In the introduction the editor says that in an age of telephones, let alone texts, much of the problems the characters face could be dealt with more easily. In a similar way this is one of the last novels that were written before Freud sexualised these relations. Although nominally about treasure it is really about the argument between a mother and her son about whom he should marry, with a misguided innocent girl caught in the middle. Although not spoken of in these terms all the characters are concerned with sex even though they do not know it. Whilst reading it I amused myself by transporting the characters to the modern day and wondered how they would react.

In my view only a good novel can provoke one in this way. Another way of looking at it, is to imagine these characters and this story being the backstory for one of E M Forster's Edwardian novels. The story is elemental enough for one of Conrad's novels. It also has the virtue of being comparatively short. It is helpful, I have found to have the critical apparatus of this edition. Well worth reading especially if interested in the way the Victorian world changed into the "modern" world of the Twentieth Century with the ultimate fate of the treasure being in point.

This book was a slight disappointment as although readable it was a personal view which was coloured by the TV series which it accompanies. Winston's view is as an orthodox Jew and as a scientist and doctor. He reconciles his various viewpoints well, but I would have hoped to have gained some perspective from the eastern religions as well from shamanism.Nonetheless there were for me some useful insights including how ancient peoples must have been puzzled by death given its similarity to sleep. Professor Winston also helps explain the great Jewish contribution to religion and history and also grapples with puritans. However, at times it did seem slightly superficial.

One small cavill was that the author referred to Newton's great work as the Principia Mathematica , which whilst not incorrect is a title usually reserved for Russell and Whitehaed's book on maths.

It is also good to know that the author supports the great football club known as Arsenal.

I enjoyed this Reacher novel. The novel is good at ratcheting up the tension which is, for the most part is away from Reacher. There are some longeurs but they are few. I thought that the women were better and more effective than the men. Slightly different from the other Reacher novels, possibly because it was written earlier but well worth a read.

This is a good readable account of the seventies in Britain. I lived through the decade and the account rings true. This is a journalistic journey to recover the seventies through the memories of participants. It is well written without some of the mistakes that often marr these books. It reminded my slightly of Citizen Kane where a journalist meets one or other players to try and find the essence of Kane. For Kane substitute the eponymous decade. It is a good engaging account and my interest only flagged with the Grunwick dispute which went on a bit. Otherwise most bases are covered including strikes, Ireland,the economy, the IMF, inflation, unions and more especially the politics. It brought back memories of such people as David Ennals. I remember groaning very time he came on the media. I think the author is too kind about Jack Jones, Harris perhaps because he interviewed them. He gets Thatcher dead right: she was yet to become the all conquering heroine of the right. Generally very good.

Inevitably there are some omissions. Nothing about football and spectator violence which was reflected in the strikers' violence. Nor very much about the media or punk. I would have also expected something on decimilisation.

This is a collection of articles that Foster has written about the Irish and their literature. It looks at various views of Ireland with an unprejudiced eye. It is a good corrective to some of the more received opinion on various writers. It is good to have Foster's views on Elizabeth Bowen , Frank Mc court etc. it is a pity that the UK does not have such a writer/ historian such as this.

One drawback is that ,as ever with books of this sort, there are pieces which do not resonate but generally a thought provoking book on Ireland and its writers.

I bought this book by accident but tried it anyway.

It is the story of the budding romance between a middle class English rock star and a Californioan lovely. A mixture of Sleepless in Seattle and Pride and Prejudice. It could have been a film script.
There are some nice asides at Californian life. The English episodes were slightly stiff and the heroine was more interesting than the sensitive rock star (an oxymoron there perhaps). I was not clear what the herine saw in him as the music sounds dire.

I must say that it was easy to read and that I enjoyed it though the working out took slightly longer than I expected.Recommended for a light read.

This book is best regarded as an appendix to the author's Road to Reality. This means that it does not spare you some difficult maths. Even with my A level maths I found some of this to be difficult. Some of this is perhaps not explained well enough for this layman. However, one does get an idea of the issues that have troubled this distinguished mathematician especially the second law of thermodynamics.

He views quantum theory as a provisional theory and is not impressed by string theory. He is troubled by the predicted end of the universe. I am not sure about his proposed solution but it is good to have such an intelligent appraisal of the evidence. I only wish it had been easier to follow.

One stylistic note too many sentences end with an ! which is irritating as this is neither a chess match nor a girl's magazine. There are some spelling mistake such as council when counsel is meant.

This is a great western in tradition of Huckleberry Finn with some humour but also some horror along the way. It packs much into its 200 or so pages.

I thought that this episode in the Montalbano was one of the best. All my favourite elements were there including the food, the nightmares, Livia and the other women, Caterella, the Mafia and the humour. The story was well plotted. Perfect reading for a miserable Winter's day. These books almost make up for the fact that we will not have any more Inspector Zen novels. Recommended.

Although this book is 300 pages long with 100 pages of notes ,it could have been longer and have explained its thesis at greater length with greater coherence. That said, this is an important book which tackles three disparate issues. This is that essentially that Britain was still a great power and could win the second world war by using its economic power. Three points stand out.

Firstly, there is the question of grand strategy. Britain had great economic strength and after the debacle that resulted in the retreat from Dunkirk, it fell back on this traditional way of war. It called in its international credits and favours and prepared for what was looking like a long war. It is no surprise that Chuchill referred to Napoleon in his Dunkirk speech, that was the war Britain could wage and win. The author points out that Britain was strong enough and confident enough to wage such a war even after (or especially after) some 250,000 of its troops had been rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk. It was however necessary to have some belligerence and this was where the campaigns in the desert came from. The real blow to this strategy was events in the Far East which removed some of resources from the Empire. It was not necessary for the USA to become a fellow belligerent though this was planned for and helped to shorten the war but Britain would have won at some point nonetheless.

Secondly, there is an account of Britain's scientific and economic war which looks at some of the
issues in some detail. So we look at the Dambusters, bombing, mulberry harbours etc as well as the factory building programme.

Thirdly, there is a look at the historiography of the war which has some surprises. As with Beevor's DDay it is interesting to note how strong Britain in fact was at most times during the war.

These three elements are condensed into what can be fairly tough reading. Undoubtedly, this is one of the books on the Second World War which will be cited and argued about for some time to come. You should get the paperback edition as several minor errors have been corrected.