nov 2008
Amazing this all I can say, Im not a fan of War books, but this is truly brilliant, Richard VAN Emden has put this together amazingly, Im going to read a few more of his books. READ IT
A century of experiences, 12 Nov 2008
I saved this for now as it is the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. It is amazing how clear Harry's memories are and in what fine fettle he is considering his great age. The most remarkable thing about him is that he was an unremarkable man in remarkable, indeed shattering and horrific, times. Worth reading for a century and more of an ordinary man's life and memories.
A hero tells his story and let us never forget., 06 Oct 2008
I have just read Henry Allingham's book which led me to reread Jimmy Corbin's ,(please read my reviews on these books), and now I have just finished rereading Harry's book.
It is very interesting to hear how their lives panned out and when you consider how differently these three mens lives are it beggars belief to even contemplate the lives of every other fighter from ww1 and 2. One thing I know is that every last one of them would have a story worth reading though.
I would distrust anyone who considers this book to be worthy of less than 5 stars as this man like so many others did his duty so we were able to keep our freedom. These boys were fighting for more than their own lives as some reviewers seem to forget.
sour grapes are best left with footballers wives and the likes.
A Patchwork Quilt named Peace, 04 Oct 2008
No more than a week or so ago the nearby village of Langemarck-Poelkapelle hailed our long-term and cherished visitor Harry Patch. Patch, who has recently turned an unheard of 110 (!) and boasts an equally impressive score of visits to our Salient, had been a simple plumber before he came over to fight, which turned him into a hero just by surviving and then waiting (and testifying).
At Langemarck, where thousands of German young students were laid to rest, Harry pointed out the very spot where in 1917 he and his fellow-soldiers crossed the Steenbeek (een beek is a brook; Steenbeek could be Stone brook) and insisted on a simple memorial stone to be erected there in an act of commemoration of all his fellow-soldiers, whether or not they made it, even whether or not they hade been on his own or on the other side.
Mr Patch is cherished especially as he is one of the very last three (3!) Tommies to have survived the war and, like Harry, are well in their 100s themselves now.
Around the same time as Harry's visit, which - as the media said - might well be his last, a Belgian soldier and inhabitant of Langemarck-Poelkapelle (35) met his death while attempting to `put away with a shell' while in the course of a peaceful UN mission in the Lebanon.
Perhaps the long and the short of it is that what one tries to do here in our region is to enhance and foster the awareness that no, this war is anything but over; what the concept of the prospective Peace Park Flanders comes up to is to continue to draw that thin line of life that stretches from here to way back there. Pretty much as Harry Patch does, if one comes to think of it.
It is as thin as the line between love and hate. And thin as the line between reminiscence and forgetfulness.
As our unholy holy region of Ypres was and is burdened with history, let us continue to preserve the memory of all those nameless shameless names. `Lest I my pangèd grave must share with you. / Else dead. Else cold.', as the passionate soldier-poet Ivor Gurney said it. Remembering is conservative.
It sets out to preserve the past and keep it unscathed, for the benefit of ourselves and our future.
What a character you are, Harry! Thank you, for just being yourself.
Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.
Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.
It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.
I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.
The chapters are very short and very easy to read.
All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!
The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.
Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.
What a find!!! An absolute treasure trove., 17 Oct 2008
I don't usually read diaries but this caught my eye and I decided to give it a go as I generally read war books. From page one it became a treasure trove of snippets from a bygone era. How a family strove to make ends meet through severe hardship during ww1. Thomas makes light of it all with wit, charm and such delightful drawings of news items or his family.
Shaun sewell has made a great discovery and shared it with the nation. We must thank you for that and just hope Harper collins will see fit to produce book 2 from 1919 t0 1933. I only hope someone will find the pre war diaries that might have started as early as 1905 whilst thomas was courting Agnes.
This is a real gem, set in Glasgow it gives us all another angle on the great war, A great social history, and whether you are from the North, the south, England, scotland, Ireland or Wales it will appeal to all.
A Delight, 20 Sep 2008
This book is a delight, a gem. The original illustrations take the diaries beyond the mundane, and Thomas Livingstone's gentle humour enlivens the often dreary weather and seemingly constant worries over Agnes health. Zeplins, Chimneys, the wash house, news from the front, the ironing, the cost of coal..... all of life is here. You will love it!
