Looking for (auto)biographies kinda along the lines of Fitzroy Macleans *Eastern Approaches*, or Andrea Gritti. Former was a diplomat, starting doing special war stuff at 29, went into politics after. Gritti was “just” a merchant til he did time for spying on the Ottomans, then in his 40s led a guerrilla campaign for Venice, becoming the Doge in his 60s I think.
Anyway, I’m just tired of hearing from the usual, “always wanted to be a soldier, joined the infantry literally as soon as I could, did that forever, dipped out at 40 or so.” All good, but I wouldn’t mind hearing about some lives along the lines of, “started doing badass stuff in my thirties or later.” Any time period & culture works – if you have a book about some 17th century Japanese pirate leader who started as a 43yo lumberjack or something, I’m into it. 12th century Bengalese merchant who became a bandit leader after financial ruin in his 50s? I’m all over it. 36yo Senegalese widow who became a warlord in the last century? Send it my way.
by justquestionsbud