Six Against the Yard is another of the wonderful Detection Club compilations that have been reprinted in recent years. This one features six authors - Margery Allingham, Dorothy L Sayers, Anthony Berkeley, Ronald Knox, Freeman Wills Croft & Russell Thorndike - who each attempt to create an unsolvable murder. A real life policeman, ex-Superintendent Cornish of the CID, attempts to work out what happened in each case. There's also an essay by Agatha Christie about the unsolved Croydon mystery where several members of a family were poisoned with arsenic.
The Novel Cure : an A-Z of literary remedies by Ella Berthoud & Susan Elderkin - a book to dip in to as it has suggestions for what to read according to your mood. So, if you're a Daddy's girl, in need of a good cry, feeling tired & emotional, not taking enough risks or wishing you were a superhero, there's a book for you.
Bertie's Guide to Life and Mothers by Alexander McCall Smith - the latest Scotland Street book. Lovely!
Dorothea's War by Dorothea Crewdson - the WWI diary of a nurse edited by her nephew. I'm looking forward to reading this for my Remembrance reading in November.
Bosworth : the birth of the Tudors by Chris Skidmore - I listened to a fascinating podcast from BBC History Magazine about this book. Skidmore actually ends with the battle, beginning his story with the birth of Henry Tudor & his life in exile. After reading Thomas Penn's excellent biography of Henry, The Winter King, I'm keen to read this. The account of the battle has also been informed by the recent discovery of Richard III's remains & the evidence of his final moments & burial. The discovery happened just as the author was completing his first draft.
Worlds of Arthur : facts and fictions of the Dark Ages by Guy Halsall - I find Arthur endlessly fascinating. Did he exist? What's the historical, archaeological & literary evidence? I'm always ready to read another theory.
Band of Angels : the forgotten world of early Christian women by Kate Cooper - I read a review of this book & was immediately interested as it's a subject & a period I know very little about. There were several women who were important in the spread of Christianity in the early years of the 1st & 2nd centuries. They were subsequently written out of the story as the Church become dominated by men although they are still there in the Gospels & other historical documents.
You have yourself quite an assortment there. Enjoy. The first two you mention look particularly interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteI've read another of the Detection Club reprints so I'm especially looking forward to that one.
DeleteI do indeed remember the 1970s North and South, with Rosalie Crutchley as Mrs Thornton, the much missed Robin Bailey as Mr Hale, and a very young Tim Piggot Smith as Frederick. I thought Rosalind Shanks was a touch droopy as Margaret, but Patrick Stewart has been my mental image of Mr Thornton ever since. I'm so pleased to hear it is now available. Of course the production values are of the period and pretty studio bound, but don't waste a moment in getting that dvd in the player, is my advice!
ReplyDeletebest wishes
cora in london (i'm just posting as anonymous because i don't know wnat any of the other options mean)
Cora, Rosalie Crutchley is one of my favourite actresses so that's just another reason to watch this. I may start it tonight or at least over the weekend. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteYou've peaked my interest with "Dorothea's War" and with the North and South DVD. I hope you have an opportunity to write your impressions on these. N&S is in my Top 10 Ever list (the book), so I'm off to see if my library has this adaptation available!
ReplyDeleteI'm looking to both of these very much. If only there was more time for reading!
DeleteI don't remember this, but wow. I would have never have known that was Patrick Stewart until I looked more closely.:)
ReplyDeleteYes, we're so used to his bald look! I can't wait to watch it.
DeleteWonderful, wonderful pile! I am looking forward to the AMS but, as yet, there is no sign that my library will have a copy any time soon. Would love to watch the 1970s N&S!
ReplyDeleteI've just finished the AMS & it was very good. I especially enjoyed Irene's story - I'll say no more!
DeleteI don’t remember Patrick Stewart in North and South, but I do remember him as Sejanus in I, Claudius.
ReplyDeleteRosalie Crutchley was a brilliant and much under rated actress. Funnily enough when I first read the Joanna Trollope novel A Village Affair I pictured Rosalie Crutchley as Lettice Deverel and lo and behold when the time came for the television adaptation, there she was playing that character.
JB
He was also very good as Ebenezer Scrooge a few years ago. Rosalie Crutchley was a great character actress. she had a small role in Four Weddings & a Funeral that was very funny.
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