Is Paris Burning by Dominique Lapierre, Larry Collins, Lapierr Collins Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Is Paris Burning
Book Review: Another great book from Dominique Lapierre, Larry Collins
Summary: 5 Stars
Another great book from Dominique Lapierre, Larry Collins. I read it in Burmese Translation. I love both authors for writing entertaining, and historically accurate books..Recommeded!Book Review: Brennt Paris?
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading Is Paris Burning? by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. The book is the fascinating tale of how Paris evaded the fate Hitler envisioned for it at the end of the Second World War. It's a complex tale, , with characters including Hitler and his staff in his bunker, the last German military governor in Paris and his staff, the French freedom fighters in Paris (both the Gaullists and the Communists), de Gaulle himself, Eisenhower and Bradley and the various other members of the Allied command structure, the Swedish ambassador in Paris, and common people, in the armed forces and in the streets of Paris. The title is drawn from a question Hitler asked, when he found out that Allied troops were approaching Paris.
The tale starts with the uprising in Paris, and ends just after its liberation is celebrated in the streets. Hitler had hand-picked the last military governor of Paris, based upon his reputation from attacks against Rotterdam and Sevastapol, and he had the task of holding back the Allies at Paris, or, failing that, reducing Paris to ruins, much like Warsaw had recently suffered. The Allies had every intention of bypassing Paris and moving onwards, but the freedom fighters in Paris knew the Allies were nearby, and hoped to push things to their advantage. All of these things should have spelt disaster for the City of Lights, but opportunity and stubborn resistance and collusion and soldier's honour led to a different outcome.
The authors tell a spellbinding tale, based upon much research. My copy is a used copy, and dates back to the mid-1960s (bought it on amazon, used). There are a great deal of photos, documenting scenes from throughout the story. The authors, in my opinion, did a commendable job, and I would recommend this book to those interested in Paris, or in the Second World War.
Book Review: Entertaining but hardly brilliant
Summary: 2 Stars
The liberation of Paris was a coup de grace for the Allies. Paris did not suffer the fate of Berlin or Stalingrad, to name a few cities, in becoming a contested battleground. Nor, as the book pointed out, did the German commander follow Hitler's orders to destroy the city's major monuments, bridges, and other sites. It is interesting to note his actions in view of other German officers' claims that they were "only following orders".
However, this book is written by two journalists rather than historians, so it does not have the academic research nor analytical insight that a serious work might have. Cornelius Ryan comes closer to the style of writing that might have made this a heavier book. This is understandably difficult, in some ways, given the relative sparcity of combat and drama; or so this book would suggest. Again, a better writer and researcher would find more material to include.
Some material that might be considered, for example, are Allied intelligence estimates, Axis intelligence estimates, operational orders, etc. It is not clear to me, for example, how the German commander could fail to execute Hitler's orders in August 1944 when the Gestapo and SS were omni-present, especially after the failed July plot on Hitler's life.
Moreover, good research might show to what extent the Allies knew of Hitler's intentions. The Allies had significant intelligence capabilities, not the least through Ultra. And if they knew of the plans to destroy large parts of Paris, why didn't they send in commandos and special forces to disarm any explosives? Indeed, the French themselves seemed to put a higher priority on erecting road blocks rather than disarming explosives.
This is an easy, enjoyable read; and one of the few on the subject in English. However, it's about time someone else updated and added value to this book.
Book Review: Excellent!
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is great! In fact, one of the best I've read. I love how it is written!Book Review: Imitators Have Crashed & Burned (Good)
Summary: 5 Stars
"Close to 10 million copies" of IPB have been sold, and in the intervening decades, countless published historians have demonstrated they have learned absolutely nothing about the connection between near-flawless writing and book sales (as their various wasted efforts have been pulped - a growth industry in academia).
Just re-read IPB, and am identically amazed - as I was when I first read it in the late 1960s - at how well Collins and Lapierre Kept It Simple, Stupid (even with an impossibly complicated story). Editors Tony Schulte and Henri Nogueres also provided a sterling example of how to get things done competently (another lesson lost on thousands of "editors" since that time).
*****
A note on this writer's identity which, unfortunately, is necessary due to Amazon having inexplicably gone off the deep end with their "identification" process.
I'm not opposed to "anonymous" reviews. Personally, I feel that people reviewing books should properly identify themselves, but each to his own.
Thirty-two previous reviews of books have been submitted - and accepted, thanks! - by "Don Reed." Coincidently, that's my name. And that's what it ended up being at the end of the original convoluted Amazon I.D. process.
Tonight, suddenly, Amazon now knows my name (after two years of welcoming my wife aboard the ship, and my then having to check, "You're Not...?" etc.).
They also now think it's a good idea that I check one of the four offered alternatives: "Donald P. Reed," etc. There is no alternative to the offered names. "Don Reed" cannot exist (even though he does).
I'll go with "D.P. Reed." This probably will set up two accounts, with reviews written by the same person, who, believe me, had no intention of donning multiple aliases (let alone one). Honest, it wasn't my idea, nor my fault that this has come to pass.
Post Note (02/20/10): That's exactly what ensued. There are now reviews on Amazon by "Don Reed" (32) and "D.P. Reed" (1). And now that I've been ID'ed as the latter - and only the latter - I now longer have the right to edit the reviews written by "Don Reed."
Isn't life grand?
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