Edgar Holt (1900–1975)

1284. The Carlist Wars in Spain, by Edgar Holt (25 Aug 1974) I guess I should be glad I am not supposed to be a serious historian, since I just gobble up popular history. This book is compiled from secondary sources, but I found it fast-paced and absorbing. I really did not have a good idea about what the Carlist Wars were before this. Ferdinand VII died Sept 29, 1833, leaving a daughter, Isabel II, born 10 Oct 1830. Don Carlos, Ferdinand's brother, claimed the Salic law applied and thus he became king. But the Salic law had been privately repealed by the Cortes in 1789. The first Carlist War ended in 1840. It had been a momentous struggle. The more traditional and autocratic forces were behind Don Carlos; his rallying cry was "For God, Country, & King." Don Carlos' grandson, Don Carlos II, was born Mar 30, 1848. The second Carlist war began in 1872 and ended in 1876. There have been Carlists in Spain ever since but now they are not significant. I rather admire their quixotic cause, even as I do that of the Trojans, Carthage, and the Stuarts.… (más)

1863 Protest in Arms: The Irish Troubles 1916-1923, by Edgar Holt (read 26 Aug 1984) When I was looking for a book on the Easter Rising I saw this book and I remembered how much I enjoyed Holt's The Carlist Wars in Spain, which I read Aug 25, 1974, and so I read this book of his on Ireland from 1916 to 1923. It is eminently readable and I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours. Very non-profound, it tells the story clearly and simply. Of course it was written before the acceleration of the IRA's fight against the Partition, which began in 1969. The dust jacket of this book calls it the definitive book, which it certainly is not, but the description "completely fascinating reading" I found accurate. It is an amazing and troubling story, and I am glad so much of beautiful Ireland is at peace.… (más)