Two more books.........

The first is a comphrensive book on the breaking of the Enigma codes used by the German Armed Forces.

"Enigma, The Battle For The Code"
By hugh Sebag-montefiore.

This is a book printed by The Folio Society, England.

The battle of wits between english codebreakers and german coders decided World war 2 in a thousand small battles. British sucesses were shown in sunken Uboats, cargoes safley delivered and the lives of airman and soliers. Their failures reflected in blood on the sea, sunken ships and decorated german soldier, sailors and airman.

Yet the breaking of the code did not involve the british until quite late. the first effort were carried out by the poles in 1931 and were only sucessful when a german traitor allowed a french security officer to photograph a code book and the resulting intellegence was sent to them by the french.

This is a fascinating story, with twists and turns that are unexpected and with bravery and luck in equal measures.

The second book is just a little different. But if anyone has a interest in militry, it is worth a look.

"The Hundred Years War. The English in France, 1337-1453"
By Desmond Seward
ISBN 0 689 10919 9

This is a very readable book. There are more scholarly and up to date works, but this book gives a pretty good overview of the period.

These wars set the tone for the relationship between England and France up to the present day. France was almost defeated by England. Even now is is astonshing that a country of about five million, England, could come so close to overthrowing and ruling the much larger and more populous France. France had a population of more the 20 million and the defeats rankled.

Would I liked to have lived in these times? No way!! Life was brutish and shortm then!