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MarkUK
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Date Posted：2022-07-04 06:12:19 One for Shula. I've just finished A Distant Mirror, the Calamitous 14th Century by the American author Barbara Tuchman. It's a look at the 60 years 1340-1400 in Europe mostly as it affected France. It concentrates on events that the French nobleman Enguerrand VII de Coucy was involved with. It goes into enough detail to give you a good idea of life during those miserable times without getting bogged down in too much detail. About a third of it is social history, the rest political. For me the best bits are the story of the Papal Schism and the devastating defeat at Nicopolis, events which I knew little about. Highly recommended.
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majorshrapnel
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2022-07-04 06:47:51 She's a wonderful author |
shula
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2022-07-07 01:53:25 This is probably one of the best books ever written. It's title is the author's feeling that the events of the 20th century are a reflection of that era. I am mildly surprised at this post because I loved this book so much when I first read it many years ago that I bought it even though it is readily available at the library. Then just a couple of years ago I was gifted a copy by a friend because he thought it was something I would enjoy and now you post this because you thought I would enjoy it. I think I must be transparent.
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2022-07-07 05:34:23 I thought it a near perfect history, enough detail to get everything across without going too deep. The account of the Papal Schism was utterly enthralling. |
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shula
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2022-07-08 02:31:04 I agree. The Papal Schism always makes for good discussion when conversations lag.
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shula
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-03 08:47:47 I have finished reading Moonfleet. Can we discuss the book or are we waiting for other members to read/finish it?
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-03 08:55:38 Gladly, you start as it's bedtime over here. I'll give it 8 out of 10. |
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tommytalldog
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-03 09:10:08 A wee bit early for beddy buzz, Mark. Did you have your tea & crumpets? |
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 07:09:16 When one has to get up at 0615 early to bed is correct. I like to read in bed (nothing else to do) so in bed I can ensure complete quiet, downstairs there is the temptation of the TV or the computer. Tea and crumpets is more of a breakfast thing. |
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majorshrapnel
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 08:02:35 In Britain girls are also known as crumpet |
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 09:12:49 To the unreconstructed male maybe. |
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tommytalldog
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 02:26:45 In Britain girls are also known as crumpet I thought they were "birds?" Or is that a 60's thingy? See Twiggy. |
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majorshrapnel
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 02:49:11 In Britain girls are also known as crumpet Incidentally, me and my lovely piece of crumpet are celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary today |
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majorshrapnel
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 02:50:06 In Britain girls are also known as crumpet I thought they were "birds?" Or is that a 60's thingy? See Twiggy. Nope, they're still birds |
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Greystarfish1
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 02:52:10 In Britain girls are also known as crumpet Incidentally, me and my lovely piece of crumpet are celebrating our 49th wedding anniversary today Happy Anniversary and best wishes for the future!
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 03:13:51 Today is Star Wars Day - May the Force "Fourth" be with you, get it? It's also the date in 1891 that Sherlock Holmes "died". In the story The Final Problem he falls to his death over the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland in a tussle with his arch-enemy Prof Moriarty. However such was the outcry from the public when the story was published in 1893 that Conan Doyle brought him back to life in 1903 with a new set of stories explaining that he never actually went over the Falls. I suspect he killed him off in such a way as to allow for a return if he needed the money. In between he published The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1901, but said it was set in 1889, as a test of public opinion, it was a huge success thus opening the way for Holmes' return. |
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tommytalldog
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 03:25:29 Typical to set up a sequel. Like the lame ending of the Soprano's T.V. show which brought rumors of a movie coming out the next year. |
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 05:56:01 Conan Doyle said he was fed up with Sherlock Holmes and wanted his other literary works to be appreciated. But he must have had a notion to bring him back from the dead if need be. He actually wrote more Holmes stories after his resurrection than before he "killed" him off such was their popularity. |
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shula
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 08:56:25 Happy Anniversary, Major and Mrs. Major. Forty-nine years is a success story.
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shula
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-04 09:01:39 I loved Moonfleet. I didn't think I'd live through the night in the Mohune vault. It was a wonderful adventure and I thank you, Major, for turning me on to it. Do you know if it was historically correct that Holland didn't execute foreigners at the time frame of the book?
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MarkUK
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Re：Reply Topic Date Posted：2023-05-05 08:36:11 I hesitate to recommend this novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. The most depressing, grim book I've ever read. Just getting through it is an ordeal, but it's utterly brilliant. Strap yourself in and give it a go. If there's anything bad going on in your life best to leave it for a while as this will mess with your head. On a review site this little poem says it all - You don't need another Coca Cola |