Glasgow's WWI Kiss, 19 Sep 2008
Well, what a find, I am normally an avid veiwer of the Antiques Roadshow but must have missed the autumn 2007 episode at alnwick castle which featured the original MSS of these diaries, these are, I think unique, part facsimilie MSS part typeset, the diaries are illustrated throughout by Thomas Cairns Livingstone, a well to do Glasweigian shipping clerk, the diaries span the best part of 30 years, but here we have the best bits, the Great War years, plus a few entries for 1933, depression era (how spookily apt for today) I am a collector of WWI Diaries, I like seeing the great war from all angles, but I have never come across one like these, and i don't think there will be another set like these published, I can rave on about how superb they are, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I am sure you will agree, it will be the best money you've ever spent, open the pages of Thomas Cairns livingstone's diaries and let him talk to you himself and be transported back to Post Edwardian Glasgow
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Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Disappointing, 03 Dec 2008
Disappointing. Patch's own words are fine, especially for a man of his age, but the ghost-writer (Richard van Emden) is too intrusive and spoils the flow of the narrative.
The Last fighting Tommy, The life of Harry Patch, 18 Nov 2008
Amazing this all I can say, Im not a fan of War books, but this is truly brilliant, Richard VAN Emden has put this together amazingly, Im going to read a few more of his books. READ IT
A century of experiences, 12 Nov 2008
I saved this for now as it is the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. It is amazing how clear Harry's memories are and in what fine fettle he is considering his great age. The most remarkable thing about him is that he was an unremarkable man in remarkable, indeed shattering and horrific, times. Worth reading for a century and more of an ordinary man's life and memories.
A hero tells his story and let us never forget., 06 Oct 2008
I have just read Henry Allingham's book which led me to reread Jimmy Corbin's ,(please read my reviews on these books), and now I have just finished rereading Harry's book.
It is very interesting to hear how their lives panned out and when you consider how differently these three mens lives are it beggars belief to even contemplate the lives of every other fighter from ww1 and 2. One thing I know is that every last one of them would have a story worth reading though.
I would distrust anyone who considers this book to be worthy of less than 5 stars as this man like so many others did his duty so we were able to keep our freedom. These boys were fighting for more than their own lives as some reviewers seem to forget.
sour grapes are best left with footballers wives and the likes.
A Patchwork Quilt named Peace, 04 Oct 2008
No more than a week or so ago the nearby village of Langemarck-Poelkapelle hailed our long-term and cherished visitor Harry Patch. Patch, who has recently turned an unheard of 110 (!) and boasts an equally impressive score of visits to our Salient, had been a simple plumber before he came over to fight, which turned him into a hero just by surviving and then waiting (and testifying).
At Langemarck, where thousands of German young students were laid to rest, Harry pointed out the very spot where in 1917 he and his fellow-soldiers crossed the Steenbeek (een beek is a brook; Steenbeek could be Stone brook) and insisted on a simple memorial stone to be erected there in an act of commemoration of all his fellow-soldiers, whether or not they made it, even whether or not they hade been on his own or on the other side.
Mr Patch is cherished especially as he is one of the very last three (3!) Tommies to have survived the war and, like Harry, are well in their 100s themselves now.
Around the same time as Harry's visit, which - as the media said - might well be his last, a Belgian soldier and inhabitant of Langemarck-Poelkapelle (35) met his death while attempting to `put away with a shell' while in the course of a peaceful UN mission in the Lebanon.
Perhaps the long and the short of it is that what one tries to do here in our region is to enhance and foster the awareness that no, this war is anything but over; what the concept of the prospective Peace Park Flanders comes up to is to continue to draw that thin line of life that stretches from here to way back there. Pretty much as Harry Patch does, if one comes to think of it.
It is as thin as the line between love and hate. And thin as the line between reminiscence and forgetfulness.
As our unholy holy region of Ypres was and is burdened with history, let us continue to preserve the memory of all those nameless shameless names. `Lest I my pangèd grave must share with you. / Else dead. Else cold.', as the passionate soldier-poet Ivor Gurney said it. Remembering is conservative.
It sets out to preserve the past and keep it unscathed, for the benefit of ourselves and our future.
What a character you are, Harry! Thank you, for just being yourself.
Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.
Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.
It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.
I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.
The chapters are very short and very easy to read.
All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!
The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.
Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.
What a find!!! An absolute treasure trove., 17 Oct 2008
I don't usually read diaries but this caught my eye and I decided to give it a go as I generally read war books. From page one it became a treasure trove of snippets from a bygone era. How a family strove to make ends meet through severe hardship during ww1. Thomas makes light of it all with wit, charm and such delightful drawings of news items or his family.
Shaun sewell has made a great discovery and shared it with the nation. We must thank you for that and just hope Harper collins will see fit to produce book 2 from 1919 t0 1933. I only hope someone will find the pre war diaries that might have started as early as 1905 whilst thomas was courting Agnes.
