Books about Empires

[Satchmo Distel]

I am thoroughly enjoying The Venetian Empire by Jan Morris

[Sits]

John Julius Norwich's Byzantium was a good 'un.

[Artificial Hipster]

*Fumbles for lighter and blue touch paper

Colossus by Niall Ferguson anyone?

To be fair I'd never heard of Ferguson when I picked up a copy from Oxfam several years ago. It was all very interesting and readable up to the point that he began spewing intemperately on how the planet absolutely needs American hegemony and sod the rights of the majority of the world's population to govern themselves. The biggest failure of the empire by his view seems to be less about America fucking countries over but rather not fucking them over enough.

But then you know all that already. Incidentally I think I've kept my copy if anyone wants to borrow it.

[Ginger Yellow]

God Emperor of Dune

[San Bernardhinault]

John Julius Norwich's Byzantium was a good 'un.

Absolutely, but you need the big, three volume one.

[Sits]

Absolutely, but you need the big, three volume one.

Yep. Got them from the library one at a time. That was a long, long time ago. I think a re-read could be for retirement.

There was a great book as an end piece I read about ten years ago called something like 1453: The Fall of Constantinople which was a bit of a bestseller. Really good read but borrowed so I don't remember the author or exact title.