Tunisia Books

Here Is Your War: Story of G.I. Joe

Ernie Pyle

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Bison Books Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $7.70

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Leaders & Notable People -> Military -> General
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Leaders & Notable People -> Military -> General AAS
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Professionals & Academics -> Military & Spies

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great First Hand Account of the African Campaign 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 13 people found this review helpful.

This book is an edited compilation of Ernie Pyles' dispatches during the North African Campaign of World War Two (each chapter was originally two or three columns and were woven together to make the story flow better). It describes the sea voyage from England, the landing in Algiers, and the drive across North Africa, ending with the German retreat and surrender.

Pyle gives a great accounting of all of the different types of people that compile a war effort - the nurses, cooks, mechanics, pilots, and of course the infantry. He tends to stay away from the brass and talk with the soldiers. The style of writing is very quaint - when ever a soldier is introduced in a story, Pyle gives his/her hometowm and often his/her address as well. The writing flows surprisingly well - and I say surprisingly because if one just looks at the text, consisting of short sentences and paragraphs, it would give the illusion of being choppy. It is infact beautifully written from a humanistic stand point.

Pyle doesn't gloss over the horrors of war, his own fear, the hardships or the set backs. He talks about the mistakes we made in the administration of captured Algiers, and how we were defeated in the initial combat against the Germans.

The reason why Pyle was/is so famous is he brings to life all of the warm anectodes that make life in a combat zone bearable - the unselfish acts of courage and kindness - as well as the sense of loss when a friend will no longer be with us. That was the true beauty of Pyle's work.

Again, this is a fantastic book for anyone seeking to learn who were the men and women that fought WWII and what life was like for them.

Editorial Review:

A wonderful and enduring tribute to American troops in the Second World War, Here Is Your War is Ernie Pyle’s story of the soldiers’ first campaign against the enemy in North Africa. With unequaled humanity and insight, Pyle tells how people from a cross-section of America—ranches, inner cities, small mountain farms, and college towns—learned to fight a war. The Allied campaign and ultimate victory in North Africa was built on blood, brave deeds, sacrifice and needless loss, exotic vistas, endurance, homesickness, and an unmistakable American sense of humor. It’s all here—the suspenseful landing at Oran; the risks taken daily by fighter and bomber pilots; grim, unrelenting combat in the desert and mountains of Tunisia; a ferocious tank battle that ended in defeat for the inexperienced Americans; and the final victory at Tunis. Pyle’s keen observations relate the full story of ordinary G.I.s caught up in extraordinary times.

The Rough Guide to Tunisia 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

Daniel Jacobs, Peter Morris

Amazon Price: $19.99 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Rough Guides Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $10.20

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> North Africa
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Tunisia
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Must-Have Book for Travellers to Tunisia 5 out of 5 stars.
22 of 22 people found this review helpful.

If you're bound for Tunisia, you won't want to leave without this book. I'm one of those people who thinks there is never any *one* guide that's ideal for a destination -- I always take 2 good guides. And, for Tunisia, the Rough Guide is definitely the first of the two.

It is much, much more comprehensive than any other guide. The Blue Guide (my other choice for Tunisian visits), Lonely Planet Guide (also excellent though with less background), and others literally do not have 1/2 the content of the Rough Guide.

By supplementing this book with one other one (the Blue Guide for in-depth history & cultural information, or the Lonely Planet Guide for a smaller, hipper subset of travel tips) you'll have a great Tunisian stay. Whichever "other" guide you choose, you'll want this one for the COMPLETE story of any destination in any corner of Tunisia.

Whether you're basking on the corniche at Hammamet, Bizerte, or la Marsa; travelling to tourist meccas like the Tunis Medina, Carthage, Sfax, Jerba, el Djem, Matmata and the Sahara palmeries; or taking jaunts to more out-of-the-way spots like Kerkouane or Tabarka... Take this book.

