Battle for Okinawa
I wish I
were young again and had a lifetime of reading ahead of me. Then I could enjoy a pristine encounter with
William Manchester, who is far and away my favorite writer of what might be
called popular (i.e., fun to read) history.
Manchester’s biography of Winston Churchill, three volumes (although the
third co-written) are simply marvelous. Although
Manchester calls himself a “knee-jerk FDR liberal”, and I regard myself as a
(flexible) small-government conservative. I find nothing in WM’s writings to
dislike. If you haven’t discovered him
yet – lucky you!
And,
moreover, my sister-in-law was once his baby-sitter!
Anyway: a
book tip. Manchester was a Marine sergeant
in the Pacific theater during WWII. If
you want to attempt to understand just how horrible
that war, in that theater was, read Goodbye, darkness. In it Manchester revisits many of the
places he fought in and for. Powerful
writing, if sometimes hard on the sensitivities. Available from Abebooks for as little as
$3.79. Go for it!
His trilogy on Churchill I agree is an excellent read, especially his childhood and schooling in the first volume. An interesting look at one of the great statesman of the 20th Century. What is it about the Brits that produce such interesting politicians?
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