This is a real gem, set in Glasgow it gives us all another angle on the great war, A great social history, and whether you are from the North, the south, England, scotland, Ireland or Wales it will appeal to all.
A Delight, 20 Sep 2008
This book is a delight, a gem. The original illustrations take the diaries beyond the mundane, and Thomas Livingstone's gentle humour enlivens the often dreary weather and seemingly constant worries over Agnes health. Zeplins, Chimneys, the wash house, news from the front, the ironing, the cost of coal..... all of life is here. You will love it!
Glasgow's WWI Kiss, 19 Sep 2008
Well, what a find, I am normally an avid veiwer of the Antiques Roadshow but must have missed the autumn 2007 episode at alnwick castle which featured the original MSS of these diaries, these are, I think unique, part facsimilie MSS part typeset, the diaries are illustrated throughout by Thomas Cairns Livingstone, a well to do Glasweigian shipping clerk, the diaries span the best part of 30 years, but here we have the best bits, the Great War years, plus a few entries for 1933, depression era (how spookily apt for today) I am a collector of WWI Diaries, I like seeing the great war from all angles, but I have never come across one like these, and i don't think there will be another set like these published, I can rave on about how superb they are, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I am sure you will agree, it will be the best money you've ever spent, open the pages of Thomas Cairns livingstone's diaries and let him talk to you himself and be transported back to Post Edwardian Glasgow
Another great slice of 40s life, 02 Oct 2008
If you enjoyed the original 'Nella Last's War' then you will enjoy this second volume just the same. The end of hostilities doesn't mean the end of either Nella's writing, or her talent with words and observation. It also certainly does not mean the end of hardship and difficulty. I drove to Barrow on the strength of the first diary and was very fortunate to meet the present owners of Nella's old house - they actually bought it off the Last family forty years ago. Just sitting in her old living room, where all those words had poured onto the page, brought Nella and her time tangibly closer. I heartily recommend this book.
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The Duchess
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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*Amazon: £2.49
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Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Disappointing, 03 Dec 2008
Disappointing. Patch's own words are fine, especially for a man of his age, but the ghost-writer (Richard van Emden) is too intrusive and spoils the flow of the narrative.
The Last fighting Tommy, The life of Harry Patch, 18 Nov 2008
Amazing this all I can say, Im not a fan of War books, but this is truly brilliant, Richard VAN Emden has put this together amazingly, Im going to read a few more of his books. READ IT
A century of experiences, 12 Nov 2008
I saved this for now as it is the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. It is amazing how clear Harry's memories are and in what fine fettle he is considering his great age. The most remarkable thing about him is that he was an unremarkable man in remarkable, indeed shattering and horrific, times. Worth reading for a century and more of an ordinary man's life and memories.
A hero tells his story and let us never forget., 06 Oct 2008
I have just read Henry Allingham's book which led me to reread Jimmy Corbin's ,(please read my reviews on these books), and now I have just finished rereading Harry's book.
It is very interesting to hear how their lives panned out and when you consider how differently these three mens lives are it beggars belief to even contemplate the lives of every other fighter from ww1 and 2. One thing I know is that every last one of them would have a story worth reading though.
I would distrust anyone who considers this book to be worthy of less than 5 stars as this man like so many others did his duty so we were able to keep our freedom. These boys were fighting for more than their own lives as some reviewers seem to forget.
sour grapes are best left with footballers wives and the likes.
A Patchwork Quilt named Peace, 04 Oct 2008
No more than a week or so ago the nearby village of Langemarck-Poelkapelle hailed our long-term and cherished visitor Harry Patch. Patch, who has recently turned an unheard of 110 (!) and boasts an equally impressive score of visits to our Salient, had been a simple plumber before he came over to fight, which turned him into a hero just by surviving and then waiting (and testifying).
At Langemarck, where thousands of German young students were laid to rest, Harry pointed out the very spot where in 1917 he and his fellow-soldiers crossed the Steenbeek (een beek is a brook; Steenbeek could be Stone brook) and insisted on a simple memorial stone to be erected there in an act of commemoration of all his fellow-soldiers, whether or not they made it, even whether or not they hade been on his own or on the other side.
Mr Patch is cherished especially as he is one of the very last three (3!) Tommies to have survived the war and, like Harry, are well in their 100s themselves now.
Around the same time as Harry's visit, which - as the media said - might well be his last, a Belgian soldier and inhabitant of Langemarck-Poelkapelle (35) met his death while attempting to `put away with a shell' while in the course of a peaceful UN mission in the Lebanon.