Editorial Review:

The Rough Guide to Tunisia is the definitive guide to this fascinating North African country. The guide includes a full-colour 24-page introduction to Tunisia''s highlights, from the mile-long beaches of the mediterranean coast to the fortified Kasbahs of the mountainous interior and the Saharan oases towns. The guide gives lively accounts of all the sights, from Roman remains and Islamic monuments to the ancient Medinas of Tunis, Sfax and Sousse. There is comprehensive coverage of the resorts - Hammamet, Sousse and Port el Kantaoui with details of their beaches and the best excursions to the surrounding mountains and deserts. For each city, town and village there are in-depth reviews of the best places to stay, eat, shop and haggle. The authors also provide authoritative background on the country''s history, religious and social traditions, wildlife, architecture and its use as a location for films such as ''The Life of Brian'' and ''Star Wars''.

Tunisian Mosaics: Treasures from Roman Africa (Conservation and Cultural Heritage Series)

Aicha Ben Abed

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Getty Publications Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $17.90

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> History & Criticism -> Regional -> African
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> History & Criticism -> General AAS
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Other Media -> Mosaic

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

As the Roman Empire expanded its African settlements in the early centuries of the common era, thousands of mosaic floor pavements were fashioned to adorn the townhouses and rural estates of the African upper classes. Between the second and sixth centuries, mosaic art blossomed, particularly in Africa Proconsularis, the region comprising modern Tunisia. In contrast to the official art of imperial Rome, mosaics generally expressed the worldviews of private citizens. These artworks are remarkable for the intricate beauty of their polychromatic geometric and floral designs, as well as for figural scenes depicting the interests and activities of the patrons who commissioned them--scenes of daily life, athletic contests, gladiator spectacles, and classical literature and mythology.
Abundantly illustrated throughout, Tunisian Mosaics: Treasures from Roman Africa offers the general reader a lively introduction to this extraordinary ancient art. Initial chapters survey the historical background of Roman Africa and discuss the development of mosaic art in the Mediterranean. Subsequent chapters profile Tunisia's major mosaic sites and tour the collections of important museums. A final chapter surveys current initiatives to preserve this heritage for future generations.

Hannibal: Enemy Of Rome

Leonard Cottrell

Amazon Price: $11.56 List Price: $17.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Da Capo Press Amazon Marketplace: 60 new & used starting at $1.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General AAS
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Tunisia

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the year 216 B.C., Hannibal of Carthage, faced with an opposing Roman army twice the size of his own, outwitted the enemy at Cannae by means of a strategy which has become a classic of its kind. As a result of his famous ”double pincer” maneuver, 70,000 Roman soldiers died within the space of a few hours on a field the size of New York’s Central Park. Yet, as devastating and startling as Cannae was, it was only one of a long list of incredible achievements. Hannibal’s fantastic 1,000-mile march across the Alps from Spain to Italy was one of the wonders of ancient times. He began his hazardous journey with 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry, and 37 elephants. By the time he reached the Valley of the Po, more than 30,000 troops and many of his elephants had perished, but he still managed to stay in Italy for sixteen years.Blending biography and military adventure, Hannibal is a portrait of a military genius who was also a highly civilized man. The son of Hamilcar Barca, a famous general in his own right, Hannibal was a student of the Greek classics. But his father’s lifelong grudge against Rome fostered in the son a deep hatred for that Republic and a fierce determination to subdue it forever. This resulted in the bloody battles of Lake Trasimene, Campania, Nole, Capua, and Zama, all of which Leonard Cottrell describes with vigor and authority. In gathering material for Hannibal, Cottrell traveled the entire route that Hannibal took across the Alps, thus bringing to his account a valuable firsthand knowledge of his subject. With the drama and authenticity for which he is famous, Leonard Cottrell describes Hannibal’s amazing campaign—a saga of victory after victory which fell just short of its ultimate goal: the annihilation of Rome.

Exit Rommel: The Tunisian Campaign, 1942-43 (Stackpole Military History)

Bruce Allen Watson

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Stackpole Books Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $4.24

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> North Africa
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Tunisia
Subjects -> History -> Europe -> Germany -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

The Myth of Rommel 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Veteran military writer Bruce Allen Watson, professor emeritus at Diablo Valley College, has written an unusual book that develops fresh insights into the Second World War's Tunisian Campaign.

Much of the book is a campaign narrative, while a pleasure to read, there is not much in it that we have not been told before. What is different are the final three chapters which focus on the Allied and Axis armies; their troops' will to fight; logistics; and a comparison of weapons. Then Mr. Watson veers off course to what appears to be the core of a different book -- a study of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's personality.

