On 6 June 1944 Britain woke up to a profound silence. Overnight; 160;000 Allied troops had vanished and an eerie emptiness settled over the country. The majority of those men would never return. This is the story of that extraordinary 24 hours.Using a wealth of first person testimonies; renowned historian Max Arthur recounts a remarkable new oral history of D-Day; beginning with the two years leading up to the silent day which saw the UK transformed by the arrival of thousands of American and Canadian troops. We also hear the views of the American troops; who quickly formed strong views of both the British military and civilian populations. Then; on that June morning; many Britain people woke up to discover that vast areas of the country; which had throbbed with life only the day before; were now empty and silent. Civilian workers found coffee pots still warm on the stove but not a soul to greet them. Many women - and children - felt bewildered and betrayed.Then; throughout that day and the days that followed; the whole population gathered around wireless sets; waiting for news. There are powerful testimonies from families of who lost loved ones on the beaches of Normandy; and dramatic personal accounts from young widows who had never had the chance to say goodbye.THE SILENT DAY is an original and evocative portrait of a key event in world history; and a poignant reminder of the human cost of D-Day.
#787317 in Books Benedict Michael Les 2016-09-28 2016-09-28Original language:English 8.96 x .63 x 5.99l; 1.11 #File Name: 1442259922574 pagesThe Blessings of Liberty A Concise History of the Constitution of the United States
Review
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Solid Book with Excellent BibliographyBy Stefan HerpelI am a lawyer who has argued in the Supreme Court; and in my view this book provides a solid introduction to constitutional history. The book seems to have been intended primarily as a textbook for undergraduate courses; but despite its textbook feel I think it can be of interest to a wider audience. Though not written with a great deal of flair; it offers clear descriptions of many important Supreme Court cases; and provides a coherent overview of the broader developments in the Court's jurisprudence regarding the Bill of Rights; the Fourteenth Amendment; and other provisions of the Constitution. Unlike most constitutional histories; Benedict's book has the added benefit of attempting to relate the Court's decisions to the historical context in which they were made. The author strikes me as scholarly; but at the same time he does have a point of view about a number of the Court's decisions which he makes little effort to conceal. For example; Benedict leaves no doubt that he is generally supportive of the Warren Court revolution; and disfavors some of the retrenchment that has taken place in the Rehnquist Court. That said; he seems to have gone to great pains in the excellent bibliographic essays that appear at the conclusion of each of his chapters to include historical or legal literature that offers different assessments than his own. I regard this book as a very good resource; and a stimulus to further reading (including more detailed studies by Benedict himself).4 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Solid Introduction; with Fine BibliographyBy Stefan HerpelThis book offers a solid introduction to various aspects of the history of the U.S. Constitution --including its origins; its formation; and its interpretation by the Supreme Court over the past 200-plus years. While it has the feel of a college textbook; I think the book deserves a broader audience. In very clear; if unadorned writing; Benedict covers important cases decided by the Supreme Court; and describes the evolution of judicial doctrine regarding the Bill of Rights; the Fourteenth Amendment; and other provisions of the Constitution. Unlike most books about constitutional history; this one has the added virtue of attempting to relate jurisprudential developments to the broader historical context in which they occurred. Benedict does not try too hard to conceal his own preferences regarding certain decisions of the Court. For example; it is apparent that he is generally supportive of the Warren Court revolution in criminal procedure and other areas of constitutional law; and is opposed to some of the retrenchment that has occurred in the Rehnquist Court. At the same time; Benedict seems to take pains to include citations to legal or historical scholars with whom he disagrees in the excellent bibliographic essays that appear at the end of each chapter of the book. I view this book as a very good reference and as a stimulus to further reading (including Benedict's own book about the Johnson impeachment; which Judge Richard Posner cited in his book regarding the Clinton impeachment).3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A Complete and Concise AccountBy A CustomerMichael Benedict does an adequate job of providing a complete and concise history of Constitutional history in the United States. Many books on this subject lose their effitiveness because they are filled with legalese. However; Benedict has assembled a book that allows the collegiate reader or anyone interested in history to understand the complex principles that have developed Constitutional principles. He covers topics from Revolutionary Crises; the Civil War; Reconstruction; Trust Busting; The Depression; and many more. This is a book for people interested in the Constitutional Crises and Legislation that has effected the development of the United States we know today.
