The John Nicol book on Arnhem

Discussion in 'Books, Films, TV, Radio' started by airborne medic, Aug 24, 2011.

  1. airborne medic

    airborne medic Very Senior Member

    Popped home for lunch today and John had sent me a copy of his latest work...so it's out!
    Not really had a good look in it yet apart from the photos....two sections of about 16 each section.....some photos of vets in studio pose mode from 1944 ish and then current day ones.....the photos used to depict the 'fighting' are regretfully the ones used many times...like the 1st Parachute Btn men in the bomb crater at Wolfheze, the glider pilots searching the school, bringing the wounded officer into the Hartenstein on a stretcher, the para engineers after being taken prisoner at the bridge and so on.....

    I'm sure Tom B will be pleased to hear that his name is finally in a book! Admittedly after mine and in very small print.......
     
  2. lancebombardier

    lancebombardier Junior Member

    Is someone going to post up a proper review once they've read it?
     
  3. wtid45

    wtid45 Very Senior Member

    It might be out for you Medic.........friends in the trade and all that;) but us mere moratal have to wait until September........and this also means you have a Arnhem book that Paul does not :lol:
     
  4. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

    I'm sure if Paul walked along the Strand to the Publishers and asked nicely for a review copy for WWII Talk. . . . .;)
     
  5. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi AM,

    Thanks after or before :)
     
  6. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    I'm sure if Paul walked along the Strand to the Publishers and asked nicely for a review copy for WWII Talk. . . . .;)

    See now you've planted a seed in my head!! :lol:
     
  7. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Popped home for lunch today.........

    Now I KNOW I'm in the wrong job!! :lol:
     
  8. Medic7922

    Medic7922 Senior Member

  9. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    I took a look at this write up and noticed the same old image on the front cover that everyone seems to use " Boring" cannot anyone find something different and interesting.

    Arnhem - John Nichol, Tony Rennell - Penguin Books

    I agree that this particular pic does seem to be the "default" photo for an awful lot of Arnhem related books.
    On the other hand you have to look at it from the publishers point of view. They want their book to "stand out" or be instantly identifiable as something to do with Arnhem. It's a fact of life that the majority of people will look at a books cover picture before they read the title and this photo, by virtue of the fact that it has been used so many times before, will probably strike a chord with anyone who has even a passing interest in the subject.
    Obviously there are people like myself and others on the forum who have slightly more than a passing interest and we've probably seen every photo before! :lol:.
    I guess the bottom line is, yes, maybe the publishers could have shown a little more imagination but as someone once said "never judge a book by it's cover" :D............

    All the best................
     
  10. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    It might be out for you Medic.........friends in the trade and all that;) but us mere moratal have to wait until September........and this also means you have a Arnhem book that Paul does not :lol:

    I think he's got quite a few I dont have!! :p..........:D
     
  11. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    I'm going to Arnhem for the first time in October so I bought a copy of this book with high hopes.

    What a disappointment it is. The narrative wanders all over the place for the first part of the book in terms of a timeline of events and it just did not enthrall me at all. It's not particularly well written either.

    It's such a shame as I really wanted to enjoy it. The standard history it contains has been written many times before and done better as well. Save your money on this one.
     
  12. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    Books likes these are just written for money making, better take Middlebrook or a local guide like Ron W :)
     
  13. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Sorry Philip but I've never bought into the argument that authors produce work solely to make money from it. I do not doubt the sincerity of the authors in producing this particular history but I just found it to be a very standard, run of the mill piece of work. Unless an author presents the story from an unexplored angle such as Robert Kershaw did then I'm not sure that a new book will cast any new light on the events around Arnhem in September 1944.

    In retelling the story again I would expect authorship of a very high quality to make the book stand out from the crowd. This particular book for me very much failed to do so.
     
  14. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    No but I do :)
    I think that the last few years a number of books are put on the Market, just to put Arnhem on the cover, knowing that it probably bringing in the cash!.
    Again this book also, the author being known for his good book, Tornado down) which I have read. And found a very good book.

    But them becoming an author?, then go for subjects they don't know anything about, and like you said yourself, take the standard history, with the standard mistakes and photographs, instead of making a good study of it and come up with something new.

    I don't know about his other books so can not judged about that, but this is one is one that goes on the pile of books, that should not have been published at all
     
  15. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Hello Jonathan,

    I agree with Philip, you won't go far wrong with Middlebrook's book (although even it does have a few errors). Another couple of good ones are the two by Frank Steer. See pics below.

    All the best........... :)
     
  16. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    Did the envellope arrived Mr P :)
     
  17. Paul Pariso

    Paul Pariso Very Senior Member

    Did the envellope arrived Mr P :)

    PM sent........... :)
     
  18. ronald

    ronald Senior Member

    Books likes these are just written for money making, better take Middlebrook or a local guide like Ron W :)

    I have done that Philip but more in the sense of driving people around than telling a story at each spot. What do i know about it anyways:D


    Ron...
     
  19. Philip Reinders

    Philip Reinders Very Senior Member

    Not much, but your not the only one Ron :)
     
  20. ronald

    ronald Senior Member

    Not much, but your not the only one Ron :)

    :m4:PHILIP :biggrin:
     

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