WILLIAM PITT THE YOUNGER - Hague - Book Review

I've always been intrigued by William Pitt, the youngest Prime Minister (age 24) in the history of England.  My friends, Lisa and Vic, recommended this book to me and I received it in near perfect condition from Abe Books (love that site).

William Pitt was Prime Minister for 19 years during tremendously turbulent times in Britain.  Starting in 1784, he picked up the mantle just as the American War of Independence (funny, we commonly refer to it as the American Revolution) was ending and during his leadership had to deal with the broken down finances from that war and then head right into the French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, Irish rebellion, and the disaster of the East Indian Company.  Oh, and let's not forget the madness of King George.

So many familiar names from that era are scattered throughout the book: William Wilberforce,  Charles James Fox, Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire, Admiral Nelson, Warren Hastings, Catherine the Great, really too many to name.

What I like about Pitt is his discipline and focus to help his country.  He loved his country and did not view his work as a sacrifice.  He was a serious minded leader who rarely took time off. His speeches and writing were eloquent.  In a speech in the House of Commons in 1797 attacking the French Directory (French leaders), Pitt declared, "There is one great resource, which I trust will never abandon us, and which has shone forth in the English character by which we have preserved our existence and fame, as a nation, which I trust we shall be determined never to abandon under any extremity...that we know great exertions are wanting, that we are prepared to make them, and at all events determined to stand or fall by the laws, liberties, and religion of our country." He died far too young, at the age of 45, from terrible stomach issues that would be easily treated in this day.

Some history books read as a homework assignment.  But, this was not tedious.  I did have to re-read paragraphs at times because of direct quotes which when written in the 18th century style are sometimes hard to understand the first time around. I highly recommend this book.

William Hague, the author, is the current British Foreign Secretary and an excellent writer. William Pitt the Younger was published in 2004.

PANCHO VILLA: A LIFETIME OF VENGEANCE - Ben F. Williams - Book Review

Pancho Villa: A Lifetime of Vengeance written by Ben F. Williams, Jr.


Full disclosure:  Ben Williams is the father of my good friend, Liz. 

Remember all those Pancho Villa caricatures from years past?  You know, the long mustached smiling sombrero-wearing guy with the bullet belt strapped across his shoulders, with maybe a guitar (or rifle) somewhere in the picture?  Not even close, Villa was a brutal thug. 

A maniacal criminal, Villa killed on a whim and seemed to fight everyone he came in contact with unless it was women and then he married them (quite a few, apparently).

The author, Ben Williams, is a fifth generation Arizonan rancher from the border who knows firsthand that Pancho Villa ain't no funny caricature.  His grandfather dealt with Villa and lived to tell a few stories.

Told in a matter-of-fact style, Williams combines Pancho Villa history with family stories. Williams describes the battles, the horrid violence attributed to Villa, the organization of Villa's army including his soldaderas or female soldiers/camp followers, and even the classic Mexican music.  Since there is no continuing plot line it is super easy  to pick up and read a chapter here and there.  For the last several years I have enjoyed reading two or three books at a time (that has to be good for the brain, right?) and this book slipped into that practice easily.

The family history adds to the tale including the following from Williams which occurred in an area near where the Battle of Agua Prieta was fought:

"One day, as a young boy, I walked the very ground of the slopes of Saddle Gap Mountain east of town where the United States artillery was positioned.  I found an unexploded artillery shell.  Placing it in the metal box on the back of my motor scooter, I hauled it over the rough and bumpy dirt road five miles back to town.  When Dad learned what I had brought home, he had a fit and called the local police.  They in turn called the military at Fort Huachuca.  A bomb squad was sent from the fort to remove the dangerous projectile, which they took to the artillery range at the military installation, where it was exploded."  Can't you just picture this young kid, completely unaware, bouncing all over the rough roads with explosives practically in his back pocket?  Thank heavens for guardian angels.

I had forgotten that Villa had actually launched an attack on the U.S.  In 1916, Villa and his "Villistas" attacked the village of Columbus, New Mexico.  18 citizens were gunned down.  Because of the attack, the U.S. went on the warpath sending General John J. Pershing on an expedition to chase down Villa.  Part of that regiment included a very young George S. Patton. They didn't succeed but Williams takes us on an adventure describing search which included the first use of military airplanes by the United States.  Bless those brave pilots who flew aircraft during this time.  The combination of wooden propellers, minimal power, and canvas-covered wings were a disaster.  Planes crashed routinely but miraculously no airmen were killed.  Good preparation for World War II, no doubt.

