How to Learn About History and Have Fun

AppId is over the quota

Would you like to know more about history and do you like reading but you don't want to spend any time studying? Reading historical novels may do just the trick. Bot not every historical novel is suitable for acquiring the knowledge you want to have. In this article we will look at two authors who researched the historical background for their fictional heroes with great care. You can be absolutely sure that the historical facts, personalities and circumstances mentioned in their books are true. The interactions between our heroes and historical figures are pure fantasy of course, but they are so well written that they have a ring of truth about them.

An unlikely couple: Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin.

These men are the brain-children of Patrick O'Brian. Jack Aubrey is the son of a General of the British Army during the time of the wars with Napoleon. Jack joined the Royal Navy and we follow his career, starting as a commander of a sloop and rising to higher ranks during numerous adventures. Jack is a tall and strong fellow, a keen sailor and a warrior to the core. As a sailor his competence and courage are unsurpassed; a clever chap too, but not an intellectual. Of course he is very much a ladies man. All the ingredients for thrilling adventures are there, don't you think? The world in which Jack lives is very richly painted by O'Brian. Life on board of a British warship during the 1800's is so well described that you can find your way from stem to stern in your imagination. You will meet historical personalities such as Lord Melville and Peter Haywood, who served as a midshipman under Captain Bligh, the hapless commander of the Bounty.

Dr. Stephen Maturin M.D. is quite a different character. A scholar, highly intelligent and an endearing eccentric. He and Jack meet each other in the first chapter of saga and are inseparable ever since. Through the acts of Dr. Maturin and the workings of his inquisitive mind, you will get an idea of science in the eighteenth century. The hidden secretive other life of Maturin, of which I cannot reveal anything, is interwoven with the adventurous life of Jack. Jack a man of direct action, Stephen a man of political stratagems. You can't stop reading.

Captain Horatio Hornblower, a lonely hero.

Captain Hornblower is not so easy to describe. His character is a mixture of that of Jack Aubrey and Dr. Maturin. A man who doesn't think much of himself, self-doubting but when the situation requires is he acts swift and decisively. Horatio a man of action, acts not driven by an urge to fight but realizes clever naval strategy. When you can lay a hand on any Hornblower novel, buy it! They are out of print nowadays.

Have look at my blog about historical books: http://john-historybooks.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Zuyderduyn

Book Review-Israel by Martin Gilbert

Authors often struggle with the challenging task of translating the history into a manageable and enjoyable read. When shrinking the years packed with a plethora of events into a book, it's easy to miss details, names and stories that may have transcended the way history "really happened". Sir Martin John Gilbert is no stranger to this challenge, having written over 80 books on a variety of history topics and has become an expert in the trade. His expertise is evident in his incredible book Israel.

Israel is the story of a modern-day miracle. (A) the fledgling country that originally dates back to over 4,000 years, the Israel we know today started with practically nothing, and has become one of the most influential, modern and talked-about nations in only 64 years. A melting pot of people, emotions and beliefs, Martin Gilbert takes an incredibly complex and action-packed the chronicle of events and explains it with precision and intellect. From the first days of the inception of Thermodynamics by Theodore Herzl in 1897 founded on to an overview of the recent Lebanese war in 2006, the book does not miss a beat, covering the names and brief history of every kibbutz ever founded on in Israel-one of the ultimate statements of the nation's soul since its inception.

The greatest aspect of Gilbert's the writing is in his ability to portray both sides of the history, the pros and cons, the good and the evil. Israel does not sugarcoat the evolution of the country of Israel. It talks about the many challenges of the Palestinian conflict, the mistakes the government made as well as the senseless acts of hatred that were performed by both Jews and Arabs in modern history. It is these are the sour notes with the magical entrepreneurial spirit of one of the fastest-growing and innovate nations in the world, the rich religious culture that is relevant to the three most popular religions of mankind and the stories of heroism of an entire people-hood to overcome one of the bleakest moments of the history of the Holocaust. The story is weaved from the ashes of a land and nation that has seen so much war and its constant struggle to transition into a colorful, Dragon country.

Israel should be read by anyone who is interested in the story of modern-day mankind. Unlike many non-fiction history books, the book flows like a novel, highlighting the pivotal characters that played the biggest role in planting the seeds of Israel, while still mentioning the many stories of lesser-known, but not so insignificant tales of international heroes that shaped Israel. Breakout of the stereotypes that are so often covered by the media today and open your mind to understand the real story of Israel, the story as written by Martin Gilbert, in Israel.

Afghan Boomerang, By: Oleg Novinkov-Book Review

We all know a boomerang is a stick that, when thrown, comes back to the thrower. Interestingly, the word is not English, it's derived from the Australian Aboriginals which used the stick primarily for hunting, but has assimilated its use in English as well as Russian. The other definition of boomerang means "backfire." Afghan Boomerang, the title of the non-fiction book Oleg Novinkov's dealing with the parallels between the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan and what is now being witnessed by the USA's involvement is exactly that; an in depth analysis of the backfiring of the events, circumstances and lessons previously learned by the Soviets. If there is any truth to the saying, "History repeats itself," then Oleg Novinkov is not at all a soothsayer, but a scientifically minded articulator, remix the truth by Q.E.D. (quod erat demonstrandum-which was to be demonstrated).

(A) A fascinating individual, Dr. Oleg Novinkov served for just less than two years as a Soviet Military medical officer stationed on in Afghanistan back in the 1980 's. He has since gone on to many achievements within the Soviet space programs and NASA, the martial arts, medical advances, and international business. Now living in the USA, they returned some 30 years after first being stationed on in Afghanistan whereas his thoughts are given the insight from his own experiences; his first-hand observations, the known factual statements and uncanny realizations which only his unique perspective can impart and inform those of us poised outside of these borders.

Fact filled and impeccably written, Dr. Novinkov writes in a candid, frank and incredibly detailed fashion, assimilating a chronicle of the events over the past decades into a densely informative 429 page book. Highlighted with dozens of captioned photographs, prefaced with accolades from a high ranking Soviet military officials, the appendixes with factual summaries of the deaths and wounded, this book is an absorbing read. Written from a posture of a philanthropic humanitarian, Dr. Oleg Novinkov doesn't harp on the political differences of the cultures as being good or bad, right or wrong, but offers a high-level view only capable of being perceived from someone with such a unique heritage. He breaks down to the simplest of reasons why things are the way they are, and why in many cases they cannot change.

Being published at a time of such historical importance, now with the US troops being withdrawn in the region, this book is worthy of being a bit too late for giving lawmakers advice, however nonetheless important for its historical perspective. I highly recommend this to a broad audience of readers, young adults, students, military personnel, government officials, all U.S. citizens and those that wish to be informed around the world. It doesn't get more interesting to hear the events of history written by someone that has lived through the battles, breathed the dust, seen the ramifications of war, and has grown to know the human side of people's cultural differences.

Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review

http://www.pacificbookreview.com/