Perhaps the long and the short of it is that what one tries to do here in our region is to enhance and foster the awareness that no, this war is anything but over; what the concept of the prospective Peace Park Flanders comes up to is to continue to draw that thin line of life that stretches from here to way back there. Pretty much as Harry Patch does, if one comes to think of it.
It is as thin as the line between love and hate. And thin as the line between reminiscence and forgetfulness.
As our unholy holy region of Ypres was and is burdened with history, let us continue to preserve the memory of all those nameless shameless names. `Lest I my pangèd grave must share with you. / Else dead. Else cold.', as the passionate soldier-poet Ivor Gurney said it. Remembering is conservative.
It sets out to preserve the past and keep it unscathed, for the benefit of ourselves and our future.
What a character you are, Harry! Thank you, for just being yourself.
Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.
Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.
It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.
I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.
The chapters are very short and very easy to read.
All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!
The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.
Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.
What a find!!! An absolute treasure trove., 17 Oct 2008
I don't usually read diaries but this caught my eye and I decided to give it a go as I generally read war books. From page one it became a treasure trove of snippets from a bygone era. How a family strove to make ends meet through severe hardship during ww1. Thomas makes light of it all with wit, charm and such delightful drawings of news items or his family.
Shaun sewell has made a great discovery and shared it with the nation. We must thank you for that and just hope Harper collins will see fit to produce book 2 from 1919 t0 1933. I only hope someone will find the pre war diaries that might have started as early as 1905 whilst thomas was courting Agnes.
This is a real gem, set in Glasgow it gives us all another angle on the great war, A great social history, and whether you are from the North, the south, England, scotland, Ireland or Wales it will appeal to all.
A Delight, 20 Sep 2008
This book is a delight, a gem. The original illustrations take the diaries beyond the mundane, and Thomas Livingstone's gentle humour enlivens the often dreary weather and seemingly constant worries over Agnes health. Zeplins, Chimneys, the wash house, news from the front, the ironing, the cost of coal..... all of life is here. You will love it!
Glasgow's WWI Kiss, 19 Sep 2008
Well, what a find, I am normally an avid veiwer of the Antiques Roadshow but must have missed the autumn 2007 episode at alnwick castle which featured the original MSS of these diaries, these are, I think unique, part facsimilie MSS part typeset, the diaries are illustrated throughout by Thomas Cairns Livingstone, a well to do Glasweigian shipping clerk, the diaries span the best part of 30 years, but here we have the best bits, the Great War years, plus a few entries for 1933, depression era (how spookily apt for today) I am a collector of WWI Diaries, I like seeing the great war from all angles, but I have never come across one like these, and i don't think there will be another set like these published, I can rave on about how superb they are, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I am sure you will agree, it will be the best money you've ever spent, open the pages of Thomas Cairns livingstone's diaries and let him talk to you himself and be transported back to Post Edwardian Glasgow
Another great slice of 40s life, 02 Oct 2008
If you enjoyed the original 'Nella Last's War' then you will enjoy this second volume just the same. The end of hostilities doesn't mean the end of either Nella's writing, or her talent with words and observation. It also certainly does not mean the end of hardship and difficulty. I drove to Barrow on the strength of the first diary and was very fortunate to meet the present owners of Nella's old house - they actually bought it off the Last family forty years ago. Just sitting in her old living room, where all those words had poured onto the page, brought Nella and her time tangibly closer. I heartily recommend this book.
The Duchess comes to life, 27 Oct 2008
The book is simply amazing. The letters that the Duchess exchanged with others bring her character and her peers back to life. Despite the high rank and society Georgiana belonged to, she was just a woman whose ambitions moved her forward, whose love-life could not be more difficult and restrained her from being loved in return. The film adaptation is a far cry from the books original text.
what a disappointment, 13 Oct 2008
I was so looking forward to a good historical novel but what a let down. It was more like text book. Dreadfully hard going - I didn't finish it.
Very readable and loved it!, 09 Oct 2008
I was very pleased that I was able to get into this book and I remember it as if it was a story! It is so well done and gave me the information I would want from any historical biography without the boredom! The film is good but isn't the tiniest patch on the book!
Loved it, 08 Oct 2008
When I picked the book up I wasn't really sure what to make of it. But the more I read the more I came to admire this women. She was so foolish and at times downright dangerous but she has such a down to earth quality about her I couldn't help but read on.
A truly remarkable women. A book not to be missed!
A good biography, 21 Sep 2008
I picked up the book as I wanted to watch the film. I always feel it is better to read a book then watch the movie to compare.
