Thursday Reading and Recommendations is intended as bookish free-for-all, for the discussion and recommendation of all books historical, or tangentially so. Suggested topics include, but are by no means limited to:
Asking for book recommendations on specific topics or periods of history
Newly published books and articles you're dying to read
Recent book releases, old book reviews, reading recommendations, or just talking about what you're reading now
Historiographical discussions, debates, and disputes
...And so on!
Regular participants in the Thursday threads should just keep doing what they've been doing; newcomers should take notice that this thread is meant for open discussion of history and books, not just anything you like -- we'll have a thread on Friday for that, as usual.
I asked about the influence of pocket borough holders earlier this week, but the question was maybe a bit specific and went unanswered, so I'm going to turn this around:
Can anybody suggest a book on the history of the parliament of England/Great Britain/the UK in the period roughly between around the restoration 1660 and the voting reform act of 1832, the relative power of the houses, and parliamentary and electoral practices?
A general political history with some emphasis on parliamentary politics would also work, I guess. If it covers earlier or later periods without compromising the period between 1660 and 1823, that's a nice-to-have.
im searching for a good introduction book about the dutch golden age and the Dutch East India company. thanks.
Could anyone recommend a good overview of modern China, i.e. Opium Wars onward? Preferably something with an audio version? I feel like I'm reasonably well-informed about Mao, Deng, and more recent Chinese history, but I'd like to expand my knowledge.
Does anyone have any opinions on Max Hastings and his book: "Vietnam: An Epic History of a Divisive War 1945-1975"?
Anyone know of some good books dealing with the Year of 4 Emperors in 69 AD?
I'm currently reading Diarmaid Macolluch's book on the Protestant Reformation. It's great! Anyone have suggestions for more books on the Protestant REformation, as well as Early Christianity (perhaps even, all of Christianity)?
I'm Also looking for books on the Quakers. Would love to know more about their history.
I was wondering what books people would recommend on the Late Middle Ages? From what I've seen there seem to be a lot of good overviews and starting points for the Early and High Middle Ages but not as much for their ending? What kind of work would you recommend on this era? I'm willing to accept things beyond overviews and starting points.
I would be most grateful if someone could recommend a book about the Chinese in Indonesia and their strange situation (high eocnomic, low social status).
I was wondering which biography of Sulla to purchase and read, being my current options:
Sulla a dictator reconsidered by Lynda Telford
Sulla: the last republican by Arthur Keaveney
Sulla the fortunate by G.P Baker