Book Review: The Railway Children by E. Nesbit

I must admit that it took me almost four months to read this book. Not because of the complexity of the novel. In fact while I was reading other books I could not dedicate time for this one. At times I found it dull and boring. I kept reading at a slow pace and now I discover that it is already four months! Anyway, today I congratulate myself on achieving this great milestone. 

When their father is mysteriously taken away, Roberta, Phyllis and Peter have to leave the comfort of their London house for a humble dwelling in the country. There is not much to do there, no places to go to either, save the nearby railway station. The children like it. The children visit the nearby coal mine and discover many interesting things. They also admire the passing train and wave at passengers. The children's action in time also helped in avoiding major accidents, which saved human lives.

They befriend the porter and the stationmaster. They make it a habit to wave everyday to the same old gentleman on the London train. they hardly have a clue that the railway will not only fill their lives with adventure but also help unveil the truth behind the disappearance of their father.

 At one point in the book the author writes "very wonderful and beautiful things do happen, don't they? And we live most of our lives in the hope of them. I may come again to see the boy?" (p. 224). Regarding lessons the author is of the view that "however nice the person who is teaching you may be, lessons are lessons all the world over, and at their best are worse fun than peeling  potatoes or lighting a fire." 

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Book Review: What Went Wrong?: Western Impact and Middle Eastern Response by Bernard Lewis

Islam was at the forefront of human achievement for many centuries. This included military and economic power in the world. Europe was considered as something from which there was nothing to learn or to fear from. Europe changed drastically- first on the battlefront and the marketplace. After that it progressed in every aspect of public and private life. Lewis tries to understand how things changed and how the West rose to dominate the rest. At some places in the book, Lewis writes in a very patronizing tone. The author explains how the Middle East turned its attention towards understanding European weaponry and military tactics, commerce, industry, government, diplomacy, education and culture.

Lewis writes about the differences between the Western and the Middle Eastern cultures from the 18th to the 20th centuries. He makes comparisons of themes related to music, arts, women, civil society and religion. He presents an account which helps in understanding the historical relationship between the Middle East and Europe. The author writes in the early 1600s the Persian won a number of successes against the Turks (p. 12). The Turks were ready to make peace. The Treaty of Carlowitz 1699 was of special importance as it was the first peace signed by a defeated Ottoman Empire with victories Christian adversaries (p. 18). Lewis states that Carlowitz  had two lessons. The first was military, defeat by a superior force. The second lesson was diplomatic- learnt from the process of negotiation (p. 19). For Ottomans philosophy was not useful, but history was.

In the 16th and 17th centuries Arabic Chairs were established in major European universities (p. 42). First the pasha of Egypt, then the sultan of Turkey and then the shah of Persia sent selected groups of students to London, Paris and elsewhere (p. 44). Young Ottomans persuaded the Sultan to proclaim a brand new constitution with the help of some pressure from the European powers (p. 58). There were constitutional revolutions in Persia in 1906 and in Turkey in 1908 (p. 60).

Lewis says that the title of ayatollahs of Iran is quite a modern times and unknown to classical Islamic history (p. 109). He also mentions about interesting examples of how cigarette was used to measure times, invention of sundial and water clock in the Middle East (p. 123). The writer also writes about crusades, Muslim and Christian methods of warfare, migration and government services, telegraph and the changes it brought, the notion of political freedom, money and power in the East and the West, Islamic egalitarianism, slaves in Islam, roots of secularism, separation of powers in Christianity, Jami's Frankish glasses from the 15th century, the notion of frontier and demarcation, Sultan Mahmud's help from abroad.

Further in the book the author writes about the translations in various languages, the three forms of cultural influence (visual, musical and literary), team sports, dinning and dancing. The West European empires taught their subjects English, French, and Dutch because they needed clerks in their offices and counting houses (p. 61). Lewis says that the most valued commodity brought from the East to Europe were slaves(p. 26). Slavery was abolished in Yemen and KSA in 1962 (p. 89).Coffee originally came from Ethiopia (p. 50). 

Bernard Lewis states that 'every dominant civilization has imposed its own modernity in its prime' (150). Printing, translation and newspapers accelerated the process of modernization (p. 50). Steamships, railways and building of road networks accelerated communication (p. 52). Clock, timetable and calendar were the instruments by which modernity was introduced (p. 131). Lewis says that the most powerful instrument of change in the whole process of modernization seems to have begun with railway (p. 130). Modernizers by reform or revolution concentrated their efforts in three main areas, which includes military, economic and political. 

