I will put it up on the google group ASAP.
Enjoy the end of your break,
AM
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This blog is intended for the first year students of the University of Cergy Pontoise taking the Law and English degree. You will find remarks and advice from your teacher and links to other web sites of interest to you. Aude de Mézerac
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My blog on the US elections
useful books
- Civilisation britannique. Peter John and Pierre Peter
5 commentaires:
(no link with this subject)i am reading a relevant and also contestable book that i'd like to share with you it is (in french) le roi qui a trahit written by the historian martin allen.
as we can guess it deals with the so called treason operated by king edward VIII during WWII. It is interesting because it brings us very persuasive arguments which can really influence our judgement.
But what actually caught my eye in this book is not really the question of treason but especially the picture of the king drew by allen. Indeed the myth of the king who left the throne and chose his lover is totally broken. Even though it is not a huge revelation that he decided to abdicate under Baldwin's pressure , we have another portrait of the king all the same. Actually through the eyes of the historian allen we discover a drunk revenge king(un roi ivre de vengeance?) ready to everything he can to erase the humiliation of abdication and to get the throne back even if the only solution is the defeat of GB.
On the other hand what is also striking,as far as i am concerned, is the family of the king. Allen shows us how edward waas seen by his family and especially his father.If we believe Allen, George V didn't wwant his son to be king and was afraid of his character behavior we can for instance notice some sentence pronounced by gearge V like" in less than a year this boy will be totally lost"...
Finally the question of the treason is still full but king edward VIII remains a very relevant character which marked british history. Besides he is still present in the minds and even in the middle of the news by being the main subject of comparison with prince harry
Hello Myriam,
Thanks for sharing your readings with all of us : it's very interesting and I'm glad you are looking into books to have another perspective than my own on historical events.
I must admit I haven't read this book but I will try to have a look at it before wednesday so that we can discuss it then.
Best wishes,
AM
AM
Myriam,
I've been looking at the book and doing some research. I don't find that his standards are quite as high as they should be and his entire case rests on
1. the lack of information in the official archives ( due to the conspiracy to keep this quiet)
2. a doubtful piece of evidence
So I think we should take all this very carefully and double check Allen's informations.
This article sheds some light on Martin Allen, albeit not a very positive one !
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sitesearch.do?query=martin+allen+edward+VIII&hitsperpage=10&jumpToPrevious=0&mode=SIMPLE&nextOffset=0&offset=0&leftStartIndex=1&leftEndIndex=10&jumpToPrevious=0&mode=SIMPLE&submitStatus=searchFormSubmitted§ionId=5542
actually this is my opinion that is why i was saying this book was also contestable. Allen is very subjective . Actually when i've finished the book my opinipon was that it was a great history but concerning History it was not enough precise and not really convincing. When i've finished it my first reaction was to say just MAYBE because to my mindthere is a lachof too much information to affirm the authenticity of allen'sthesis. Besidesand i don't know if i can say that but the book is really a commercial one on the same what reminded me of The Da Vinci Code which both pretend to reveal amzing secrets ke^t for so long.
However i enjoyed my reading all the same and even though on the historical plan it is not enough developped it is interesting for it make us react question about kings etc... even though we have to admit that allen's rationale seems to be pushed to the extreme.
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