Back to Pancho Villa. There is a fun chapter devoted to the mysterious disappearance of Villa's skull.  Villa was killed in 1923 and after his death a mysterious purchaser paid $25,000 for his head.  Almost three years after Villa's death, his head was delivered and the money collected by Major Emil Holmdahl who admitted the actual deed of decapitation.  There are conflicting stories and rumors about who purchased the head, where it went, and where it is now.    Williams does a good job of tracking down facts and rumors and piecing it all together.   However, the mystery is not solved. But surely, someone could write a very fun fictional mystery about all this, don't you think?

After reading about Villa and his violence, I am so irritated to know that there are two, possibly three statues of him in the U.S.--one in Tucson, Arizona, one in El Paso, Texas and there might be something in New Mexico.  Absurd and shameful.

Bottom line: An easy, entertaining, and informative read.

WAIT FOR ME!: Memoirs - Book Review

Continuing with my fascination of all things English, I happily jumped into reading Wait for Me! the memoirs of Deborah Mitford, Duchess of Devonshire.  Debo (family nickname) is one of the famous Mitford sisters and from all that I've read, the one with the most sense and stability.  Now 91 years old, she is the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire living in the Old Vicarage on the estate at Chatsworth. Her son and daughter-in-law are the current Duke and Duchess.  

Debo came from a rather eccentric family--five sisters, one brother, nicknames for everyone (if not several nicknames per person--I wish I were clever enough to come up with just the right catchy name for others, but I am not).  She was born in 1920 so her life takes us through World War II, the nine years of rationing following the war, various Prime Ministers, quirky members of the Peerage,  and ends with her moving out of Chatsworth and into her current home.  

Born into a titled family (her father was the 2nd Baron Redesdale) Debo then married into a famous titled family.  The hereditary titles in England just add to my love of that country.  Listen to this, after Debo's marriage, her name changed four times: first she was "Lady Andrew Cavendish", Cavendish being the family name; then her husband's elder brother was killed in the war and she became "The Marchioness of Hartington"; after her father-in-law's death, her husband Andrew inherited the title of Duke and she became "The Duchess of Devonshire".  Now she is the Dowager Duchess and her daughter-in-law is the Duchess.  Whew.

The Duchess is funny, warm, and gracious and must have kept remarkable letters and journals to remember over 300 pages worth of goodies from her life.  Her childhood alone could make its own book (although it has been fictionalized in books by her sister, Nancy).  

Life at Chatsworth is depicted honestly, lots of work and tireless efforts to sustain.  After studying a bit about English country houses, I don't envy the owners--the usual "fun to visit but I wouldn't want to live there" applies.  The killer death duties in England have crippled the glorious estates.  Debo and her husband, Andrew, are credited with coming up with creative ways to pay off the hideous taxes and bring in money to repair and maintain the estate.  

Early in their marriage Debo's husband, Andrew, ran for Parliament.  His father gave him the following advice: "There is something you should ram home, and you cannot repeat it too often.  No government has any money of its own, the only money it has to spend is what it gets from you and me in taxes." Amen. 

The above World of Interiors features the cheerful entrance of Debo's new home at the Vicarage. It is one of my favorite magazine covers of all time.  Spotting the magazine cover on-line, I stalked Border's until the issue was delivered, which since it is a UK publication, didn't arrived until the end of  that month (September).  But just look at those colors! I could happily live in that house.

Bottom line: I enjoyed every minute of Deborah Mitford's memoirs.  

FAVORITE BIOGRAPHIES

Benjamin Franklin: An American Life - Isaacson
John Adams - McCullough
1776 - McCullough
River of Doubt - Millard
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt - Morris
Theodore Rex - Morris
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire - Foreman
Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self - Tomalin
Jane Austen: A Life - Tomalin
The Last Lion - Manchester
The Lion Alone - Manchester
Clementine Churchill - Soames
West with the Night - Markham
Jefferson the Virginian - Malone