The third volume in this series returns to November 1942 to explain the background to the first major Anglo-American venture – Operation Torch; the invasion of French North Africa. It deals with the fratricidal combats which followed the initial landings in Morocco and Algeria for several days. It then considers the efforts made – unsuccessfully in the event – to reach northern Tunisia before the Germans and Italians could get there to forestall the possibility of an attack from the west on the rear of the Afrika Korps forces; then beginning their retreat from El Alamein. The six months of hard fighting which followed as the Allies built up the strength of their joint air forces and gradually wrested control of the skies from the Axis; are covered in detail. Then from 1 April 1943 the continuing story of the Western Desert Air Force is told from the point at which Volume 2 ended; as it advanced from the east to join hands with the units in the west. Now also described are the arrivals over the front of American pilots and crew; the P-38 Lightning; the Spitfire IX and the B-17 Flying Fortress – and of the much-feared Focke-Wulf FW 190. The aerial activities over Tunisia became one of the focal turning points of World War II; yet this is frequently overlooked by historians. As before; the air-sea activities; the reconnaissance flights and the growing day and night bomber offensives form a major part of this volume. The mastery of the whole African coastline of the southern Mediterranean by the Allies prepared the way for the invasions of the European territories on the other side of this critical sea during 1943; which will be dealt with in Volume 4.
#432590 in Books Arktos Media Ltd 2009-06-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .68 x 5.51l; .85 #File Name: 1907166025304 pages
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Evola was never a scholarBy Tina"Scholars" do not write books like "Three Aspects of the Jewish Problem;" an anti-Semitic screed that imagines a global Jewish conspiracy to subvert white society. He wrote of ""the pernicious role the Jew has played in the history of civilization;" as if non-Jewish whites have always been exemplars of humanity (Catholic Crusades? Nazi Germany?). Evola's complaints about "de- Aryanizing forces" that undermine society are nothing but white power slogans dressed in academic jargon. Evola deserves to be forgotten; not revived by the likes of Steve Bannon.Some fool posted a spirited defense to a review calling out Ebola’s racism by claiming that his view of race were spiritual in origin. That’s true. Ebola developed his own justification for anti-Semitism; which he called razzismo dello spirito; racism of the spirit. I guess any reprehensible beliefs are just fine as long as they have a spiritual foundation. Look alt-racists; there’s nothing spiritual or philosophical about white supremacy or antisemitism.Ebola was a virulent Nazi sympathizer and a fascist who faulted Mussolini’s fascism because it wasn’t sufficiently extreme. Yet modern loonies of the alt-right attempt to rehabilitate this repulsive human being as if his racism and anti-Semitism don’t matter. Ebola’s time has gone and gone; despite the hatred that the alt-right’s attempt to carry his banner of hatred.55 of 60 people found the following review helpful. Tradition and "The Personal Equation"By James J. OmearaThe author and translator are both quick to point out that this may be the strangest autobiography ever. Almost completely lacking in clichéd "personal details;" they also both suggest that the book is best regarded as a "guide to [Evola]." As such; this book; long out of print even in Italy; will be self-recommending to the vast and ever-growing crowd of what author and translator jokingly call "evolomaniacs."As already noted; Evola provides few if any details of childhood rebellion; love affairs; etc.; although there is this cryptic remark: "A spontaneous detachment from ... what is generally regarded as normal; particularly in the sphere of affection; emerged as one of my distinctive traits when I was still in my early youth; or rather; it emerged ESPECIALLY in my early youth." [page 6; emphasis Evola]. In fact; Evola denies any relevance to his environment or heredity; at least in biological terms.Instead; Evola provides us with his `personal equation;' a predisposition that he is; indeed; predisposed to attribute to a pre-natal; pre-human existence; taking the form of an thirst for transcendence; what he elsewhere calls "the life which is more than life;" combined with; in Hindu terms; "a kshatriya bent;" manifesting as an hierarchical; aristocratic; and feudal taste.These two somewhat contradictory features; a "longing for liberation" and an urge for action resulting in self-affirmation; would form his "existential task" and only be reconciled in "my definition of 'traditionalism' in my later works."Each chapter; then; details the various intellectual and political milieus that Evola found available in the first half of the XXth century; and how he approached; assimilated; and in some cases; most notably the Traditionalist current promoted by Rene Guenon; re-designed each for his own purposes; in accordance with the aforementioned `personal equation.'Speaking of `tradition:' Since the `evolomaniacs' will want this book for the content anyway; the only question relevant here is: how well have the publishers `handed on' [traditio] Evola's guide to himself? How well have the translator and editors done their job?Lacking not only a knowledge of Italian but even the Italian text; I am not of course in a position to offer an authoritative critique of Segio Knipe's work. However; I can convey my impressions of the result; both as a native speaker of English; as well as a reader with some background in a least one of the many areas of "the Baron's" expertise.