71. Nazis, reparations, and laws 'just for the English to see'

Count Belisarius is a historical novel by Robert Graves, published in 1938, which tells the story of Belisarius, a brilliant military commander in the Byzantine Empire. The novel is narrated by Eugenius, a eunuch and servant of Belisarius' wife Antonina, and explores the political intrigue and military campaigns of Belisarius against the Vandals, Goths, and Persians. It portrays Belisarius as a man of honor in a corrupt world, while also highlighting the complex relationships between Belisarius, his wife, and the Emperor Justinian and his wife Theodora.

Gita Sereny's "Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth" is a compelling biography of Albert Speer, Hitler's architect and Minister of Armaments. The book delves into Speer's complex personality, exploring his role in the Nazi regime and his later attempts to grapple with his past. Sereny's meticulous research and insightful analysis reveal Speer's involvement in the use of forced labor during World War II. The book also examines Speer's testimony at the Nuremberg trials and his subsequent reflections on his actions. It's a powerful exploration of guilt, responsibility, and the enduring legacy of the Holocaust.

This book by Hugh Thomas provides a detailed and balanced account of the complete history of the slave trade. Beginning with the first Portuguese slaving expeditions in the 1440s, Thomas describes the rise of the slave trade as one of the largest and most elaborate maritime and commercial ventures in history. The book covers the period from 1492 to 1870, during which approximately eleven million black slaves were transported from Africa to the Americas. It draws heavily on original sources such as journals, state documents, business ledgers, and memoirs to explain the complex interactions of merchants and governments in the trade. The book also addresses the suffering of the slaves, the widespread corrupting effect of the trade on nations involved, and the long struggle of abolitionists to make the trade illegal.

Pompeii by Robert Harris is a gripping historical novel set in ancient Rome, focusing on the story of Marcus Attilius Primus, an engineer tasked with fixing the Aqua Augusta aqueduct. As Attilius works to resolve the water crisis, he uncovers corruption and faces the looming threat of Mount Vesuvius's eruption. The novel masterfully blends historical fact with fiction, capturing the final days of Pompeii and the tragic events that unfolded.