Tag: World War II

  • Empire of Ashes by James M. Scott

    I have a weird hesitation before I start James M. Scott’s books. There are thicker books while there are others which are going to be more emotionally fraught. It’s not either of those things, but rather that I know his books end up so immersive that I need to be in the right headspace to…

  • The American School of Spies by Stephan Talty

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The American School of Spies: If you can’t run with it, then bury it. Quick synopsis: The spies who protected Greek treasures in World War II. Fact for Non-History People: Many of the spies were Ivy Leaguers with backgrounds in the classics and archaeology. Fact for History Nerds: One member was…

  • Stalin’s Apostles by Antonia Senior

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Stalin’s Apostles: Traitors be thy name. Quick synopsis: The story of the Soviet spies embedded in the U.K during World War II and the Cold War. Fact for Non-History People: One of the apostles, Kim Philby, was put in charge of the MI6 section which focused on finding…Soviet spies. Fact for…

  • Running Deep by Tom Clavin

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Running Deep: One too many dives. Quick synopsis: The story of the deadliest submarine in World War II, the USS Tang. Fact for Non-History People: When World War II began, Japan had at least 15 more subs than the U.S. with 64 ready for deployment. Fact for History Nerds: One out…

  • Matisse at War by Christopher Gorham

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Matisse at War: A master caught in stasis. Quick synopsis: The story of the artist Henri Matisse during World War II. Fact for Non-History People: A bout of appendicitis in his 20s led to Matisse giving up a possible law career for art. Fact for History Nerds: His Odalisque couchée aux…

  • Women of War by Suzanne Cope

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Women of War: If you are going to switch sides, go all the way. Quick synopsis: A look at four Italian women who joined the Resistance from German control in World War II. Fact for Non-History People: There were roughly 200,000 Italian partisans in World War II. Fact for History Nerds:…

  • The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Boys in the Light: No finer company. Quick synopsis: The story of the intersection between some American soldiers in World War II and the author’s father, a concentration camp survivor. Fact for Non-History People: Germany had over 1,000 concentration camps. Fact for History Nerds: Approximately 1.65 million people were kept…

  • The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück by Lynne Olson

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Sisterhood of Ravensbrück: Resistance doesn’t stop at the prison gate. Quick synopsis: The story of French Resistance women who banded together in the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Fact for Non-History People: Ravensbrück was the only concentration camp designed specifically for women. Fact for History Nerds: About 130,000 women were sent to…

  • Spitfires by Beck Aikman

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Spitfires: You don’t need people shooting at you to be in danger. Quick synopsis: A look at the American women pilots in Britain during World War II. Fact for Non-History People: Women flew 80% of ferrying missions during World War II. Fact for History Nerds: 3% of WASP pilots died in…