In it, Mr. Watson examines "Rommel's command style -- his relations with the higher command, especially Hitler and General Halder; and the nature of his own staff; and his intelligence system."

All the way through, Mr. Watson offers incisive details and insights that make "Exit Rommel" an interesting read. He begins by contrasting Hitler and Mussolini's Axis armies with the British, American and Free French forces opposing them.

Mr. Watson explains the weaknesses of the Italian Army beginning with poor quality senior officers "believing that indoctrination of fascist principles was more useful than military training." He feels that field officers in general, had little contact with enlisted men.

Moving to a discussion on equipment, the author points out most Italian weapons were obsolete compared with those of the Allies and poor in quality. Mounting small caliber guns, Italy's tanks had thin armor, and were not mechanically sound.

British infantry units had fewer heavy weapons than their German counterparts. While American units were marginally better equipped than the corresponding British units.

The author observes, "Undoubtedly, the superiority of the Lee Enfield and M-2 Garand over the Mauser contributed to the growing confidence of Allied infantrymen."

Mr. Watson notes shrewdly, "That British tanks, despite their lean specifications were inherently inferior to the German machines was a myth that conveniently cloaked tactical and organizational ineptitude: The preference for unsupported tank attacks : the related lack of integrated arms tactics: the jealousy between branches of the service that impeded integration: and the penchant of the British high command to cycle veteran battalions out of the Eighth Army and replace them with green units -- all contributed to the conspicuous defeats British armor experienced."

Why did the British feel inferior to the German forces? The author speculates the reputation of German forces seeming elite was largely because Italian forces by contrast were so bad. Rommel's resourcefulness gave the appearance of German weapon's superiority.

In the Allied armies, artillery was asked to combat tanks with direct fire as well as the traditional role of providing indirect fire. The British artillery was able to dominate the battlefield: their guns typically out-ranged the German artillery. Mr. Watson tells us, "killing or maiming the enemy is important in battle, but more important is the ability to create havoc and fear. The demoralization caused by artillery was more important in disrupting the attack than were the casualties."

Why did British armor have so much trouble overrunning German infantry? The author writes, "The major innovation was in transforming the mission of the light infantry battalions turning them into anti-tank units. Each squad was given a 7.62mm Russian anti-tank gun. In Rommel's hands, light infantry was a potent force that erased or blurred the old distinctions between types of infantry formations."

Searching for clues to Panzer Army Africa's loss of effectiveness, Mr. Watson points out that through time Rommel's forces 'demodernized'. The British forced Rommel to fight battles that were throwbacks, however more sophisticated, to World War I battles of attrition." This demodernization was the result of growing Allied control of the air especially over Axis supply lines.

Mr. Watson writes in one passage, "In the end, Allied supply convoys, the stream of replacement equipment, the endless reserves of fresh troops, and the aerial domination of Axis supply lines robbed Rommel of the mobility and the initiative with which he typically started his battles."

The Luftwaffe played a key role in Hitler's conquest of Europe, why not in Tunisia? "The story of air power in North Africa, with momentary exceptions, follows the general tendencies of the ground war: initial German dominance followed by a slow decline. The Luftwaffe never modified its aircraft to operate in the desert, and they were not assigned to tactical ground support role until there was a chronic shortage of aircraft. A wide range of aircraft, flexibility in adapting fighters for ground support missions, and the ease of replacement for lost aircraft spelled doom for Rommel's army", explains the author.

"Small unit engagements became more frequent as a consequence of the mountainous terrain in Tunisia. The quantity of infantrymen assigned to panzer divisions increased from 1941 to mid-1943, and the number of tanks decreased." says the author.

"The panzer grenadier battalions were heavily armed, enabling them not only to overpower the more lightly equipped Allied infantry formations but also to act with considerable battlefield independence where necessary", points out Mr. Watson.

The 88mm Flak gun proved to be Rommel's most fearsome anti-tank weapon. The 37mm Pak gun and the Pak 38 50mm were made more effective by Rommel's skill and imagination at coaxing British tanks into an ambush. The British preferred that their own poorly armed tanks would battle the panzers. Their 2-pounder and 6-pounder anti-tank guns were not successful until better ammunition was developed in 1942. The American army relied on tank destroyers to protect infantry more so than the weak 38mm and 57mm anti-tank guns.

