but thoroughly enjoyed Brown's historically correct accounting of this and other things ...
588569
I didn't know much about this fire, but thoroughly enjoyed Brown's historically correct accounting of this and other things going on at that time.
3195443
I loved the detailed description of events as they developed the historical and religious context, with copious references to other related documents that support the writer's own unique view of the history.
3127313
Mr. Morris' book is a wonderful addition to the library of any American history buff - no matter the level of personal knowledge.  While the stories are somewhat haphazardly categorized, they are all well written and contain a wealth of information.  I also have to commend the author with being able to cover the sometimes very political points of certain parts of American history in a generally non-political way.  Considering the general media so often slants to the left, it was quite refreshing to read honest, non-political writings on the merits, or lack thereof, of the New Deal, the Vietnam War, the beliefs of our Founding Fathers, and other touchy subjects.

Being a lover of history and especially American history, I read the book from cover to cover and was never bored - even when sections came up about which I was familar.  I especially liked the section that discussed ways in which history repeats or nearly repeats itself - such as the similarities between the Great Depression and the depression 100 yrs earlier during the term of Martin Van Buren (and, some would say, the current financial crises that we find ourselves in).  Considering some of the "history" text books that I've read, that choose to accentuate non-history, slanted bias, or even opinion, it seems to me that this book would be an interesting and welcome companion to many junior/senior high-level history texts.  If nothing else, this book would be a nice addition to a well-read home in which parents want to help their children debunk the popular myth, unverified "facts", and outright legend that are sometimes printed and repeated by today's media.  Case in point is the Kennedy assassination conspiracy myth.  The author carefully and methodically lays out all the points and counter-points that lead the reader to only one fact - there was no conspiracy or 2nd shooter and Oliver Stone just needs to deal with it.

Overall I found the book enjoyable.  As other reviewers, I was distracted from time to time by similar facts being repeated throughout the text.  Obviously this is unnecessary and should theoretically be edited out when the final text is printed, but I still needs to be noted.  I also nicked the book a little for the way that it is organized, or non-organized, in somewhat arbitrary categories.  It's not a huge knock though as many of the stories do not lend themselves to strict or obvious categorization and it could easily be argued to place a story in many different sections of the book.  What pictures were in the proof version were welcome additions and I would probably have to buy another copy to get "the full affect".
4055821
I had no expectations when ordering this title - I am simply a history buff and knew little about the personal side of this woman's story.  It relayed the "infamous" side about her interests that were on the more frivolous side yet it let the reader know that she was intelligent, kind, accepting, willing to shoulder responsibilities, and faced her end with as much dignity as she could muster.  A thoroughly enjoyable read after all!
1897213
When I bought this book I didn't realize it was written in 1946 (it was reprinted in 2008) and wondered if it might seem dated - I know, that sounds odd considering the time period it's covering. Anyway, I'm nearly finished and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I've read many historical novels and non-fiction accounts of this time period and this ranks up there with the more enjoyable reads. It also adds a slightly different twist than some of the other novels about Anne of Cleves so it doesn't just seem like a repeat of something you may have already read.
4958890
Given his proclivity to play fast and loose with some historical facts, no one can say that Dan Brown doesn't write page-turners. I started the book at 10 in the morning and finished it before dinner.
There is a lot of Brown's formulaic writing here:  erudite professor, lovely young woman (no sex) and pressure to solve a case involving history in an historical and crowded touristy site.  But for Brown, it works - at least for me.
It's not great literature but, hey, I'll read a well written piece of schlock any day.  Just the kind of guy I am.
3500927
I appreciate Chief Brown's honest and forthright autobiography. He shared his many personal heartbreaks and the faith that has kept him going. He also acknowledged his mistakes. I admire his volunteer work to give back to his community in the Dallas area. I wish there were more public servants with integrity, particularly during this current presidential administration.
3541805
This book almost comes across as an anthology of stories from the narrative of a young man's life in the mid-20th century Upper South. However, it soon reveals itself as brilliantly cohesive, besides a pleasure to read. For comparison purposes, Ferrol Sams, Clyde Edgerton, and Fannie Flagg  come to mind. One need not be from the old southern neighborhood to appreciate the spot-on vernacular of Brown's Kentucky wordsmith adeptness. The prose just sings.

Brown promises in the preface that no real people are slandered in the creation of this novel, and that is good since my family has lived in the region for over two centuries, too. However, his creation cuts so close to the bone that is packs a triple punch of being believable,  entertaining, and funny.

My hope is that his fertile juices yield as handsomely as those of Alexander McCall Smith, whose stories and novels also crossed my mind while listening to the voice of J. M. L. Brown.
3673112
I had a strong inclination this memoir was going to be a powerful recording of history, and it was. There was more direct, genuine information contained in this tome than expected. I enjoyed reading between the lines, nothing designed to delude readers, but more so due to my personal habit of analyzing and absorbing details in fragments. It was innocuous things such as valuing land ownership, in juxtapose to the historical events of how land was initially acquired in America.