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Book Review: Coming Up for Air by George Orwell

In the novel George Bowling is a forty-five years old man. He is married and has children. He works as an insurance salesman for a company. His worries include an expanding waistline, a new set of false teeth and a strong desire to escape his current life. George decides to return to his village life. When he gets there, things seem to have changes drastically. 

He fears the war in 1939, because he foresees food queues, soldiers, secret police and tyranny. The protagonist writes about his early life, things he wanted to do, family life, the food he ate, women, married life, his work, and nostalgia. At various instances in the book the author makes some really interesting descriptions. Orwell writes that 'human mind goes in jerks. There is no emotion that stays forever' (p. 194).

Some other expressions that he uses in the book are 'book-pipe-fire atmosphere', 'whipped-dog air that middle-aged businessmen always have', and 'the way small shopkeepers look at their customers- utter lack of interest.' 

Overall, the book is entertaining as Orwell's ironic humor keeps the reader engaged. I am sure that anyone reading Part IV of the book would find it really fascinating as it reminds the reader how the process of change never stops. It also brings to surface the adverse effects of urbanization on rural areas. 

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Book Review: Nazi War Trials by Andrew Walker

 

Andrew Walker provides a chronological account of the proceedings of the trials of the main Nazi figures. The trial was conducted in four languages and involved more than four-hundred sessions of open court. The involved Nazi figures were charged with ‘crimes against humanity’ and put on trial.

There were no precedents in international law for the trial of war criminals. The Nazis were on the losing side and were on trial. The Charter of the International Military Tribunal was signed after six weeks of legal wrangling (p. 18). Article 6 set the Tribunal’s power to try those charged with committing any of four crimes: Crimes against Peace, War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Engaging in a Common Plan or Conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of these.

Nuremberg was the site of the trial. The first formal session of the Tribunal took place in Berlin on 18 October 1945. French and Russians wanted the proceedings to be delayed. The American and the British camps were determined that the trial should start on time.

Jackson set out the case of the United States. For him Communists, trade unionists, figureheads in the Church and the German Jews were the first victims of Nazi concentration camps. According to him, this provided the necessary prelude to the aggression aimed at the rest of Europe. Thomas Dodd, a former member of the FBI made a presentation on the Nazi forced labor program. About 4.75 million foreign workers were forced to work in support of the German economy.

In the French case, before the outbreak of the war the French average daily consumption was 3000 calories per day. By the end of the war it had fallen to 900.  The Dutch daily consumption fell to 400 calories a day. Roman Rudenko made the opening speech for the Soviet presentation. Thousands of people were killed. On the estate of Leo Tolstoy, his books were used as firewood. When it was pointed out to the officer in charge that there were plenty of other materials to hand, he replied that he preferred the light of Russian literature (p. 67).

Details are provided the trials of Goring, Hess, Von Ribbentrop,Keitel, Kaltenbrunner, Rosenberg, Frank and Frick, Streicher and many others.  Suicide of Joseph Goebbels had deprived the court of the chance to try the leading propagandist in the Third Reich (p. 119). Goring, Frank, Frick, Streicher, Saukel, Jodl, Von Ribbentrop, Keitel, Kalten-brunner, Rosenberg, Seyss-Inqurat and the absent Bormann were sentenced to death by hanging (p. 145). Goring committed suicide after having a cyanide capsule in his mouth (p. 146).

The author of the book says that the Nuremberg Trial was a test of the ability of victorious nations to deal justly with the vanquished. Walker further adds that it proved a necessary and admirable conclusion to six years of brutal and terrible warfare (p. 152). This book shows a summary of what happened at Nuremberg between 20 November 1945, when the trial began, and 16 October 1946, when sentence was carried out on those men convicted by the tribunal (p. 12).

 

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Book Review: The Secret Annexe from the diary of Anne Frank By Anne Frank

 

Anne was born in Frankfurt on 12 June 1929. She died in a camp because of typhoid and exhaustion, just three months short of her sixteenth birthday. Anne Frank’s diary was kept from 12 June 1942 until 1 August 1944. She provides an important eyewitness account of the events during the Second World War. The Secret Annexe begins on 10^th of November 1942, when Anne frank and her family spent more than a year in hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. This book is an extract from The Definitive Edition of Anne’s diary.

