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Lädt ... Marlborough: England's Fragile Geniusvon Richard Holmes
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Melde dich bei LibraryThing an um herauszufinden, ob du dieses Buch mögen würdest. Keine aktuelle Diskussion zu diesem Buch. I felt I should have enjoyed this book much more than I did. Holmes recognises Marlborough's significance as a field commander and political figure, but delineates the former in such crushing detail that it's almost impossible for the lay reader to follow what's going on, while the latter and potentially more interesting strand is skimped. The book tells you as much as you could possibly want about the great battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplacquet, but is frustratingly shadowy on Marlborough the man. ( ) Holmes has written an eminently readable biography of one of England's most successful generals. Given the crowded field, with Churchill hogging the page-count and diplomacy segment and David Chandler the military analysis, Holmes' focus is on Marlborough's exploits as a courtier during this turbulent era of changing English monarchs and Marlborough's relation with his partner and wife (discussing the influence of her menopause on politics!). What suffers the most is Marlborough the European: His extensive diplomatic travels and negotiations are condensed (if mentioned at all), Marlborough's allies and opponents could have been more fully developed. Thanks to a good introduction to the 17th century, this biography is an excellent introduction for a general reader who can progress to the more advanced works. Zeige 2 von 2 keine Rezensionen | Rezension hinzufügen
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Bestselling military historian Richard Holmes delivers an expertly written and exhilarating account of the life of John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough and Britain's finest soldier, who rose from genteel poverty to lead his country to glory, cementing its position as a major player on the European stage and saviour of the Holy Roman Empire. John Churchill is, by any reasonable analysis, Britain's greatest-ever soldier. He mastered strategy, tactics and logistics. His big four battles, Blenheim (which saved the Holy Roman Empire), Ramilies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet were events at the very centre of the European stage. He captured Lille, France's second city, overran Bavaria and beat a succession of French marshals so badly that one, the squat and energetic Bofflers, was rewarded by Louis XIV for only losing moderately. A coalition manager long before the phrase was invented, he commanded a huge polyglot army with centrifugal political tendencies and bending it to his will by sheer force of personality. Yet John Churchill was also deeply controversial. He accepted a pension from one of Charles II's mistresses for services vigorously rendered. He owed his rise and his peerage to James II yet, determined to be on the winning side, he deserted him in his hour of need in 1688. He maintained regular correspondence with the Jacobites while serving William and Mary and with the French while fighting Louis XIV. He made money on a prodigious scale, but was notoriously tight-fisted, long regretting an annuity given to a secretary whose quick-wittedness saved him from capture. But in the age when commissions were bought and sold, and commanders often owed their position to the hue of their blood, he never lost his soldier's confidence. his will by sheer force of personality. Yet John Churchill was also deeply controversial. He accepted a pension from one of Charles II's mistresses for services vigorously rendered. He owed his rise and his peerage to James II yet, determined to be on the winning side, he deserted him in his hour of need in 1688. He maintained regular correspondence with the Jacobites while serving William and Mary and with the French while fighting Louis XIV. He made money on a prodigious scale, but was notoriously tight-fisted, long regretting an annuity given to a secretary whose quick-wittedness saved him from capture. But in the age when commissions were bought and sold, and commanders often owed their position to the hue of their blood, he never lost his soldier's confidence. Keine Bibliotheksbeschreibungen gefunden. |
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Google Books — Lädt ... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)941.069092History and Geography Europe British Isles Historical periods of British Isles 1603-1714, House of Stuart and Commonwealth periodsKlassifikation der Library of Congress [LCC] (USA)BewertungDurchschnitt:
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