Rolf Devinci

 Finally picked up this historical account of the naval battle of Salamis by Barry Strauss. It was on my "must read" list for some time and was not a disappointment. Often overshadowed by the Spartans at Thermopylae this critical naval battle in 480 BC by a combined Greek fleet against the Persians prevented Xerxes from conquering Greece and effectively destroyed Persian naval dominance of the Eastern Mediterranean. Stauss is easy to read,  extremely knowledgeable and examines the timelines, characters, outcomes and strategies of both sides in detail with insights into the naval technology of the ancient world

The histories of the Crusades are such an expansive topic it can feel daunting deciding on where to start. I stumbled up this biography of Saladin by John Man when surfing the internet and was intrigued enough to make the purchase. It is an excellent accounting of the life of Salah-Ad-Din and by extension that of the Crusades. Man's writing style is enjoyable and I enjoyed the read of one of history's most important characters. If you have seen Scott's movie The Kingdom of Heaven I suggest you give this biography a look.  Highly recommended.

Recently joined Book Outlet.ca as an alternative  book seller to Amazon. Not only is it a Canadian company but offers substantial cost savings. In this time of tariff and sovereignty threats from America I am supporting Canadian businesses as much as possible. I purchased The Sacred Band by James Romm as a followup read to Paul Cartledge's book Thebes. The city state of Thebes in ancient Greece has traditionally been a "poor cousin" to rivals Athens and Sparta but played a major role in antiquity, eventually forming the Boeotian League and becoming a dominate power until the Macedonian conquest in 338 BC. The title of the book refers to the existence of an elite hoplite unit of the Thebian army comprised of 150 same sex couples. Male eros was open, accepted and embraced within Theban society and the Sacred Band became the hammer of the army, being instrumental in the Spartan defeat at Leuctra in 371bc. That said the Sacred Band is not the entire focus in this well researc...

 The Athenian victory at Marathon in 490BC is examined in The First Clash by James Lacey. Detailing the history of Persia and the rise of Athens along with the military doctrines used by both sides Lacey offers an informative and compelling history of this pivotal battle.  Published in 2011 by Bantam books it is available in both soft and hardcover versions. Without illustrations and only a couple basic maps of Greece and Asia Minor/Middle East some knowledge of the region is helpful but not necessary. The text is laid out in easy to read short(er) chapters and is a fascinating read on the burgeoning competition between the Greek and Persian worlds prior to the second Persion invasion of 480BC.  Picked up a good quality used softcover copy online for less than $10. A definite score considering how much I enjoyed the book.

Being a history nerd from an early age, enamored by Greek myths and legends, I have always desired a replica of a Corinthian helmet so popular during the late Archaic and early Classical period of ancient Greece. Finally purchased from Amazon an example of the style for the man cave/armory as a birthday gift to myself. As most of the historical replica industry is based in India this helmet arrived from Historic Handicrafts fairly quickly via UPS and was well packaged. The helmet itself was enclosed in plastic and was very well oiled to prevent rust. Unlike the copper originals modern replicas are most often forged from 18 gauge steel. For about $110 CDN I was happy with the product. There were no sharp edges on the helmet, the brass painted finish was well done and the plume's base was of a suede material. Inside the helmet was an adjustable leather liner which enabled one to customize the fit. The horsehair plume was bent to the left. Whether it was made that way or the result of...

The Oracle by William J Broad, published by Penguin books is a historic and scientific examination of ancient Delphi and the mystery behind it's reputation. The first part of the book looks at historical Delphi and the political and social impact the Navel of the World had upon ancient Greece. The second half looks at the archeological evidence in combination with modern geological science to determine if there was a scientific explanation for the prophetic prowess of the Oracles. A very intriguing and enjoyable read. Highly recommended if you enjoy historic mysteries.

Focusing upon the British army after the French defeat at Waterloo until the end of the Crimean War Ian Knight's Warriors in Crimson discusses the challenging evolution of the army away from Napoleonic tactics and kit to a colonial army capable of building an empire facing unorthodox opponents and unfamiliar terrain. Examining rapid colonial expansion in South Africa, New Zealand, India, Afghanistan and Crimea Knight discusses the challenges and failures of the British army in the first half of the 19th century. A good read offering an indepth look at the tactics, campaigns and key battles it would be helpful if maps were included for reference but otherwise a solid book. Published by MacMillan the hardcover offering includes easy to read text size and two sections of photographs.