Anne had spent over a year in the annexe, together with her parents and sister, and the Van Daan family.  Albert Dussel was allowed in the annexe with the mutual approval of the two families. Anne states that she gets frightened when she thinks of her close friends who are at the mercy of Nazis. She says that people were shipped off to filthy slaughter houses and quotes the saying ‘Misfortunes never come singly.’

Frank shares her troubles during the hiding period. This includes stories of how food, books and other items smuggled into the temporary residence. She also shares her urge to read books, her troubles with her mother and development of problems with Dussel regarding their shared space.

The social and psychological tensions which she faced during the tough times is given in the book. Anne longs to have a home of her own where she is allowed to move freely and do her homework again. She wants to end living like a fugitive and go back to school.

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Book Review: Ice Mummy- The Discovery of a 5000-year-old man by Mark Dubowski and Cathy East Dubowski

This is a short interesting read about a mummy. The special thing about this mummy is its discovery by two hikers. In Sept 1991 two German hikers hike in the Alps, the border region where Austria meets Italy. Reinhold Messner, a famous mountaineer later looks at the body. He believes that the body is not hundred years old but it may be thousands of years old.

Dr. Rainer Henn comes to examine the body. Dr. Henn and his helpers put the mummy in a bag. They take it for examination. The mummy is kept inside a room where the temperature is 21.2 degrees Fahrenheit. This is to prevent the mummy from rotting. Dr. Konrad Spindler later examines the mummy and believes that it is at least 4000 years old. An axe, jacket, pants and animal boots made of animal skins are under study. Carbon-14 dating shows that the mummy is more than 5000 years old. The reason for the man’s death is freezing. In Bolzano Italy a museum has been built for the Ice mummy so that people could see it with their own eyes.

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Book Review: The Principality and Power of Europe by Adrian Hilton

Adrian Hilton’s book was published in 1997. The author was a parliamentary candidate who also produced many theater programs. He was also a lecturer in psychology.

Hilton argues that United Kingdom has the right to remain independent politically, economically and religiously. He throws lights on the spiritual and political aspects working throughout Europe. Covering many details of the relationships the author stresses on the importance of sovereignty, role of Vatican and the papacy, the threats to United Kingdom, nature of biblical government and supremacy of European Courts over British acts in Parliament. Moreover, effects of monetary Union, European propaganda Machine and the political implications for Christians of Europe have been covered. The author believes that Europe is again been plunged into darkness with a new strategy of domination.

Under chapter one Hilton stresses that papacy was bought, sold and occasionally obtained by murder. He opines that the great medieval struggle between Empire and Papacy was initiated in 1059. By 1409 there were three Popes. Throughout history the Papacy has always tried to impose itself over Europe and European Union is again considered to be overpowered by the Papacy in a new form.

The second chapter is regarding Dis-United Kingdom. The current debate about devolution for Scotland, and assembly for Wales and a loosening of ties with the Northern Ireland, has encouraged the constituent countries of the UK to look directly to Brussels as the centre of power and influence, rather than to the British parliament at Westminster.

Roman Catholicism has a strong tendency towards centralism. It considers it wholly necessary for individual nations and churches to merge their individual nations and churches to merge their individual identities into a larger body, beneath the guise of avoiding future wars and uniting Christian witness. On the other hand, the protestant Constitution of the United Kingdom has served as a strong defense against Rome’s desires for the ‘evangelization’ of Britain. The Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians and the Spanish do not have Constitutions which prevent the ascendancy of a Roman Catholic monarch, leading to submission to Rome.

Discussing sovereignty in chapter three Hilton regards Britain as no longer an independent sovereign state, by virtue of her membership of the EU. He believes that only by remaining free as a nation can Britain adapt to change according to her choices and priorities. The European law takes precedence over British Acts of parliament. Parliament has, therefore, surrendered its sovereignty. Jean Monnet- one of the founding fathers of EU believed in the Catholic vision that Europe should become a federal super-state.

The author espouses in chapter four that protestant countries like Britain and Denmark to be more democratic and open with less tolerance for centralized control. This view is expressed in the fourth chapter. For the 375 million citizens of the EU, all the decisions are taken by just 50 people: 15 heads of state and government, 15 ministers in Councils of Ministers, and 20 European Commissioners. Furthermore, Hilton thinks that British politicians will soon no longer be the representatives of the British people, but mere delegates of Brussels. The forces driving the European collective simply amend rules to suit their purposes, and are quite prepared to act illegally if necessary.