[Speaking of "The Baron;" although the translator; like many others; refers to him as such; there is no evidence in this book; or anywhere else that I have looked; such as the Almanach de Gotha; to show that he was; in fact; an aristocrat -- other than one of the Spirit. Indeed; Evola himself not only never calls himself `Baron;` and slyly says on page 10 that while he never took a university degree because he didn't want to be addressed by some bourgeois title; "I was later to be addressed with all sorts of titles which I do not; in fact; possess." Until proven otherwise; I will insist that his title has the same authenticity as "Baron" Corvo's].To start with the area of expertise: having been a student of German Idealism in my university days; the chapter I most looked forward to was the one dealing with Evola's attempt to master; and then dominate; the [according to him] sorry state of Italian Idealism [Croce; Gentile; etc.] with his own doctrine of Magical Idealism; especially since not even the texts themselves have been translated [other than some lectures available at the Gornahoor site].Unfortunately; this chapter; the longest in the book; seems to have taken Fichte rather than Schopenhauer as its model; and even someone with the aforementioned scholastic background would find it tough going. Of course; this is Evola's fault; not the translator's; however; the translator has not made things any easier by some idiosyncratic renderings of frequent; and important; terms: most particularly; `placing' for what is usually translated from German as `positing;' and `conscience' in some places for what must be the Italian for `consciousness.' Although this may reflect some nuance in Italian discussions of Idealism; I think it will needlessly confuse the neophyte; who will have enough problems with Evola's Magical Idealism itself.A few other infelicities: the Fascist publisher Bottai presumably "turned on" Evola; rather than "turned down;" since the articles did appear; but generated a firestorm of protest; and while a `disproval' is indeed English; it's an awkward way to `disprove' something. Otherwise; the translation is quite flowing and idiomatic; even a pleasure to read.As for the editor's contributions; these include nearly all of the many footnotes; which provide annotations that go beyond merely filling in names and dates [for which Evola seems to have had an aristocratic disdain; especially English names -- "Mutton' for "Musson;' etc.] to include extensive cross references to books and online resources for further research. I can find no controversial area of Evola studies; from anti-Semitism to National Socialism to sex magic; that the editors have failed to anticipate and provide appropriate guidance.Of course; one can always find areas of disagreement. The note on page 76 implies that Nietzsche simply "rejected" the antithesis between Apollonian and Dionysian as propounded in his first book; The Birth of Tragedy. This is far too blunt; at best; Nietzsche continued to refine the contrast; and Julian Young has argued convincingly that it continued to ground his thought right to the end.Also; the note on page 17; while containing valuable references to Wasson and Furst; fails to take into account more recent research; by Michael Hoffman for example; which would correct Evola and the editors' claim that the Greek mystery religions used "wine or other drugs;" Greek wine was no more hallucinogenic than our own; and rather than assuming; as some scholars have; that the Greeks had a different metabolism than our own; we can infer that additional drugs were added to the wine when "mixed" for serving.Finally; the note on page 151 misleadingly cites a French translation of Hans Bluher as if it were in English; given the almost total lack of English versions of Bluher's work; despite his influence from the Wandervogel to Francis Parker Yockey; it might have been good to refer the reader to such related works as Hubert Kennedy's collection; Homosexuality and Male Bonding in Pre-Nazi Germany.The editors have also included translations of six interviews of various lengths; one new; the rest having appeared in the appendix to the Italian edition of Ride the Tiger; totaling 20pp of additional material. Providing clarification on some points; and bringing in Evola's views on the contemporary scene; they also provide some charmingly dated slang: "beat girls"? And what on Earth was "the nude look"? Yowsa!As for the book's production; the only outright error I can find in the text is `bow' on page 236; where Evola has already explained that word; appearing in his title; The Bow and the Club; and must now be explaining the `club.' Also; while there is a beautiful and appropriate cover by Michael Lujan; one wonders whether some of Evola's own Dadaist paintings could not have been included as well.All in all; this is a exceptionally fine edition of an essential book by one of the XXth century's most essential thinkers. Since the Italian edition is out of print; and given the valuable editorial additions and appendices; this English language version will be the one everyone should get from now on. The publishers are to be congratulated; and above all rewarded with massive sales!1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. fine work...over-priced edition.By Alex Caldierothis is a fine work...i cannot praise the content enough....the edition; tho ;is another matter...for the price; it should be sown-bound and printed on decent paper instead of being glued. physically; this book feels like one of those print on demand jobs. but; being a reader of Evola; i finally broke down and bought it....hardcover 42 buck (after postage)...the paperback would not have been cheep either.....so am glad to have the book; but feel a cheated by the price...