From the start I was drawn into the book. It is very easy to read and the details are just perfect. There are references to politics but thats a good break. Any intellect should be able to comprehend what is being described. The duchess valued politics so naturally the book should make references to it. There are references to political figures but they are refered to through out the book and you feel like you know them as well as the duchess and her family.
At times, I felt real sad for the duchess but at times I felt rather cross with her and her naivety; her gambling ways and her willingness to live with her husband's mistress. Even that in a way is very sad. She had to put up with it or she would have been forced to separate from her husband. In those days, the children remained with the father and his family if a couple separated or divorced. This meant, if Georgiana had separated from the duke, she would have been separated from the children too.
I could not put the book down once I had started. It was very good. I even thought about calling in sick at work to finish the book. I love my work so for a book to keep me away from my work says a lot about the book itself.
I would highly recommend it to anyone. A perfect biography.
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Product Description
In 1914 Vera Brittain was 21 years old, and an undergraduate student at Somerville College, Oxford. When war broke out in August of that year, Brittain "temporarily" disrupted her studies to enrol as a volunteer nurse, nursing casualties both in England and on the Western Front. The next four years were to cause a deep rupture in Brittain's life, as she witnessed not only the horrors of war first hand, but also experienced the quadruple loss of her fiancé, her brother, and two close friends. Testament of Youth is a powerfully written, unsentimental memoir which has continued to move and enthral readers since its first publication in 1933. Brittain, a pacifist since her First World War experiences, prefaces the book with a fairy tale, in which Catherine, the heroine, encounters a fairy godmother and is given the choice of having either a happy youth or a happy old age. She selects the latter and so her fate is determined: "Now this woman," warns the tale, "was the destiny of poor Catherine." And we find as we delve deeper into the book that she was the destiny of poor Vera too.
Customer Reviews
Never too late, 11 Nov 2008
What amazes me the most about Henry Allingham's fascinating and inspiring life story is that for 30 years he lived a quiet life in his Eastbourne flat, and hadn't spoken about the War since it ended. Then, after reaching 100, his life changed completely and he's now had up to 47 event appearances in a single year. This shows astonishing flexibility and ability to change. It is a truly inspiring book. Aside from the personal aspects given to many historical events it is an account of the triumph of the human spirit. Henry is a star!
Fine Work, 03 Nov 2008
The words of Henry Allingham are astonishingly sharp considering his great age. Thanks to his memories we get an intimate glimpse into Edwardian times. There are perceptive words too from the co-author that put Allingham's experiences into context. Altogether a fine work and a valuable resource.
A remarkable life, 16 Oct 2008
Kitchener's Last Volunteer relates the story of a life remarkable in so many ways. Henry Allingham, the co-author along with Dennis Goodwin, was born in 1896 and the circumstances of his early life seem remarkable from the present day - truly a very different world
This memoir focuses on his experiences during the First World War, where he served in the Royal Naval Air Service and saw action at both the Battle of Jutland and Third Ypres, and his recollections of those events are interspersed by historical notes that provide a detailed context to the personal stories.
Beyond the First World War the book also deals with the author's experiences of the Great Depression, the Second World War and life in 20th-century Britain, until the final chapters describe how the author came to terms with his of war service and became active in commemoration and education.
What really comes through form the book is the sheer breadth of Henry Allingham's life and experiences and it is a fascinating read and highly recommended.
A privilege to read, and a joy too, 01 Oct 2008
I've just finished reading this - a book I devoured almost without putting it down. That 112 year old can really write!
Henry Allingham is a fascinating character - the only man alive who saw the Grand Fleet steaming towards Jutland, and also the last of those who fought in the first air war in history. Mr. Allingham has a dry, self-deprecating style which is highly engaging. I was drawn into his autobiographical tale, almost as if he had been talking to me directly.
The narrative of this remarkable 112 year old is interspersed with short passages of historical scene-setting, filling in the background to Henry's story. Consequently they add rather than detract from the narrative.
The whole book is delightful - a personal narrative by an extremely personable old man. I've read several first-hand accounts by Great War veterans before, but this is in a league all of its own, both for the scope of Henry's story, and for the engaging way he tells it.
I can't recommend this book too highly.
A fitting account of our hero...Well done Henry. Fantastic!!!!, 29 Sep 2008
I just love to read these accounts of the life of a true hero that has lived through numerous decades and gives us an insight into the daily lives during each era. This book also gives us a birds eye view of life in the great war. If ever there was a book that should be read by everyone then this is it.
I would also recommend Harry Patch's book,"the last fighting tommy", with equal status.
These two fine books should sit alongside each other on every bookshelf across the country to be read time and time again.