Addressing the question of citizenship in chapter five, the author of this book throws light on Citizenship in Britain. As more of parliament’s sovereignty is transferred to Brussels, the concept of belonging to the British state is increasingly eroded. The author stresses that the far great constitutional statutes for the British citizens the Magna Carta of Edward I (1215), the Petition of Right (1627), THE Bill of Rights (1689) and the Act of Settlement (1701)- have never been expressly repealed, through successive European treaties imply that they have been repealed.

The issue of monetary Union is discussed under chapter six. Hilton considers money and power as bedfellows in all walks of life. He views inflation as a moral issue, a fraud policy implemented by a government which hits the poorer members of society disproportionately. On 15 December 1995. The EU leaders agreed that the intended single currency would be called the ‘Euro’. Joining the Monetary Union would elevate the power of Central bankers above that of the elected legislature. The author believes joining the monetary union has little to do with economic or political benefit.

Chapter seven briefly explains the red real costs for the membership of the EU. Hilton states that since joining the EEC in 1973, Britain has amassed an enormous trade deficit with Europe of almost 70 billion pounds. He further espouses that Britain dos not have to sacrifice its freedoms in order to enjoy prosperity. When Britain joined the EEC it was the third richest member and today it is the fourth poorest country in EU.

The question of war or peace is raised in the eighth chapter of the book. Hilton considers that Britain is being conquered by a European oppressor. He presents eleven points for his argument. Firstly, the nation’s flag is lowered and the conqueror’s flag is raised. Second, the national anthem is replaced by the EU anthem. The blue passport abolished and replaced by a red European passport is the third point. Fourth, there is no head of state in Britain with sovereign power, given that the Queen’s power is undermined by imposed European citizenship. The fifth point states that the media is controlled. Sixth, the constitution and the culture are set aside. Seven, the education system is controlled. Eight, the national religion is changed. Britain’s national religion is already in a state of terminal decline as there is ascendancy of Roman Catholics to powerful media and advisory positions.

Nine, ownership rights are diminished. Other European Nationals can register can register their boats in the UK to obtain a share of the UK fish quota. Ten, a form of slavery is imposed. Those who control the interest rates become the masters of the poor especially if there cannot be removal from power by popular vote. The eleventh and final point is that the nation is disarmed. France and Germany want army, navy and air force under European government control.

As a result, all these points assert that Britain is being diplomatically manipulated and defeated through a peaceful war. The author believes that the aim is to bring about the peaceful war. The author believes that the aim is to bring about the peaceful union of Europe under a dominant Germany, to achieve without bloodshed what the Kaiser and Hitler failed to win on the battlefield. The danger is that this aim totally ignores the democratic process. Moreover, Hilton considers both France and Germany as recent converts to democracy and political stability.

Chapter nine is titled ‘The Propaganda Offensive’. In this chapter Euro-propaganda budget is vast. No budget should be used to finance propaganda. The Roman Catholic-dominated press and other media are waging a propaganda war, but the consequent ascendancy of Roman Catholicism in public esteem and respectability causes concern.

Rome operates in a similar manner to the Chameleon. In nations where she is dominant, she is an oppressor; in nations where she is weak, the strategy is to win friends in high places and undermine whatever challenges her supremacy. The protestant/pro-covenant truth is the foundation of the British constitution and social fabric. Now the ascending religious spirit in the United Kingdom is Roman Catholicism as it is the dominant state religion of Europe.

‘The Only Way Forward’ is the last chapter of the book. In this chapter four possible routes are given. The Norwegian, the Swiss, the American and the untried. The author quotes Winston Churchill: ‘We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked, but not combined. We are interested and associated but bot absorbed.’ In the last chapter the author states that France wants Britain to share Europe’s defense burden and counter-balance Germany, Italy wants an ally to balance the Franco-German axis, and the northern EU states value Britain’s financial input and its influence in pressing for liberal economics.

Monetary and Political Union for Britain would bind Britain to Europe in perpetuity. Such a move is considered by the author ‘an offence to Britain’s culture, a rape of Britain’s culture heritage, a corruption of Britain’s laws and a perilous surrender of Britain’s constitution and democracy’.

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