Comments on: What have Martin Gilbert and Cheryl Cole got in common?

By: Ros

Ros — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:36:51 +0000

Martin Gilbert was my supervisor when I was at UCL for a Masters’ in Holocaust Studies. For part of our degree, Sir Martin and Ben Helfgott and the rest of the students spent two weeks ‘camping’ in Eastern Europe, ie we visited most of the larger extermination camps. It was an exhausting but enlightening time. The book ‘Holocaust Journey’ was published as a result. Each of us contributed to it and it is a tome that should be part and parcel of Holocaust education.

I’ve spent much time with Martin, helping him with research and he is the consummate historian and very good company!

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:28:12 +0000

Yes, drift definitely caught!

By: blahblahblah

blahblahblah — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:14:23 +0000

Alright,you’ve made your point.Maybe you have read a book.You’re halfway there.Just throw away the Cheryl stuff and the Cowell stuff and read The Horses Mouth by Joyce Cary.Understand that I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt on all this celebrity pony.My sister watches Xfactor.I think she’ll probably grow out of it and start living life to the full rather than vicariously.You catching my drift?

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:50:20 +0000

I must check that one out one day Michelle. Thanks.

Forgot to say, I had to do a little explanatory blurb for each of my choices:

The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank
One of those books that everybody should read during their lifetime. Touching and engrossing.

The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis
Forget ‘Lucky Jim’ – this is the best from Amis snr. All that boozing and bitching makes old age sound rather fun. Bring it on I say!

Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert
A fine history of my favourite country by my favourite historian.

Cheryl by Sean Smith
I want to be friends with Cheryl Cole. No, I want to be Cheryl Cole. And I want you to read this book.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:33:54 +0000

You really can’t beat Martin Gilbert’s Jewish History Atlas. You can get your facts so quickly without needing to read a whole book. I have had to buy so many copies as they keep getting ‘borrowed’ by friends… you just flick through it, and you can’t put it down.

By: Lucette Ford

Lucette Ford — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:55:47 +0000

Windsor Waterstones – well get you!

I fucking hate Cheryl Cole, but I’m proud of you.

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:21:52 +0000

Is Cowell Jewish?

No but his father was Jewish, something Cowell only discovered after his father died. I did lots of interviews for the book, including one on that very subject area.

By: DF

DF — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:17:52 +0000

Is Cowell Jewish?

By: Duvid Crockett, King of DeLancey Street

Duvid Crockett, King of DeLancey Street — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:00:26 +0000

Are you trying to manufacture a broiges tanz between Simon and Cheryl and Louis and Danni?

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:59:42 +0000

Thanks Shmuel and DF. And thanks Jonathan, I shall listen to that interview for sure.

Sir Martin Gilbert is amazing. I’ve read so many of his books: The Righteous, Churchill & The Jews, The Boys, The Story of Israel (strongly recommended), Kristallnacht and others too. He even – very kindly – sent me a book last year after reading this very blog. My Dad is a fan, too. He is a national treasure.