Reginald Thompson's prose is stunning. His descriptions of the American army in action are relevant today. Full of timely comments like - you should never invade someone else's country until you know how to rebuild it.
As tensions rise between the two Koreas it is the moment to read the untold story of the Korean War.
I adored the way Golitsyn mixes the descriptions of everyday life in Russia after the Revolution with the most momentous events.
He is just eight when the Revolution happens and his child-eye view is remarkable. As he grows you move forward as if in an epic novel. The book is much like War and Peace - an extraordinary read. A chilling description of the twentieth century that can't be buried in the past.
This book would not have been published in Russia today and the fact that an English translation has appeared is crucial as Putin's Russia whitewashes Stalin's gulag.
Funny and thought provoking. Vitaliev tours the strange world of enclaves in Western Europe while he ponders what makes someone European. A must read for anyone interested in the EU, cultural identity and the wacky and bizarre.
Completely unique account of the war. A must read.
The Spanish Civil War was not an isolated event - it both impacted on and reflected the divisive politics of thirties Europe. Ninety thousand foreign volunteers fought for General Franco in the Spanish Civil War