The Book Thieves: The Nazi Looting of Europe's Libraries and the Race to Return a Literary Inheritance by Anders Rydell, Henning Koch

I picked up this book because I am a self proclaimed bibliophile and wanted to learn about the great libraries that had been plundered during World War II by the Nazis and their allies. What I got instead was a look at the way that bit by bit Germany tried too and almost succeeded in, erasing the very existence of millions of their enemies from the history records completely. What this book does is not only take you along as we try to discover what happened to large, well established libraries but also personal libraries and those of every day people who might just have had a few books they treasured laying around the house. This is a look at the grip that books have had on every civilization on Earth since the beginning, how even when all was being destroyed that didn't fit into the skewed view of the world the Nazis held as their ideology, they still understood how important the written word could be and were determined to build their new world not only on the bones of their victims but on schools and libraries built from the very books that had so lovingly been crafted by those they so loathed.

This book will bring home how whole villages were simply erased off the face of the earth. How books were so much more than just written pages to people who had lost everything and placed so much more on the line to try and save what they could. The stories in here don't just revolve around the books but around the PEOPLE who were lost. This is a heart breaking look at how West and East Europe were treated as different and yet were just as violated by the Nazis and after when the war was won were once again delivered crippling blows by the loss of life and millions of books which simply disappeared forever taking with them wisdom and knowledge that can never be replaced.

Today, well established libraries around the world hold in their collections books that once held hope and promise for readers just like you and me. They don't look any different from the others on the shelf except maybe for a label on the outside that for those who know, carries the truth in plain sight that once upon a time this book belonged to an individual who was destroyed to make room for the vainglory of a nationalistic point of view. They are the sole reminders, tucked away without fanfare of lives lost and we are the poorer for it. For the few determined individuals you will meet in this book who strive to make these stories speak out and be heard this is a never ending struggle, for you as the reader it is a reminder of why we must always be vigilant. The next time you walk into a second hand shop or find a book with a ex libris or written inscription, take a moment to wonder about the former owner because after reading this book you will never be able not too.

The Other Paris by Luc Sante

Think you know about Paris, about the cosmopolitan city that shines as a beacon of sophistication around the world? Full of romance and charm but scratch just beneath the surface and you'll find heathens in a city that has been the epicenter of vice, greed, and insurrection. A warrior city covered in gore and wounds that refuses to lie down quietly. Her armor is the generations of Parisians who have fought for their rights and sometimes taken them. Men and women of the lowest classes who lived their lives without apology or remorse, the quintessence of Parisian. Names that will never be known along with famous ones that helped to create a Paris where cultural bigotry ran side by side with revolutionary ideas that helped to change the world at large. 

This book is not for the casual reader but for the enthusiast who wants to delve into the reality of Paris. The photographs of Brassai perfectly illustrate the attraction of Paris, the sensuality and the glint of danger under the surface. The music of Edith Piaf gives you a glimpse into the tormented soul of the working class. And Luc Sante's book lays bare her foundations built upon the bones of her people who refuse to relinguish their rights to be Parisians. Jean-Paul Clebert once wrote, " All cities are geological: you can't go three steps without meeting ghosts fortified with the aura of their legends. " In this book you will come to realize that Paris is a monolith of untold stories that you never imagined were waiting to be told.

A definite recommendation to anyone who thinks they know Paris or the Parisians. This is a bold cup of coffee wake up, first thing in the morning. Welcome but bracing.

"Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince" by Lisa Hilton

Elizabeth I was Queen of England for 44 years and has been labelled everything from a weak woman led by her council to a bitter, jealous heretic and tyrant whose vanity led her to demand constant attention from her courtiers despite refusing suitor after suitor for her hand. She could be paranoid and often seemed incapable of reaching decisions in a timely manner or at times even reversing them all together. What Lisa Hilton's book shows us though is that not all was as it seemed. Indeed though Elizabeth was prone to faults that often times skewed her reactions, her decisions were not only those of a monarch struggling to make a tiny kingdom one of the world powers but of a Renaissance Prince who was more than capable of the Machiavellian machinations that were needed for her country to flourish and survive in that world. 

With new research out of France, Italy, Russia, and Turkey, Hilton has created a biography that transcends Elizabeth as a Queen and reveals her thoughts about the body politic of a Prince. Although she was not afraid to use being a woman to her advantage, Elizabeth was also aware of the necessary sacrifices a Prince must make in order to effectively govern. Combined with the lessons she learned from an early age regarding the precariousness of being on the front lines of a ruling family helped to create a monarch who was able to craft, along with her network of spies, allies and council, a court that has been grossly underestimated by historians.

