History Happy Hour

Our guest this week is Robert Lyman, author of A War of Empires. Here are some recommendations from Chris Anderson on other books to check out.

Burma Victory: Imphal and Kohima, March 1944 to May 1945, David Rooney A detailed history of the final campaign in Burma. Where I think this book rises above standard military history is in Rooney’s analysis of British high command, the importance of airpower and the central role played by Chinese, Indian and American forces played in the ultimate victory. Quartered Safe Out Here, George MacDonald Fraser Next to Eugene Sledge’s “With the Old Breed,” Quartered Safe Out Here is my absolute favorite memoir of a front-line soldier. Fraser, the author of the famous “Flashman” books, was a solider in 14th Army and his recollections of the fighting on the “forgotten” front can’t be beat. Road of Bones: The Siege of Kohima 1944-The Epic Story of the Last Stand of Empire, Fergal Keane's truly amazing account of the 1,500 British and Indian soldiers that prevented 15,000 Japanese soldiers from sweeping into India, cutting the Burma Road and altering the course of the war in the Pacific. It is a battle that Americans need to know more about and this book is a great place to start. Slim, Master of War 1944-45, Robert Lyman Lyman has written the most complete biography of William Slim, who is widely regarded as the greatest British military commander of the war and the man who turned around the “forgotten” 14th Army and led it to victory.