Overall, there was a lot to absorb and take from this memoir, again, far more than expected. The tireless work melded into living this experience, and now buttressed in print, for sure is a valuable recording of history. Highly recommended!
301224
I've really enjoyed reading this book. No, it's not a truly unbiased historical account but I've appreciated his fair treatment of the subjects that have gripped mankind for centuries. This book gives you a great deal of information, and yet Van Dorn manages to capture it in a story telling format so that you can ingest it easily. Not a page turner, but not a book you'll set aside after chapter 3 either.
738896
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It was a bit on the long side, but I consider that a positive.  Well researched and written.  If you like Dan Brown-style books, you'll like this one.
2403912
As a student of history (largely English and American), I very much enjoyed this sometimes humorous, but nicely concise history of the English (and American) relationship with France.  I highly recommend it for an overview of the last 1000 years!  Easy to read, with very British "asides" sprinkled here and there through the whole book.
3761607
This was an absolutely wonderful read!  Niall Ferguson, author of this book's sequel, "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire," gives his readers a crash-course in British imperial history starting with the English privateering raids on the Spanish empire and ending with the Suez Canal Crisis of 1956.  Ferguson's main point is that, all things considered, the British Empire was a good thing for the world.  And, it must be said, he makes a very strong case for this using economic, political and historical analysis to bolster his case along with some thumping good tales.  But this is not a jingoistic or details-oriented book.  Quite the opposite in fact!  This book was written with the general reader in mind and is the most accessible book on British history I have ever read. Also, rather than avoid the empire's darker incidents, he uses them as evidence that when the British did bad things, bad things happened not just to the native people (tragic enough as that is), but to the empire as a whole.  A reasonable point to make when one considers how poor policies in Iraq nearly screwed the U.S. over internationally as well as domestically (read Thomas Ricks' "Fiasco" for details).  There were a few nit-picky  issues I have with him, but I feel that this is great book that makes a far better case for, weird as it may sound, a Liberal American empire than his sequel to this book does.
2918032
Very well done. Gave a wonderful sense of history (including the workings of a recalcitrant congress)
441620
The author has written a highly personal, highly entertaining history of the British/German conflict in Africa.  I enjoy his opinions (e.g. how Churchill micromanages, how Kitchener was dead-on with his view of the conflict) and his efforts *not* to insert today's sensibilities into yesterday's history.  He is brutally honest about the cruelties perpetuated by the Germans in Africa, and their later fairly self-interested efforts to be more enlightened rulers.  (Self-interested since they believed a less adversarial relationship with the Africans would be more economically efficient).  And of course, the war -- the focus of the book.  He covers far more than von Lettow -- with a good amount of material on an interesting naval conflict, which (spoiler alert) led to the first aerial attacks on a navy ship.  He delves into the personalities of the South African leaders and von Blixen, of Out of Africa note.  The book is as much about the personalities as details of the battles, though details of battles there certainly are!
4393927
Henry is a 12-year-old slave sweeping up in his owners tavern/barbershop. His father is shaving a man. When the owner comes in to pick up his earnings for the day a gunfight breaks out when the man in the chair turns out to be abolitionist John Brown. In the fight both Henrys father and owner are killed and Brown takes Henry with him. Because Henry was wearing sackcloth dress at the time Brown mistakes the slight boy for a girl. Henry figures its in his best interest to go along with the charade until he can escape. So begins a years long journey for Henrietta, aka as Onion, leading to the fateful raid on Harpers Ferry.

Despite the subject matter this book was quite entertaining. John Brown is depicted as a religious fanatic who is determined to abolish slavery. He travels with his rag tag army, preparing for his war on slavery. He often stops to proselytize for hours on end, or stops what he is doing as if listening to God speaking to him. Onion is the only one who questions Browns mental stability  at least in his mind, never speaking his thoughts aloud. There is quite a lot of humor in the book and at times its downright bawdy. But there is a lot of wretchedness too; the book is dealing with slavery after all.

Sprinkled throughout the book are some famous people of the time including Frederick Douglas (in a very unflattering portrayal) and Harriet Tubman. But the heart and soul of the book lies with Onion, who starts out as an innocent child eventually comes to learn to be a man and take responsibility for his actions and his life.

I really liked the style of writing in the book, with the use of the vernacular of the times. Throughout reading the book it felt somewhat familiar to me, and when I read some reviews that compared The Good Lord Bird to Mark Twains writings I realized that it was that tone that felt so familiar. I also enjoyed learning a bit more about the raid on Harpers Ferry, although John Browns name was known to me I really didn't know anything about him and while I wouldnt use this book as a true historical retelling it did get me to look up more of the background on the actual events. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction with an often humorous yet sympathetic outlook on an event that would serve as a spur for the looming Civil War.
4702654
I really like how Brown juxtaposed dangers and hopes of science and religion in the age of tech. The final pieces of the puzzle were foreshadowed to a nice degree but not overwhelmingly so.