There were fewer tank battles in Tunisia as Rommel ran short on fuel and equipment. In Tunisia tank operations were limited by mud and mountainous terrain.

German tanks had more powerful main guns and were very capable of slugging it out with British armor. Was there a theoretical difference on how Rommel's tanks were to be employed? Fundamentally, Rommel still believed panzers should not fight other tanks. But should be reserved for attacking rear areas by turning the enemies' flanks or overrunning decimated positions.

Another critical factor in Rommel's success was the willingness of his troops to fight on through adversity. Rommel modified his army to succeed in the North African desert.

Mr. Watson cites Rommel's success was he "knew immediately what needed to be done and brought his innovations to fruition so rapidly, creating the cohesive force he needed.

What was the overall reason for German's defeat in North Africa? The author vividly demonstrates, Allies caught up with German equipment in quantity and quality in Tunisia.

Finally, Mr. Watson's book makes an important contribution to the contempory debate by putting to rest the myth of Rommel as the ultimate warrior. An alternate title for the book might be "Debunking the Legend of Rommel."

"Exit Rommel" contains 10 serviceable maps, and a gallery 16 photographs.

Editorial Review:

In the sands of North Africa during the early years of World War II, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel burnished his reputation as the Desert Fox. After a string of successes, Rommel's fortunes began to sour with the battles of El Alamein, where the British under Bernard Montgomery halted Axis expansion in the fall of 1942, followed days later by the Americans' Torch landings in Morocco and Algeria. As the Americans drove the Germans into Tunisia from the west and the British from the east, Rommel routed U.S. forces at Kasserine Pass, but logistical difficulties and the erosion of weapons quality ultimately proved too much to overcome. After his last-ditch attack at Medenine was repulsed, the Desert Fox was forced to evacuate, leaving much of his fabled force to Allied captivity.

Meeting the Fox: The Allied Invasion of Africa, from Operation Torch to Kasserine Pass to Victory in Tunisia

Orr Kelly

Amazon Price: $23.89 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $5.36

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Tunisia
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> General
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Praise for Meeting the Fox

"Orr Kelly has dramatically brought to life the desert war by masterfully weaving the view of higher headquarters with the pathos of the foxhole. Meeting the Fox takes the reader on a gripping journey from North Africa's beaches and drop zones, the practically forgotten disaster at Sidi bou Zid, to the final battles in Tunisia. Meeting the Fox is destined to rank among the best narrative histories on the American experience in North Africa."
-- Patrick O'Donnell, author of Beyond Valor and Into the Rising Sun

"An almost bullet-by-bullet, shell-by-shell account, Meeting the Fox offers riveting personal experiences from those who fought the Axis forces during the desperate campaign for North Africa."
--Gerald Astor, historian and author of A Blood-Dimmed Tide and The Greatest War, Vols. I--III

As their unproven commanders struggled to match wits with the wily Desert Fox, 100,000 poorly equipped, undertrained, and inexperienced GIs battled their way across North Africa. Hobbled by inferior weaponry and an inexperienced officer corps, these green but courageous citizen soldiers clashed head-on with the fabled German Afrika Korps and its legendary commander, Erwin Rommel. Meeting the Fox tells the unforgettable tale of the men who transformed themselves, in the heat of battle, from a poorly organized army of convenience into a relentless and unstoppable fighting force.

Hannibal

Serge Lancel

Amazon Price: $105.95 List Price: $105.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley-Blackwell Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $49.94

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Historical -> General
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Historical -> General AAS
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A Decent Biography of a Great Military Commander 3 out of 5 stars.
19 of 19 people found this review helpful.

This was an interesting account of Hannibal provided by this French author, who is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Grenoble. He utilises most contempary and some modern accounts of Hannibal and his campaigns and also offers his views on those accounts to assist the reader in judging the accuracy of the text.

At times I found the narrative to become a bit muddled and somewhat dry but overall he offers a decent biography of this Great Commander. I would have appreciated a more in-depth account of his battles but the author does provide details of every facet of Hannibals campaigns including the political background at the time.

For those looking for a more detailed military history of Hannibal and his role in the Punic Wars I would recommend Nigel Bagnall's 'The Punic Wars'. For a view from "the other side" I would recommend 'Scipio Africanus, Greater than Napoleon' by Liddell Hart.

