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:
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.
Sorry gonna repost this from the short questions thread
What is a good book on anti-communist sentiment in Western Europe from ~1910-~1940? I'm writing something about Gladio in the netherlands and I've now read about two feet of books on it, but it originated within very anti-communist circles before the war, which I know nothing about.
Like one of the founders of Dutch Gladio wanted to outlaw strikes since that's communism, which is just so alien to me. I don't think any party on the right now would say that, but that was a real concern to them. I know that probably originated from a fear of socialism/the German revolt/the failed coup in The Netherlands by Troelstra but I just don't know anything about that fear by the elites.
Looking for books covering the life, times and ideas of Cardinal Richelieu. And maybe a little bit detail on how Europe reached its own modus vivendi under Richelieu and Mazarin. Preferably published recently... post 2010 or such.
Might be less history and more economics, but I'm wondering if there is any recent academic treatment of the history of money/stores of value that gets into Bitcoin/cryptocurrency? Hoping for something prepared with some academic rigor, and not just another polemic or "Bitcoin 101" type book masquerading as a history of money.
What are people's professional opinions on Tolkien's translation of Beowulf? Is it appreciably different from other common translations? If it is lacking, what would be a better/more accurate translation?
I just finished “the Company” by Stephen R. Bone. Does anyone have any recommendations for books about the fur trade, particularly those focusing on what is modern day lower Manitoba?