Thank you Henry for giving us this account and it is a true hero that still talks with such compassion for his lost but never forgotten colleagues. Brothers in arms has never had more meaning.
Disappointing, 03 Dec 2008
Disappointing. Patch's own words are fine, especially for a man of his age, but the ghost-writer (Richard van Emden) is too intrusive and spoils the flow of the narrative.
The Last fighting Tommy, The life of Harry Patch, 18 Nov 2008
Amazing this all I can say, Im not a fan of War books, but this is truly brilliant, Richard VAN Emden has put this together amazingly, Im going to read a few more of his books. READ IT
A century of experiences, 12 Nov 2008
I saved this for now as it is the 90th anniversary of the end of WWI. It is amazing how clear Harry's memories are and in what fine fettle he is considering his great age. The most remarkable thing about him is that he was an unremarkable man in remarkable, indeed shattering and horrific, times. Worth reading for a century and more of an ordinary man's life and memories.
A hero tells his story and let us never forget., 06 Oct 2008
I have just read Henry Allingham's book which led me to reread Jimmy Corbin's ,(please read my reviews on these books), and now I have just finished rereading Harry's book.
It is very interesting to hear how their lives panned out and when you consider how differently these three mens lives are it beggars belief to even contemplate the lives of every other fighter from ww1 and 2. One thing I know is that every last one of them would have a story worth reading though.
I would distrust anyone who considers this book to be worthy of less than 5 stars as this man like so many others did his duty so we were able to keep our freedom. These boys were fighting for more than their own lives as some reviewers seem to forget.
sour grapes are best left with footballers wives and the likes.
A Patchwork Quilt named Peace, 04 Oct 2008
No more than a week or so ago the nearby village of Langemarck-Poelkapelle hailed our long-term and cherished visitor Harry Patch. Patch, who has recently turned an unheard of 110 (!) and boasts an equally impressive score of visits to our Salient, had been a simple plumber before he came over to fight, which turned him into a hero just by surviving and then waiting (and testifying).
At Langemarck, where thousands of German young students were laid to rest, Harry pointed out the very spot where in 1917 he and his fellow-soldiers crossed the Steenbeek (een beek is a brook; Steenbeek could be Stone brook) and insisted on a simple memorial stone to be erected there in an act of commemoration of all his fellow-soldiers, whether or not they made it, even whether or not they hade been on his own or on the other side.
Mr Patch is cherished especially as he is one of the very last three (3!) Tommies to have survived the war and, like Harry, are well in their 100s themselves now.
Around the same time as Harry's visit, which - as the media said - might well be his last, a Belgian soldier and inhabitant of Langemarck-Poelkapelle (35) met his death while attempting to `put away with a shell' while in the course of a peaceful UN mission in the Lebanon.
Perhaps the long and the short of it is that what one tries to do here in our region is to enhance and foster the awareness that no, this war is anything but over; what the concept of the prospective Peace Park Flanders comes up to is to continue to draw that thin line of life that stretches from here to way back there. Pretty much as Harry Patch does, if one comes to think of it.
It is as thin as the line between love and hate. And thin as the line between reminiscence and forgetfulness.
As our unholy holy region of Ypres was and is burdened with history, let us continue to preserve the memory of all those nameless shameless names. `Lest I my pangèd grave must share with you. / Else dead. Else cold.', as the passionate soldier-poet Ivor Gurney said it. Remembering is conservative.
It sets out to preserve the past and keep it unscathed, for the benefit of ourselves and our future.
What a character you are, Harry! Thank you, for just being yourself.
Dissapointing, 13 Nov 2008
I was really looking forwards to this book, I am an avid reader of anything to do with Tudor history and the wars of the roses and as there is relatively little written on the early years of Henry VIII I was keen to discover more about his personality, his friendships, his marriage, his life and what made him into the tyrant most people recognise him as. Starkey's introduction was promising, I was chomping at the bit to get into this book, but it never really got going for me. Maybe I have read too much on the subject and it was all old news to me, there were little nuggets but no real meaty information.
It is possible, of course, that there is no documented evidence other than what Starkey bought to his book, or that he did not want to make any inferences - he is an historian after all and not a novelist - but I just cannot help feeling that the reader doesn't really get an insight into the boy or the young man.
There is very little on his relationships with More or Catherine of Aragon, which I would consider pretty fundemental considering the parts they both played in his life and it would have been good to have had more of a background on this in order to appreciate the enormity his actions had on his own personality, not just the consequences for the country and the church.
Assuming that you are familiar with the backgound into which Henry VIII was born; the wars of the roses, Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII and the other main players then you can cut out two thirds of the book. I wanted to know about the man, what made him tick, his passions, his personality, his friendships, his enemies, his lifestyle and just as Starkey got going the book ended. The reader gets little more than a glimpse of 'The Virtuous Prince'.
