In this article, I republish a review of mine that was first published in Teach Secondary magazine. Next, there follows the article I actually sent in. The differences are only minor, but I thought you might find it interesting to examine the differences, and consider what difference they make, if any, to your experience and understanding of the review.
Review: The Dictators: 64 Dictators, 64 Authors, 64 Warnings from History
(Iain Dale (ed.), Hodder & Stoughton, £30)
In some respects one could view this book as a single warning repeated 64 times. In as many chapters, it covers a number of familiar names – including Attila the Hun, Ho Chi Minh and, of course, Hitler – in chronological order, from ancient times to the present day.
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A fascinating opening chapter sets the scene by discussing the psychology of dictators and the traits they can often share. Despite each of the following chapters being penned by a different author, the book hangs together remarkably well, serving up some compelling insights into the machinations of dictators through the ages, making it a potentially useful reference for political studies and history.
There might be a surprising omission or two – such as Trujillo and Vlad the Impaler – but 64 is surely enough to be getting on with...
This book was first reviewed in Teach Secondary magazine.
And here is the review I originally submitted:
The Dictators: 64 Dictators, 64 Authors, 64 Warnings from History
(Dale (ed), Hodder & Stoughton, £22)
In some respects one could view this book as one warning repeated sixty-four times. It covers many familiar names, including Attila the Hun, Ho Chi Minh and, of course, Hitler, in chronological order from ancient times to the present day. All of them seemed to have studied the same manual, so even though each chapter is by a different author, the book works very well as a whole.
There is a fascinating chapter at the beginning about the psychology of dictators, and the worrying thing is that many of them share traits, albeit in diluted form, of people we all know! The book gives a fascinating insight into the machinations of these dictators, and would therefore be a useful reference in political studies as well as history.
Not all dictators are listed: surprising omissions include Trujillo and Vlad the Impaler. Still, sixty four is enough to be getting on with! Highly recommended.