The Middle Sea: A Struggle For Control, The Saga of Crete, The First Win - WW2 Books Where To Start!

The Sideshow that had to be fought and once engaged, could not be ended easily. I take a stroll through this wild territory of opportunities gained and lost with three books to help illuminate this sometimes overshadowed aspect of the Second World War.

[@dicksnell1557]

You convinced me, I've had The Liberation Trilogy for years, but I didn't feel like I needed an overview of things I've read about before. Guess it's time to finally tackle them. I've read several of Evelyn Waugh's books a long time ago and they were beautifully written.

[@davidsigler9690]

Atkins is also writing a trilogy on the American Revolution; he's a good writer.

[@dicksnell1557]

@@davidsigler9690 I have his "The British are Coming", but haven't read it yet. I've enjoyed his talks on his books.

[@onepingonly1941]

I've heard the name Evelyn Waugh in years past and 'English literature' attached to the name so I've never given him any thought. I know how you feel about survey series and have been mildly upset at myself for buying them in the past but Atkinson really hits the mark. He knows how to set the tone and kind of put you in the room with these people and that makes a great difference.

[@onepingonly1941]

I've read the first volume of the Atkinson Rev War trilogy. The second is set to release next month, I think. A note of caution: I found it to be extremely Quartermaster General inclined. Stats for everything under the sun, inventories galore and without fail, for every prominent Founding Father or soldier mentioned he has to tell you the wife's name and how many kids they had. I'm not big on the Rev War and hoped to really clue myself in on it but I found it to be endless shopping lists, more or less. Your mileage may vary!

[@dicksnell1557]

@@onepingonly1941 Yeah, all that needless detail would bore me to death. I read David McCullough's "1776" a few years ago and enjoyed it.

[@davidsigler9690]

Need to find the Beevor book, he is a good writer.....I like the second book of the Atkins Trilogy between the three....the only book I have on the Battle for Crete, "Ten Days To Destiny:The Battle For Crete, 1941." By. G. C. Kiriakopoulos....what is your opinion of Martin Blumenson's books?.....by the way, I wish you would move over a bit so I can see what books are on that shelf behind you..lol..some of them I have and have read...the Med Theater of the war doesn't get talked about enough....and again, I look forward to your videos and reasons to buy more books.

[@onepingonly1941]

I've read I think just the Patton book by Blumenson. I thought it quite good and had a good critical analysis of his personality issues and wasn't just a fanboy exercise. As for what's on the shelf behind me that's my ETO combat shelf. I have a separate shelf for ETO politics/war crimes/spies. Next to ETO combat is aviation and sometimes in frame next to that is my biography bookcase.

[@davidsigler9690]

@@onepingonly1941 Many books indeed....and some I have read.....I found the Patton book good as well and it was the first on Patton I read.