On the plus side it is an easy read, if you know little or nothing about Henry VIII's early life then go for it.
Young Henry - a perfect read, 10 Nov 2008
David Starkey is said to be Britain's highest-paid historian and this book is prove why that is.
It is a mere pleasure to read, entertaining, but never shallow and giving you a real inside into the young Henry - the boy prince, the heir and the young king.
I especially liked that Starkey never looses the focus on Henry. Very often historians present the developments of the time in art, education, religion, politics in length but one have to make the connection to the person oneself. But not here. Starkey shows what this meant for Henry, what effects it had on him and his personality.
The chapters are very short and very easy to read.
All in all, this a book filling a real gap in the literature on Henry VIII. 100% recommended!!!
The other Henry Tudor, 30 Oct 2008
I bought this and started with anticipation. I can honestly say I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the book from start to finish, you can see how much David Starkey loves his subject matter. I must admit that after reading it I have new questions and not sure where to go to ask!! Currently waiting on part 2 but have the sneaky feeling I will have to wait till christmas for that.
Definitive and superb, 21 Oct 2008
It seems as though there is a never-ending flow of books around the Tudor dynasty, including both the fiction of Phillipa Gregory and Alison Weir to the fiction of David Starkey and others.
This book, the first of two (the latter edition will cover the later and more well know part of his life) is superb. Historical biographies can sometimes be "heavy" reading. Starkey's passion for his subject is obvious and his often anecdotal style of writing makes this an immensely pleasurable read.
If Henry VIII life is of interest to you, there is no better book out there. Simply excellent.
What a find!!! An absolute treasure trove., 17 Oct 2008
I don't usually read diaries but this caught my eye and I decided to give it a go as I generally read war books. From page one it became a treasure trove of snippets from a bygone era. How a family strove to make ends meet through severe hardship during ww1. Thomas makes light of it all with wit, charm and such delightful drawings of news items or his family.
Shaun sewell has made a great discovery and shared it with the nation. We must thank you for that and just hope Harper collins will see fit to produce book 2 from 1919 t0 1933. I only hope someone will find the pre war diaries that might have started as early as 1905 whilst thomas was courting Agnes.
This is a real gem, set in Glasgow it gives us all another angle on the great war, A great social history, and whether you are from the North, the south, England, scotland, Ireland or Wales it will appeal to all.
A Delight, 20 Sep 2008
This book is a delight, a gem. The original illustrations take the diaries beyond the mundane, and Thomas Livingstone's gentle humour enlivens the often dreary weather and seemingly constant worries over Agnes health. Zeplins, Chimneys, the wash house, news from the front, the ironing, the cost of coal..... all of life is here. You will love it!
Glasgow's WWI Kiss, 19 Sep 2008
Well, what a find, I am normally an avid veiwer of the Antiques Roadshow but must have missed the autumn 2007 episode at alnwick castle which featured the original MSS of these diaries, these are, I think unique, part facsimilie MSS part typeset, the diaries are illustrated throughout by Thomas Cairns Livingstone, a well to do Glasweigian shipping clerk, the diaries span the best part of 30 years, but here we have the best bits, the Great War years, plus a few entries for 1933, depression era (how spookily apt for today) I am a collector of WWI Diaries, I like seeing the great war from all angles, but I have never come across one like these, and i don't think there will be another set like these published, I can rave on about how superb they are, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, I am sure you will agree, it will be the best money you've ever spent, open the pages of Thomas Cairns livingstone's diaries and let him talk to you himself and be transported back to Post Edwardian Glasgow
Another great slice of 40s life, 02 Oct 2008
If you enjoyed the original 'Nella Last's War' then you will enjoy this second volume just the same. The end of hostilities doesn't mean the end of either Nella's writing, or her talent with words and observation. It also certainly does not mean the end of hardship and difficulty. I drove to Barrow on the strength of the first diary and was very fortunate to meet the present owners of Nella's old house - they actually bought it off the Last family forty years ago. Just sitting in her old living room, where all those words had poured onto the page, brought Nella and her time tangibly closer. I heartily recommend this book.
The Duchess comes to life, 27 Oct 2008
The book is simply amazing. The letters that the Duchess exchanged with others bring her character and her peers back to life. Despite the high rank and society Georgiana belonged to, she was just a woman whose ambitions moved her forward, whose love-life could not be more difficult and restrained her from being loved in return. The film adaptation is a far cry from the books original text.
what a disappointment, 13 Oct 2008
I was so looking forward to a good historical novel but what a let down. It was more like text book. Dreadfully hard going - I didn't finish it.
