Product Description

Bungled cover-ups, acts of blinding incompetence, miscarriages of justice, sexual escapades, and downright stupidity - scandals which have helped to make the world's armed forces the much loved institutions they are today. Take an irreverent look at the public outcries that both governments and soldiers would rather we forgot. From Julius Caesar's sex life and the frolics of Charles d'Eon, the fearless dragoon and noted transvestite to the sinking of the Kursk, Terry Crowdy delves into the darker reaches of military personality defects, vice and slip-ups. Packed with more than 70 mishaps, step back in time and see how corruption, bigotry, lust, vanity, incompetence and the occasional bout of insanity have coloured military history across the centuries.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #122549 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
Despite the general feeling that we are stuck with the most bumbling idiots in our government since the dawn of time (and it matters not what country you happen to live in), the truth is that slime always rises to the top and people have been screwing things up long before we were born. In this Osprey book called Military Misdemeanors, author Terry Crowdy picks some of what he calls 'Corruption, incompetence, lust, and downright stupidity' from the annals of history. This starts with the screw-up that caused the battle of Thermopalye, the homosexual acts of Julius Caesar, the trysts of Napoleon, the Opium War where the British did all they could to increase opium addiction amongst the Chinese while attacking them for allowing it. In more modern times there is the U-2 Scandal, the Iran-Contra affair, the sinking of the Kursk and many more. It is a book that for most of us will be a fascinating read. We are always drawn to the more sensational and lurid facets of life and when people who are supposed to be entrusted with our well-being do things that are contrary and stupid, we tend to remember these even more. Whenever I'm commenting to friends about how this and that is so wrong and only benefits the wealthy and powerful, it is a book like this that shows that this isn't by any means new. It has been happening for centuries and will probably continue for centuries more. Terry Crowdy has not only provided us with a look at the idiots of the past, but as there are sure to be naysayers, has also provided references for all this. A well researched book on the foibles of those in the past and a book that I know you will find interesting, shocking and at times appalling. I would hope that we could learn from these examples; but we won't. A book I can highly recommend to you. --modelingmadness.com

Synopsis
Scandal!! Corruption, cover-ups, miscarriages of justice, acts of incompetence, avarice, lust and downright stupidity. The cat eating soldier, philandering emperors, the transvestite spy, satanic masses aboard a ship, a 20th-century witchcraft trial, Britain's opium shame, riots in America, mutiny on the high seas. Find out about all of these and many more infamous acts in Terry Crowdy's romp through centuries of military scandals that the armed forces would prefer we forgot!

About the Author
Terry Crowdy has an unconventional background for a historian. Former bassist in a rock group, and a history enthusiast since childhood, he has long been fascinated by different aspects of military history and takes great pleasure in delving into obscure sources to pluck out the most astonishing and revealing stories throughout history. The author of a number of articles and books, including The Enemy Within: A History of Espionage, he lives in Kent, UK.

Customer Reviews

Not quite what it says on the tin but great fun none the less.
If you meet a historian they are generally fun loving individuals. Yet when they write they feel this great sense to keep humour out of things. The result can all too often be worthy but dry. This is a mistake because just as pain and horror are a natural part of war so is the occassional laugh. Great historical writers are able to show you both and that's what this book does.

A word of warning the title implies that this is about military blunders and from time to time they do crop up (poor old admiral Byng) but really this is about men of power behaving badly. Indeed the military connection is at times tenuous.

The format is also perfect for a commuter. Rarely the stories go beyond 5 pages making it very easy to dip in and out of, indeed my wife is now reading it on her commute!

It is also a little odd that you get a couple from ancient history and then all history is forgotten until we get to about 1700. Surely a sequel will be out about our Medieval ancestors?

Saying that though each and every story is great. Be it the heart breaking issue of the British concentration camps of the Boer war to the black humour of the huge quantities of assault rifles in Switzerland. The afterword is a little preachy after the slightly caustic tone of the book but this is a minor point.

Overall a highly enjoyable read