Review: Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior

Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior by Catherine Hanley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The time of Empress Maud was very difficult. Living through the anarchy was one of the hardest times for the period of England. Reading about it however, is very fascinating. This period of history is surprisingly well documented given the lack of documents which can be relied upon for later periods in English history. Hanley tells the story with masterful detail. Weighing up various different sources and historiographies. Matilda was a tough person, but one who ultimately was unable to secure the crown for herself. She instead was able to hold onto her English campaign long enough for her son, Henry to be the successor to her cousin Stephen. Highly recommend this book.

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Review: Fire And Water: The Art Of Incendiary And Aquatic Warfare In China

Fire And Water: The Art Of Incendiary And Aquatic Warfare In China Fire And Water: The Art Of Incendiary And Aquatic Warfare In China by Ralph D. Sawyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an incredible book. It goes over in detail throughout Chinese history various different battles involving both fire and water. Reading about fake animals with fire attached to it. Various different techniques used to defeat the enemy using the resources around them. Water could involve flooding, drought, poison or naval warfare. Fire can even be attached to bulls to scare and confuse enemies. I highly recommend this read - you won't read much like it. It's definitely a worthwhile addition and shows how the Art of War could be used in practice.

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