Very readable and loved it!, 09 Oct 2008
I was very pleased that I was able to get into this book and I remember it as if it was a story! It is so well done and gave me the information I would want from any historical biography without the boredom! The film is good but isn't the tiniest patch on the book!
Loved it, 08 Oct 2008
When I picked the book up I wasn't really sure what to make of it. But the more I read the more I came to admire this women. She was so foolish and at times downright dangerous but she has such a down to earth quality about her I couldn't help but read on.
A truly remarkable women. A book not to be missed!
A good biography, 21 Sep 2008
I picked up the book as I wanted to watch the film. I always feel it is better to read a book then watch the movie to compare.
From the start I was drawn into the book. It is very easy to read and the details are just perfect. There are references to politics but thats a good break. Any intellect should be able to comprehend what is being described. The duchess valued politics so naturally the book should make references to it. There are references to political figures but they are refered to through out the book and you feel like you know them as well as the duchess and her family.
At times, I felt real sad for the duchess but at times I felt rather cross with her and her naivety; her gambling ways and her willingness to live with her husband's mistress. Even that in a way is very sad. She had to put up with it or she would have been forced to separate from her husband. In those days, the children remained with the father and his family if a couple separated or divorced. This meant, if Georgiana had separated from the duke, she would have been separated from the children too.
I could not put the book down once I had started. It was very good. I even thought about calling in sick at work to finish the book. I love my work so for a book to keep me away from my work says a lot about the book itself.
I would highly recommend it to anyone. A perfect biography.
utterly heartbreaking; one woman's war, 15 Jun 2008
My mother having pressed me to read this book, I finally got round to it early this year. Thank God I did.
I cannot begin to put into words how much this book touched me. Vera Brittan must be an inspiration to all women; a strong and determined character who, despite losing almost everything to the War, did not give up. Vera Brittan was a young, ambitious girl growing up pre-war with aspirations to go to University (something uncommon for the day.) She succeeded in getting into Oxford to study English. Then the War came crashing into her life, and Vera's brother and friends get called up to fight. She herself finds her place, working as a nurse first in London, then abroad. Vera Brittan lost so much to this horrific War and yet still found the strength to write about her experiences. This is no fiction, but a true, heartbreaking story of one woman's war.
A most poignant and haunting read, Vera Brittan's tragic story of love, family, duty and growing up will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
An important memoir of the Great War and its aftermath, 03 Jan 2008
In 1929 Vera Brittain ( 1893- 1970) began using her extensive diaries and correspondence to start writing her auto-biographical epic from 1913-1925, which was published in 1933. At the time Brittain was a part time lecturer for supporters of the League of Nations, a journalist, and had written two novels which had not been particularly well received. Ambitious and a feminist, Brittain seemed determined to succeed at something, and her greatest achievement has been in autobiography.
The book is well written : Brittain depicts her own life, frustrations, personal losses , near breakdown and subsequent attempts at building new life and friendships after the Great War in an endearing manner. Her humanitarianism, her social observations, the fact that she reminded the world how those people away from direct military action, (especially women and men to old to fight) suffered along with the men who were maimed, traumatised, or killed . Brittain also nurses enemy soldiers and also visited Germany after the War, and her compassion extended to the German people. The book also clearly documents how women's lives changed during this time period.
`Testament of Youth' is not great literary fiction, compared with Siegfried Sassoon' Memoirs of an Infantry Officer'. The book has its opponents, one unkind critic referred to Brittain as the `princess of self-pity'. The book is centred around her own suffering and personal losses ( of fiancé, friends, brother), though millions of other people experienced great levels of bereavement at this time. Whether she has the right to be heralded as the `voice' of a generation in this respect is open to question. Certainly Brittain's supporters will point out that the book's success was due to a large number of her contemporaries feeling at least some affinity with her suffering.
Further research has suggested that her brother Edward killed in 1918, may have taken his own life or deliberately exposed himself to enemy fire so as to avoid the disgrace of a court martial ( see `Vera Brittain A life' , Paul Berry and Mark Bostridge 1995). In `Testament of Youth' this is not disclosed to the reader, and one wonders if other amendments have been made though it also to fair say that the book's detractors have found few factual errors in the work.
Above all `Testament of Youth' has undergone a revival , after its transatlantic success in the 1930's, with a new generation of readers as from the late 1970's, because its' vision of the Great War-as a senseless carnage- is now popular. The book was re-published by Virago, the feminist publishing house, whose mission was to showcase work by women authors. It's | | |