I purchased a subscription for my father several years ago and it quickly became a favorite. He has, in turn, ordered it for several relatives and friends from his VFW post. It is a fantastic gift because it keeps memories alive for those who are so quickly losing their compatriots.
MHQ is perhaps the most in-depth publication of military history that is regularly available. The range of subjects span from ancient history and the battles of the Greeks, Romans, Chinese and others, to what has happened in the last 15 years/ Desert Storm.
Most of the authors are very experienced, and the names of most of them can be found in your favorite bookstore's History section. Maps and photos help illustrate everything, and the magazine itself holds up a lot better with time than most thin-papered pages. It is surprisingly durable.
I have used this magazine many times in preapring material for my history classes, and while it can by dry in some points, and certain topics aren't always in my interest area, its scholarly and informative efforts make it a far better than average magazine in its scope and quality. In short, its biggest drawback may be its quarterly issuance, since it seems to not come out often enough.
Many times I get leery when subscribing to a magazine through Amazon. From many reviews of various magazines featured here, it appears that sometimes the subscription process hits a snag and the reader never gets what they order, or gets it much later than expected.
I received my first issue of this magazine in a timely manner so if you are considering subscribing to it through amazon, I think you can do it with confidence.
The Magazine: American History is a great historical magazine that provides educational insight into the history of the United States. It's more than that though, like many have experienced, there are still so many untold stories and behind the scenes information that you never learned in school. My December 06 issue featured articles ranging from the Spanish Influenza of 1918 to the Gold Rush of the Yukon. The photography is marvelous and the magazine is not saturated with advertisements, nor is it full of those pesky subscription cards. Behind the scenes of politicians of yester years as well as an article on Americana's Toy "hall of fame" were also intriguing. Towards the end of the magazine there is a book review section by Chuck Leddy. I was also pleased to read an article on the new National Museum of the Marine Corps which despite opening to the public last November, got little coverage on the regular news. Articles on the American Revolution as well as labor strikes at General Motors in the 1930's were also very informative.
The magazine is small, only 82 pages, but considering how few advertisements are in it compared to those thicker mags out there that are clogged with them, I think you get your moneys worth. If you want a great historical magazine on the history of America, look no further than this magazine.
