History - Books By George

■ REVIEWS: NZ's Lost Heritage | Modern NZ Homes | R A Lawson Victorian Architect of Dunedin
Trio of books look at NZ’s architectural heritage

The preservation of our historic buildings is often a topic of debate in this country, with passionate arguments for (it’s our history) and against (usually the cost). We haven’t always had a great record when it comes to keeping our bricks and mortar – or indeed weatherboard – history in tact, and in this book […]

■ REVIEWS: NZ's Lost Heritage | Modern NZ Homes | R A Lawson Victorian Architect of Dunedin
Trio of books look at NZ’s architectural heritage Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Changing Times
Ordinary Kiwis tell our country’s story

History, NZ books

Much has been written about New Zealand’s attempts to find its place in the world as a fledgling nation and the role of rugby and war in creating a sense of nationalism in and around World War I. But a more important portion of our nation’s history has occurred post-World War II, and it’s this

■ REVIEW: Changing Times
Ordinary Kiwis tell our country’s story Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Victory
High-flying Kiwis played important role in WW2

History, NZ books

New Zealand pilots served in both the RNZAF and also the RAF during World War II, and this is an account of the heroic and often deadly role played by those Kiwi air crews during the final stages of that war. From the invasion of Europe in 1944 to the fall of Berlin in 1945,

■ REVIEW: Victory
High-flying Kiwis played important role in WW2 Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Great Kiwi Firsts
No second-guessing in book of firsts

History, NZ books

Us Kiwis like being claiming firsts, and let’s be honest, there are plenty we can claim: first to scale Mt Everest, first to have to good sense to give women the vote, even first country to take home the Rugby Word Cup. Then there was the atom-splitting efforts of Ernest Rutherford and Invercargill’s own Burt

■ REVIEW: Great Kiwi Firsts
No second-guessing in book of firsts Read Post »

■ REVIEW: The Mighty Totara
Remembering New Zealand’s ‘Big Norm’

History

Norman Kirk was the first politician I was truly aware of as a kid. I remember as a tender wee seven-year-old, seeing the mountain of a man on the news, the first famous person beyond Basil Brush to register in my world. I also vividly remember hearing the news that Norman Kirk died on August

■ REVIEW: The Mighty Totara
Remembering New Zealand’s ‘Big Norm’ Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Illustrated History of New Zealand
A big, interesting history

History, NZ books

It could be said that it’s something of a surprise that a book on the history of a country as small and as young as New Zealand could be so huge. At close to 500 pages and in an A4-size format, the Illustrated History of New Zealand is a massive tome that would take

■ REVIEW: Illustrated History of New Zealand
A big, interesting history Read Post »

■ REVIEW: So Brilliantly Clever
Probing sensational murder

History, NZ books, People

For a small nation, New Zealand has had more than its fair share of headline-grabbing murders, but there are few that would rival the 1954 murder of Christchurch woman Honorah Parker. The name of the victim may not be as familiar as that of the two teenage girls who committed the awful crime: Juliet Hulme

■ REVIEW: So Brilliantly Clever
Probing sensational murder Read Post »

■ REVIEW: The Troopers' Tale
Proud spirit of the Otago Mounted Rifles

History, NZ books

There has been something of a resurgence of interest in the military history of our proud little nation in recent years, often highlighted by the increasing numbers of Kiwis young and old who turn up at Anzac Day services around the country. From small beginnings as a light horse troop of volunteers in 1864, the

■ REVIEW: The Troopers' Tale
Proud spirit of the Otago Mounted Rifles Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Patearoa at War
Box of letters leads to story of town’s war experience

History, NZ books

Like so many of the best Kiwi projects, this book started out as a friendly chat at the pub. Patearoa locals Beryl and Alan Reid told author Jim Sullivan they had a box of letters written by soldiers to Alan’s aunts during World War I. The next day, Sullivan began putting them together in a

■ REVIEW: Patearoa at War
Box of letters leads to story of town’s war experience Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Letters From Gallipoli
Soldiers’ letters bring home horror

History, NZ books

This latest book by Glyn Harper is one that brings home the trauma, hardship, heartache and horror of living through, and with, a war. Glyn Harper is the Professor of War Studies at Massey University and has already written and edited a comprehensive collection of books on New Zealand’s military history. This time he has

■ REVIEW: Letters From Gallipoli
Soldiers’ letters bring home horror Read Post »