The best of 2013

[Thomas Thorne]

My favorite books of 2013-most of which were published before 2013- in no particular order:

Charmed Lives by Michael Korda-The author relates how his Hungarian immigrant family came to dominate the British film industry

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo-Hugo's literary extravagances must have driven his editors insane but his characters are superb. Inspector Javert is a much more sympathetic character in the book than he is in the movies. Hugo's view of revolution is more nuanced in the book.

The General: Charles De Gaulle and the France He Saved by Jonathan Fenby. De Gaulle said his tragedy was "I respect only those who stand up to me, but I find such people intolerable." A fascinating multi layered man .

Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man by Walter Stahr. FDR and Ronald Reagan were conviction politicians who had the teflon ability to compromise without alienating their base. Seward had the velcro touch. His Southern enemies deemed him a dangerous fanatic while his "friends" thought he would betray their beliefs.

Gettysburg by Stephen W Sears-Name me a better 21th century Civil War battle chronicler.

Bloodlands:Europe Between Hitler and Stalin by Timothy Snyder-a truly ghastly but important story depicting whole nations being devoured by 2 of the greatest monsters in all history

The Cardinal-by Henry Morton Robinson-a famous 1950 novel depicting the career of a Catholic priest from a working class family. There are people in this book you would love to meet.
Tom