England under Elizabeth forged new paths in religion, trade, and world politics and watched as new empires rose and old ones fell. This book is a worthy mirror to hold up to some of the most important years of the Renaissance. And to one of the most looked at but underestimated leaders of the time. A definite recommendation to anyone who is interested in the historical maelstrom of the Elizabethan court and it's amazingly sophisticated tapestry of intrigue.

"The Penguin Book of Witches" by Katherine Howe

This was a very interesting compilation of court documents from the New England witch trials, including Salem, from the 16th up to the 19th century. Although these are hard to read now a days they do cast an interesting glimpse at the very facts that were being perceived as actual evidence in the cases. They bring to vivid life the sheer hopelessness and terror that the persecuted must have lived in and give a close up view of the working of the Puritan collective at the time. Yes, there were many factors that contributed to the mass outbreaks of accusations and hangings, and yes, many of these names may be familiar to you. However, by the time you have finished reading this book you will see these times in a much more profound manner and that is the real challenge in reading this book, not the archaic language but a glimpse into a dark period of American history that could too easily be repeated even in modern times under a different banner. Great addition to a scholar's library.

"The Alchemy of Chemistry" by Cathy Cobb

This book was a great introduction to some of the people who through out history have influenced turning the pursuit of the unknown into science. The material is presented in a witty way with doable demonstrations to help edify each alchemist's ideas and understanding of science during their time. Although some of these people were charlatans or working under misapprehensions, they have still, through these experiments and trials made major discoveries with far flung consequences that have created the base of chemistry that is so much a part of our lives today. So, if you've ever wanted to see what that thing does or what happens if I, then read this book. Added bonus, this will appeal to anyone who's interested in the sciences from astrology to zoology, Aristotle to Zosimos.

"A Storm of Witchcraft" by Emerson W. Baker

I was happy to find a book that seemed to be interested in presenting information about the people and events that were concerned in an even handed and non biased way. This is a great book to help understand who the key people and political and social conditions were. Baker has taken the time to recreate the areas of Massachusetts that were drastically effected by the accusations brought forward by both accusers and accused so that we can see exactly what the contributing factors were that led up to this tragedy. You get a more personal glance at the victims and their families and learn about the war being fought against the French and Native Americans on the edges of the Puritans City on the Hill and the various divisions within the Puritan community itself and the raising worry about competing groups like the Quakers. This is an academic, informative book so there are times when it gets a little hard to wade through all the names of the historical figures but the information gleaned is worth the effort. These people were driven by their love of God and in trying to preserve that they turned upon their own and paid for their mistakes. The family ties that several well known signers of the declaration of Independence have will make you stop and think about how the founding of our country may have been affected by the tragedy and how its repercussions continue up to this day. After having finished this book I am able to say that I can see where learning about Salem should be part of any American history course because it is the very history that begot the beginnings of the America that was created by our founding fathers. Well done to Baker.

"The Shakespeare Mask" by Newton Frohlich

I went into this book with high expectations. The author is part of a group of scholars such as Dickens and Emerson who believe that Edward De Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford was the real Shakespeare. There are many coincidences that, depending on who you speak to, could prove this theory to be true. Either way, the earl was a fascinating figure of his time and seeing as how the author put in 15 years of research into it,I was sure this would be a title to recommend to many of my customers.

I couldn't have been more wrong. This reads like a fawning tribute to De Vere as Shakespeare but lacks the substance to stand up to the challenge. Edward is a caricature of the historical Earl and lacks any dimension whatsoever. He comes across as a selfish man who shows no sign of the facets of intelligence and passion that are so integral to Shakespeare's works. Taking artistic license into account I still cannot believe how many times I had to stop to utter the words, Give me a break nor the amount of time I had to spend checking established FACTS. Eg. Arthur Brooke is supposedly a pen name for Edward as a young poet, yet Arthur Brooke is historically known to have lived as a poet who died at sea. Another moment in the book has Robert Cecil treating Edward as a friend/co-conspirator, yet it is widely known that Robert hated Edward with a passion as he was tormented by Edward who lived at Cecil house as a ward.

In the end, trying to believe Frohlich's Edward could ever have written these plays and sonnets or was one of the few blessed to tread the boards is ridiculous.

"Richard III: England's Black Legend" by Desmond Seward

This was a very dry read indeed. Nothing that stood out as far as information goes, a good book to add to the debate on whether Richard was the monster or the misunderstood.

"Richard III: A Small Guide to the Great Debate" by Annette Carson

Good, even-handed beginner's guide to the beginning of the Tudor's and the end of the Cousin's War. Worth reading.