Review BUGLES AND A TIGER and THE ROAD PAST MANDALAY by John Masters
Review BUGLES AND A TIGER and THE ROAD PAST MANDALAY by John Masters, both published by Phoenix, part of Orion Books I am indebted today to “English Sailor”, who watched my YouTube video about John Masters (it’s here – https://youtu.be/mc-8fkmntRQ – if you want to see it), and suggested these two books. It is vanishingly … Continue reading
Review: THE GOOD LIAR
ISBN: Paperback – 9780241973295 There are few matters which are more likely, in my household, to cause dissent and dispute, than the selection of a film to watch. Here we tend not to watch too much television. Correction: my wife and I don’t watch much television. Obviously things are different for our children. They will … Continue reading
Review: THE GREAT SWINDLE
By Paul Lemaitre (Translated by Frank Wynne) ISBN: 9781623659035 I have relied for some years now on two companies, Oxbow Books and Postscript Books (psbooks on the internet), for much of my research material. Both publish a wide range of books that have been discarded by publishers. Rather than see them shredded, publishers sell them … Continue reading
Service, Love, Death and Renewal
Review: LONG WAY HOME by Dan Jarvis, published by Little, Brown ISBN: Hardback – 978 1 4087 1072 2 I know that in the past I have reviewed George MacDonald-Fraser’s excellent QUARTERED SAFE OUT HERE, which was his memoir of his experiences during the Second World War and the Burma campaign. But just now I … Continue reading
Review: The Stranger.
(Hint: buy it now!) THE STRANGER, by Simon Conway, published by Hodder & Stoughton ISBN: 9781529 332100 This is a good time for reviewers, obviously. Not only do we get time to sit back and read, but publishers are keen to send books out with a view to having some form – any form – … Continue reading
Review: SIEGE, by Richard Foreman, Sharpe Books, ISBN: 9798607084271
This is a great little book. Richard Foreman is a writer who is as happy in Roman Britain as he is in Medieval Antioch, as this story shows. The only thing that matters to Richard is that there are deeds of derring do aplenty! The story begins during the siege of Antioch, the “Siege” of … Continue reading
Review: Casanova and the Faceless Woman
Review: Casanova and the Faceless Woman Published by Pushkin Vertigo, ISBN 978 1 78227 453 7 £9.99 It is always a delight to discover a new author whose work is both refreshing and novel. Last week I finished one book and was wondering what to try next. Fortunately for me, Pushkin Vertigo got in touch … Continue reading
New Pens
I am very fortunate, having a number of very good fountain pens – the best of which are definitely my two Viscontis. I love the material the Homo Sapiens are made from, which is based on volcanic rock from Etna, and is seriously indestructible. They are ideal pens for daily carry, because nothing will scratch … Continue reading
Book reviews
I made it a firm policy many years ago that I would not give a bad review to someone else’s work. It’s not because I am a particularly kind person. I have most definitely read several books that truly did not deserve those hours of my life. Those are hours I could have spent with … Continue reading
Review: THE WANDERER, by Michael Ridpath, published by Corvus Books
ISBN:781782398738 Michael Ridpath is one of those writers who consistently managed thoughtful, entertaining, deeply atmospheric stories. He was originally a bond trader in the City of London, but after eight years and the massively successful thriller FREE TO TRADE, he gave up that job and turned to writing full time. I am very glad he … Continue reading
