I'm reading Gorodetsky's Grand Delusion and, though I appreciate the diplomatic history treatment of the runup to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, I find his dismissive treatment of the ideological factor in the invasion perplexing and disappointing. He claims, for instance, that the German desire for Lebensraum was largely satisfied by their access to the Balkans. This seems very at odds with the longer tradition of Drang nach Osten and the statements of blood-and-soil agricultural fascists like Darre. Am I misreading either Gorodetsky or the pre-1941 Nazi Lebensraum policy & ideology, or is this a legitimate criticism?

I have a research paper on East-Central Europe until 1815 coming up and I want to talk about women (specific topic/time period TBD). Could anyone suggest some books that focus on women in Poland, Hungary, Austria or the Balkans? Women have rarely come up in class and I’m hoping to do some more reading on the topic before I choose a more narrow focus. I think I’m more interested in the Renaissance and Reformation/Counter-Reformation, but if you have suggestions for any era before 1815 I would really appreciate them!

Could anyone suggest some books on the history of modern Roman Catholic monasticism? Male monasticism preferably, and I'm particularly interested in American-founded monasticism in the US.

Hi all, I'm looking for a good biography on Napoleon however most of the reading list here seems to centre most on his battles and military campaigns. I'm looking for one at an academic level that deals both with his military exploits and his socio-political impact domestically in France. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts comes widely recommended, however I'm also told Napoleon: The Man Behind the Myth by Adam Zamoyski is also very strong here. Older books by Felix Markham and Vincent Cronin also come up as good contenders. Is there anybody who's read a few of these and can recommend one that deals first with the political and personal and second with the military? Tactical analysis is nice but not necessary.

Hi there! I'm currently writing a senior thesis and I'm looking for any books that you might know about street children in 19th century New York City and London, though I'm especially hoping for some recommendations about London. I've found a number of books that have chapters about street kids or which briefly discuss it, but I'm trying to find a book that delves into the history of children living on the street. Also, if anyone can recommend any books about English family life and perceptions of childhood throughout the 19th century, that'd also be extremely helpful. Thank you for any help!

Is there a good book that provides a solid overview of every American President? Like one that provides a succinct insight into each ones policy's, the challenges they faced, their accomplishments and failures, their legacy, etc?

I presume someone of you have read John Guy's Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years? I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's generally a good book and it is a very interesting and not so well known period of her life. His dealing with her character flaws and general presentation of her as distinctly human is valuable. And in the same way with the whole period he is not romanticise-r. But he doesn't ignore complexities the other way though. The writing style definitely marries detail with colour and a certain efficiency. Some of the events or other aspects are described in significant detail which is nice for getting a fuller account. There are many citations and Guy does occasionally go into some open back-and-forth consideration, which I think is necessary for historians to lay their cards on the table and be clear about the doubts. I like that he refutes certain stereotypes and narratives about the characters and events, and that he engages with the impact on the ordinary people somewhat. And despite focusing on a narrower period Guy provides context which is nice.

On the other hand, I found it's sense of "look at me, I'm so smart!" a little strong. Like, we get it, you use primary sources. And for all it set itself up as a revisionist take, I found the difference more in tone and smaller details than anything so substantial. A lot of it still resembles David Starkey's take on Elizabeth, just with different emphasis. The negative element of the tone often finds itself expressed in wording I find mildly conspiratorial, where Guy regularly seems to suggest something machiavellian about proceedings but doesn't always explain how so. There is one paragraph where he brings something up which would be relevant to the theme of the chapter and then doesn't say how the recommendation was received at all.T here is a little bit of a tangent of what she was wearing during meetings with a french ambassador, but I like some costume history and the book is supposed to be a little various. There are also other moments where significant changes in length and pace are a potential problem. I found the chapter structure awkward because while themed chapters is great in theory, the book is also sort-of in chronological order, which makes the time overlaps and jumps between chapters a little jarring. If you aren't too familiar with the events and you don't scrutinise the time references it could easily confuse or mislead you as to when things happen. Strictly chronological or thematic chapters would be more clear and consistent. John Guy also ends up falling into some of the stereotypes he rejects, most conspicuously the "old spinster" one that he calls out and then oddly uses that exact wording and it's associated themes. There is something vaguely sexist about it, especially given his surface level reading of Elizabeth's relationship with fashion and presentation, where he seems to acknowledge the social factors a touch but focuses on a vanity interpretation without examining it on those more social and political terms.

In conclusion, say, 7/10; worth a read but its not exactly perfectly done and I wouldn't believe everything Guy says (or rather implies often).

hi!! art history major here. last semester my classmate did a very interesting presentation on marx and engels' ideas on why art is important. i am not familiar with marx's books, so anyone, can you tell me where i can find more about his ideas on art? and what i can use as a base to understand those ideas from his books, if needed so, if those ideas can't be disconnected from his other ideas without getting senseless?

I've been reading Alexander Watson's Ring of Steel: Germany and Austria-Hungary 1914-1918, can anyone recommend an equivalent book for the entente etc during WW1?

Thanks for reading.