Ghosts of Empire: Book Review

The other day, the Wall Street Journal had a fascinating book review on Kwasi Kwarteng's Ghosts of Empire.

Since my studies in international power politics at Oxford, I've had a growing fascination with the historical study of imperialism and the rise and fall of Empires, especially that of Britain.

Does imperialism and consequential colonialism help those civilizations? does it contribute to human happiness by either material or philosophical means?

What strikes me as alluring is that Kwarteng seems to approach the subject from what seems a relatively unbiased perspective. Almost as if he is trying to approach the subject from a fresh perspective, untainted by the opinions on either side of the controversy that have been debated for decades. He seems to address evenly both the downsides as well as benefits of imperialism.

One reason why imperialism always fascinates me is that America is a dying empire. What are we in danger of becoming? Are our politicians handling the current situations in a way that will help or harm the survival of our empire?

Well, I think I may add this book to my summer reading list. And the Forsyte Saga. Watching the miniseries with Holly right now - I've been told for a while I'd love it. It has Ioan Griffudd and Damien Lewis in it, so I like it already!

JFF - Just For Fun

Those of you who have seen, or at least are familiar with the Bayeux Tapestry and its story may find this amusing as well! History + Star Wars = Awesomeness

Cheers!

The Russian Novel

Today is a perfect snow day. If only it weren't Saturday, because I have the day off already. If only I didn't have a 6" stack of papers to grade. I'm serious, I do!

Last night and this morning, I sat down and watched a movie that's been on my Netflix instant queue since I subscribed: Tolstoy's War and Peace. It was the perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot chocolate, a warm fuzzy puppy snuggled up in my blankets and the quietness of a new blanket of fallen snow.

I've always had the best intentions to read melodramatic and complicated Russian novels, but I haven't had the motivation to make it past the first chapter. Hence, watching the 1956 production of War and Peace has succeeded in giving me an appetizing taste for the real, yet much more convoluted novel by Tolstoy.

Auburn and Fonda

I liked the movie more than I imagined I would. Hepburn sometimes annoys me - I think she's far too overrated an actress at times, but her style is iconic, I'll give her (or her costumers) that credit. What really inspired me were the deep characters of the male protagonists. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky played by Mel Ferrer, was so serious, sensitive and sad, yet honorable. One couldn't help but want the best for him. Pierre Bezukhov, played by Henry Fonda, was a little more complicated in that he would switch his idealistic outlook on an off throughout the film. I can only imagine how much more intense these characters would be in the novel itself.

Auburn and Ferrer

It was a long movie, comparable to GWTW, also another excellent classic that I've enjoyed time and time again.

So now I've added War and Peace to my summer reading list... I have 2 months to read 5 books. Piece of cake! (No seriously, I read Vanity Fair in 2 weeks. It is entirely possible for me to do this. I am a reading fiend!)

Summer 2012 Reading List

1. The Hunger Games (because everyone else seems so excited for the movie coming out soon)

2. War and Peace, Tolstoy

3. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand

4. The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman

5. TBD

Have a happy & snowy weekend!