However if you just want a decent account of Hannibal and an over-view of his role in the second Punic War than this book should fit the bill.

Editorial Review:

This is an historical biography of Hannibal, the military leader of Carthage responsible for waging a dramatic onslaught on Rome during the Punic Wars. One of the few generals of history to be famous for the war he lost, Hannibal's attack in 218BC - which included his renowned march of elephants across the Alps - ranks amongst the most courageous and ill-fated enterprises in the history of the ancient world. This definitive biography of one of the most fascinating figures of ancient history offers a fresh perspective on the demise of the Hellenistic world and the rise of Rome.

Perpetua's Passion: The Death and Memory of a Young Roman Woman

Joyce Salisbury

Amazon Price: $26.05 List Price: $28.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Routledge Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $1.68

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Leaders & Notable People -> Religious
Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Specific Groups -> Women
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Tunisia

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In 203 AD a group of Christians in Carthage, North Africa, were sentenced to the beasts in the arena. One of these, a twenty-two year old young mother, wrote a diary while she was imprisoned awaiting execution; later, this diary was completed by an observer who described her death in the arena. This poignant and personal narrative is the focus of this study of the conflict that resulted in the martyrdom of Perpetua.

Perpetua's Passion studies the third-century martyrdom of a young woman and places it in the intellectual and social context of her age. Conflicting ideas of religion, family and gender are explored as Salisbury follows Perpetua from her youth in a wealthy Roman household to her imprisonment and death in the arena. The author explores the ideas that shaped Perpetua's experience and the memories that appeared in her dreams and text, including metaphysical reflections, Carthaginian ideas of sacrificial suicide, and early Christian praise of prophecy and passion. Perpetua's Passion also encompasses more earthly dilemmas such as family, gender roles and motherhood, using the experience of this young martyr to explore these conflicting ideals and the conflict of ideologies. This book examines concepts of martyrdom and memory as her prison diary was preserved and read for centuries.

Perpetua's Passion provides insights into early Christian communities and the spiritual aspirations that shaped the converts, and will be of interest to classicists and medievalists, church historians and anyone interested in spirituality and the origins of Christianity.

Alaia (Universe of Fashion)

FranCois Baudot

List Price: $18.95 By: The Vendome Press for Universe Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $3.84

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Fashion -> Commercial
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Fashion -> Designers
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Fashion -> History

Editorial Review:

The creations of Azzedine Alaia are considered by many to be the sexiest, trendiest, and most utterly original clothes produced by any contemporary designer. Alaia's talent and reputation, spread largely by word of mouth, has won him the adoration of an extraordinary suite of faithful clients, among them Naomi Campbell, Tina Turner, and Jessye Norman. Here the story of the young designer is told with flair and intelligence and is lushly illustrated with top-echelon photography of Alaia's signature creations - in all their exuberance and sensuality.

The Maghrib in the New Century: Identity, Religion, and Politics

Amazon Price: $48.31 List Price: $59.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: University Press of Florida Amazon Marketplace: 23 new & used starting at $42.53

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Algeria
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Morocco
Subjects -> History -> Africa -> Tunisia

Editorial Review:

"Readable, useful update on key issues confronting contemporary Maghrib. Valuable sources for students, area specialists, and general public interested in this important region and its relations with Europe and the United States."--Wilfrid J. Rollman, Wellesley College

"A fine collection of original pieces by an international group of authors that fills a hole in current literature. All the other works on the entire Maghrib are out of date because of the current importance of Islamic political movements."--I. William Zartman, Johns Hopkins University

Situated on Europe's threshold, the Maghrib's core states--Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia--are confronted by many of the same dire political, social, and economic circumstances as the Arab and other Muslim countries farther east. However, these countries are often overlooked during debates over the future of the Middle East, even though their political and social systems appear more ripe for the kind of partnership envisaged by Western policy-makers than others in the region.

This volume features a topical focus on Islamic movements, an emphasis on the importance of the Berber dimension of contemporary North African society and politics, and the inclusion of a crucial transnational perspective stressing the Maghrib's ties to Europe. All of this is set against a backdrop of larger questions of history, memory, and national identity at the dawn of a new century.