Although learning about history has always appealed to me, until I stopped working full time, reading about it was not a priority. Before 2010, I relied more on film than I did on books to help me augment the little historical knowledge I'd gotten during my school years. I knew film was an inadequate substitute, but leisure hours were limited and the concentration required to finish books of history - especially the longer ones - frequently eluded me. On the top of my pile in the full-time work years were either novels or non-fiction connected to my work or, of course, books about music.
For the last fifteen years, with respect to books of history, calling myself an intermediate dilettante is, I think, reasonably accurate. However, thanks to the newest book club I've joined - a club that reads only non-fiction - it's now possible I'll get to the advanced dilletante level in Act Three. So far, this club has gone three for three in selecting terrific books of history that I would never have picked on my own. The latest: Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, And the Fate of the American Revolution (2016). Why would I not have picked this?
* The excellent author - Nathaniel Philbrick - was unknown to me. That's never a deal-breaker, but when it comes to history, I'm more inclined to return to favorites (Joseph Ellis, Erik Larsen, David McCullough), because I know how their storytelling skills make the history come alive. I'm a little gun-shy picking an unknown historian in a library drive-by because I'm concerned I may give up before finishing. The good news? Philbrick is now someone I'll willingly return to.
* Because George Washington was the subject of another fantastic book of history I read not long ago - Mr. President (Harlow Giles Unger) - I wouldn't normally return to read another book centering on the same historical figure so soon. But the way Philbrick toggled between Washington and Arnold while delivering this material provided a totally different dimension to our origin story than Unger did in his book. And Philbrick's preface was masterful; he had me from page one.
This all adds up to an inescapable conclusion, something I suspect some of you may have heard others say. One of the best reasons to join a book club is to be introduced to authors and books unfamiliar to you. Icing on the cake for me: My newest club is focusing on history. Cool.
Philbrick's IN THE HEART OF THE SEA about the whaleship Essex, which some say was Melville's inspiration for MOBY DICK is outstanding. Two others at the top of my list, UNDAUNTED COURAGE by Stephen Ambrose about the Lewis and Clark expedition, and ENDURANCE by Alfred Lansing about the Shackleford expedition. Simply amazing stories.
ReplyDeleteJim; Thanks for comment and recommendations. "In The Heart of the Sea" was already on my list but not the other two you mention above. BTW, the last novel you recommended to me - "Kitchens of the Great Midwest" - was another big winner. Thanks for that as well. Plan to publish a post about that in the not-distant future.
DeleteHere from your awesome email!!
ReplyDeleteHello. Pat. While my reading choices are very diverse - a really nice way of saying that they're all over the place - lol - I don't really read that much history, despite having a great interest in it. Having said that, and if you'll allow me to expand a little, I would like to include political novels in with history. This way I can tell you that I was very captivated by Rachel Meadows book - 'Prequel'. Again, not really history, but in many ways - to me at least - it is. And while I have enjoyed previous involvements with book clubs in the past, it's been awhile. Maybe one day, but for now .. I'm good.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Bob; Thanks for the comment and the recommendation; didn't know Meadows had published a book.
DeleteSorry - Didn't catch that Spell Check had changed the last name.
DeleteI meant to say 'Rachel Maddow'